Of the new corn silage inoculants available to farmers, the
L. buchneri inoculants provided the most consistent improvement
in aerobic stability. An enhanced standard inoculant
was better than standard inoculants in one year of three
relative to aerobic stability. At this stage of testing, selection
of a corn silage inoculant appears to hinge on the most
important goal(s) of the farmer. If poor aerobic stability in
corn silage and its effect on animal performance are
consistent problems that cannot be solved by improved silo
management, then the L. buchneri products show the most
promise. However, if the primary goals are improved animal
performance and improved dry matter recovery, then the
enhanced standard and conventional homofermentative
inoculants appear more likely to achieve succes