Ensiling rain-soaked forages is a major challenge for livestock production in rainy regions, as it often leads to poor fermentation, nutrient loss, and rapid spoilage. This study demonstrates that tailored microbial-enzyme combinations can effectively overcome these issues. While adding specific enzymes with bacteria significantly improves the silage's nutritional value, it can make the silage prone to spoilage upon air exposure. Crucially, we found that incorporating a lignin-degrading enzyme (laccase) instead creates a more robust silage that resists spoilage for a remarkably longer time. This provides a practical and sustainable strategy for farmers to produce high-quality, stable silage from Sudan grass even when harvested under wet conditions, ensuring a reliable feed supply and supporting sustainable livestock farming in rainy climates like Southwest China.
Li et al. (Fri,) studied this question.