Topics:
Animal Nutrition, Animal Refresher
Primary Acid in Silage Fermentation
The chief acid produced during silage making:
- Lactic acid — Correct Answer
- Butyric Acid
- HCI
- Acetic Acid
Explanation:
Correct Answer: Lactic acid
High-quality silage preservation depends entirely on rapid anaerobic fermentation by Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) such as Lactobacillus spp. These bacteria ferment soluble carbohydrates (sugars) primarily into Lactic acid, which rapidly drops the pH below 4.2, inhibiting all spoilage organisms and preserving the forage.
Fermentation in Silage — Types Compared
| Item | Lactic Acid Fermentation | Butyric Acid Fermentation |
|---|---|---|
| Occurs when fodder is | Rich in soluble carbohydrates/sugar | Rich in protein content |
| Quality of silage | Good, high quality | Bad odour, poor quality |
Special Points on Silage Making
- Best crops for ensiling: Maize, Sorghum, Bajra (rich in soluble sugars)
- Crops with less sugar: add 3–3.5% molasses to improve fermentation
- Mixture of grass/cereal:legume = 3:1
- Urea @ 1% + salt @ 0.5% added to cereals/grasses to improve N₂ and palatability
- Pit silos most common in India; Flieg-index used to evaluate silage quality
- AIV method (A.I. Virtanen, Finland): acid additives (H₂SO₄ & HCl); pH < 4
📚 About this Topic — Animal Nutrition
This multiple choice question is from Animal Nutrition, Animal Refresher. It has 4 options with a detailed explanation of the correct answer. Practice more MCQs from Animal Nutrition to strengthen your preparation.
