Particle size and storage length affect fermentation and ruminal degradation of rehydrated corn grain silage

Particle size and storage time are factors that can affect the fermentation quality and digestibility of rehydrated corn grain silage (RCS). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of particle size and storage time on chemical and microbiological characteristics, aerobic stability, and ruminal degradability of RCS. Corn grains were ground to pass through either a 3 mm (fine) or 9 mm (coarse) screen, rehydrated to 44.3% moisture and ensiled in 200 L polyethylene buckets. Samples were taken before and after ensiling at 10, 30, 90 and 200 days of storage to assess microbial counts, fermentation end products, and DM ruminal degradability. DM degradation was evaluated with incubation times of 0 (bag wash), 3, 6 and 48 h in 3 rumen-cannulated cows. The effective ruminal degradation (ERD) was calculated based on soluble fraction (A), degradable fraction (B) and passage rate (kp) defined as 7.0%/h: A + B [kd/(kd + kp)]. Aerobic stability was evaluated in silages after 200 days of storage, and pH and temperature were analysed up to 240 h of aerobic exposure. At 90 and 200 d of storage, fine RCS resulted in lower crude protein and greater NH₃-N concentrations than coarse RCS. Coarsely ground RCS had a lower temperature at the beginning of storage than finely ground corn. Finely ground RCS had greater yeast counts and ethanol concentrations than coarsely ground RCS during storage time. Fine RCS was more susceptible to aerobic deterioration, reaching maximum temperature and pH values faster than coarse RCS. DM ruminal degradability increased over the storage time. The particle size of the rehydrated corn grain silage did not affect the kd values after 90 d of storage, while for the ERD, a long fermentation time was necessary (200 d). Considering the fermentation characteristics and the kinetics of ruminal DM degradation, fine grinding is recommended for short storage periods and coarse grinding may be a strategy to increase the rate of grinding when the storage period is greater than 200 d.