Feeding Swine Waste. I. Fermentation Characteristics of Swine Waste Ensiled with Ground Hay or Ground Corn Grain

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Abstract
Swine waste, composed primarily of feces, was ensiled with either ground orchardgrass hay or ground corn grain in small laboratory silos (3.8 liters) in the following proportions, on a wet (as-is) basis: 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 30:70 and 20:80. Most desirable fermentation, as measured by pH and level of lactic acid, occurred with the 40:60, 50:50 and 60:40 ratios of swine waste and orchardgrass hay. Bacteria and total coliform numbers were decreased and fecal coliforms were completely destroyed by ensiling. Ensiled mixtures of swine waste and ground corn grain containing 60% or less waste exhibited good fermentation characteristics, but mixtures containing 70% or more waste had an offensive odor and would have been difficult to handle by conventional methods. Bacteria numbers were decreased, and total and fecal coliforms were completely destroyed by ensiling. In two large silo studies, 40:60 and 60:40 ratios of each mixture were ensiled in steel drums (208 liters) lined with plastic. Fermentation characteristics of the ensiled swine waste and orchardgrass hay mixtures were similar to those obtained in the small silos, but lactic acid values were lower and pH values were slightly higher for the ensiled swine waste and ground corn mixtures than they were in the small silos. Copyright © 1981. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1981 by American Society of Animal Science.

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