Dual-Strain Silage Inoculant for Fast pH Reduction and Aerobic Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bacterial silage inoculants, particularly those using L. buchneri, have a longer lag phase and slow pH reduction, which can lead to aerobic spoilage and nutrient loss when silage is exposed to air, and combinations with high lactic acid-producing strains can counteract their effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A bacterial inoculant composition consisting of an obligatory heterofermentative species like Lactobacillus buchneri combined with a homofermentative species such as Enterococcus or Lactococcus that does not reduce the growth of the obligatory heterofermentative species and achieves fast pH reduction without producing excess lactic acid, thereby maintaining aerobic stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If L. buchneri is used as a bacterial silage inoculant to prevent aerobic spoilage, then aerobic stability is improved, but pH reduction speed decreases and lag phase increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines L. buchneri with fast-growing homofermentative lactic acid bacteria (Lactococcus or Enterococcus species) to create a dual-function inoculant. The homofermentative bacteria rapidly reduce pH in the early fermentation stage, while L. buchneri subsequently produces acetic acid to prevent aerobic spoilage, thus resolving the contradiction between fast pH reduction and aerobic stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the composition parameters of the bacterial inoculant by introducing specific homofermentative species (Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis or Enterococcus faecium) in defined ratios (50-90% homofermentative, 10-50% L. buchneri). This parameter adjustment enables the system to achieve both rapid pH reduction and sustained aerobic stability.
2Speed
If high lactic acid-producing strains are combined with L. buchneri to accelerate pH reduction, then pH reduction speed is improved, but effectiveness of L. buchneri is counteracted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selecting specific homofermentative species (Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis or Enterococcus faecium) with particular characteristics - they produce lactic acid at controlled rates and do not produce excess lactic acid that would harm L. buchneri. This localized selection of specific strains with appropriate properties resolves the contradiction between fast pH reduction and maintaining L. buchneri effectiveness.
3Speed
If obligatory homofermentative or facultative heterofermentative species are used to reduce pH rapidly, then pH reduction speed is improved, but aerobic stability at feedout decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses homofermentative bacteria to perform preliminary pH reduction in the early fermentation stage, creating favorable conditions for subsequent L. buchneri activity. This preliminary action of rapid pH reduction by homofermentative bacteria is followed by L. buchneri's acetic acid production, which provides the aerobic stability needed at feedout, thus resolving the contradiction between initial pH reduction speed and final aerobic stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition achieves fast pH reduction and improved aerobic stability, reducing spoilage and nutrient loss, even when the silage is exposed to air, while maintaining the effectiveness of the obligatory heterofermentative species, outperforming other combinations in terms of silage quality and stability.
Implementation Method 1
Silage is a fermented plant product that can be used to feed ruminants. Silage can be made from various plant materials that are stored under anaerobic conditions to promote anaerobic fermentation.
Implementation Method 2
The compositions comprise an obligatory heterofermentative species (or strain thereof), such as a Lactobacillus species, and a homofermentative species (or strain thereof), such as a Lactococcus or Enterococcus species
Implementation Method 3
The first generation of bacterial silage inoculants included obligatory homofermentative (e.g. L. acidophilius, L. salivarius) and facultative heterofermentative (e.g. L. plantarum) bacterial species
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a silage inoculant consisting essentially ofa) at least one obligatory heterofermentative lactic acid bacterial species or strain andb) at least one homofermentative bacterial species or strain which(i) does not reduce growth of a), and(ii) reduces pH fast without producing an excess amount of lactic acid.Further, the invention relates to a method for producing a fermented feed product, said method comprising inoculating a plant material with the silage inoculant according to the invention. It has surprisingly been found that the silage inoculant is effective even if the silage has only been incubated for a period of up to 2 or up to 4 days.