Silage Additive Microorganisms Silicate Methane Mycotoxins

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing silage for ruminants do not effectively reduce methane emissions while also detoxifying mycotoxins, which are harmful to the animals and affect feed quality.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of specific microorganisms such as Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Trichosporon species, and Eubacterium, combined with a silicate having a large internal surface, to break down mycotoxins and reduce methane emissions by improving fermentability and aerobic stability of the feed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional silage production methods are used, then silage can be produced for feeding ruminants, but methane emissions are not reduced and mycotoxins remain harmful

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemethane emissions and mycotoxin effectsVSAvoidfeed safety and quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple microorganisms (Lactobacillus buchneri, Trichosporon species, Eubacterium species) with silicate additives into a single silage treatment composition. This merging of different functional agents allows simultaneous achievement of mycotoxin detoxification, methane emission reduction, and silage preservation in one application, resolving the contradiction between feed safety and harmful factor reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite material systems consisting of microbial cultures combined with inorganic silicates (such as bentonite, zeolite, or activated alumina). The silicates provide adsorption capacity for mycotoxins while the microorganisms facilitate fermentation and produce metabolites that reduce methane emissions. This composite approach enables multiple functions to be achieved together, improving feed safety while reducing harmful emissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Use of energy by moving object

If microorganisms are added to improve fermentability and reduce methane, then energy content improves, but mycotoxin detoxification may be insufficient without additional agents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy content of feedVSAvoidmycotoxin contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges microorganisms responsible for improving fermentability (Lactobacillus, Eubacterium) with mycotoxin-adsorbing silicates in a single treatment composition. This combination ensures that while energy content is improved through enhanced fermentation, mycotoxins are simultaneously detoxified through adsorption and biodegradation, resolving the contradiction between energy improvement and mycotoxin removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The silicate additives act as intermediaries that adsorb mycotoxins from the silage matrix, making them unavailable for harmful effects while allowing the microorganisms to proceed with their fermentative functions. The microorganisms in turn produce metabolites that further reduce methane emissions. This intermediary approach allows energy improvement and mycotoxin removal to occur simultaneously without interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This approach significantly reduces methane emissions by at least 15% compared to conventional methods, enhances the energy content of the feed, and nearly eliminates the negative effects of mycotoxins, leading to improved animal performance and safer feed production.

Implementation Method 1

the raw material, in particular grass, corn or the like, is mixed with lactic acid bacteria, the so-called ensilation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Implementation Method 2

a silicate with a large internal surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

the harmful mycotoxins in feed or silage reduce, and on the other hand, in addition to the positive effects

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentEP2312955B1Method for treating food silage for ruminants and food silage additive
Publication Date: 2015.10.28 ERBER AG

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for treating food silage for ruminants, wherein silage is mixed with a microorganism and the mixture of silage and microorganism is stored for at least 30 days in a closed container. It is provided according to the invention that the food silage is mixed with at least two microorganisms selected from the group Enterococcus faecium (DSM 3530), Lactobacillus brevis (DSM 19456), Lactobacillus plantarum (DSM 19457), Lactobacillus kefiri (DSM 19455), Trichosporon spec. nov. (DSM 14153), Trichosporon mucoides (DSM 14156), Trichosporon dulcitum (DSM 14162) und Eubacterium (DSM 11798) and with an inorganic substance having a large inner surface. Furthermore, a food silage additive for ruminants is provided.