Changes after ensiling:

• Ensiling is complicated process and changes may occur during ensiling.
• Changes may be biological or chemical in nature and their intensity depends on physical and chemical characteristics of ensiled material, compactness of filling, and moisture content of ensiled material.
• Whole process may be divided into 4 phases:

Phase-I Respiration stage:

• It starts immediately after sealing the tightly filled silo.
• The plant cell continues to respire till the oxygen trapped is exhausted.
• CO₂ produced makes silo anaerobic, thus favor the growth of anaerobic bacteria.

Phase-II Early fermentation:

• At the initial stage, clostridia and coliform bacteria are active causing degradation of protein and amino acid and production of amine and acetic acid.
• Lactic acid producing bacteria are also increased.

Phase-III Lactic acid production/fermentation:

• Lactic acid producing bacteria dominate and microbial population which resulted in an increased lactic acid and reduced pH of ensiled material.

Phase-IV Stabilization phase:

• It is quite variable and dependent on phase III
• If pH is reduced to around 4, silage is stable and no further degradation occur.
• If sufficient acid is not produced to bring down the pH around 4, microbial activity continues.
• Degradation of lactic acid to butyric acid starts which spoils the smell and acceptability of silage, through action of clostridia.