Table 3 Overview of the tested organic materials from different sources (1 = commercially available, 2 = farm-based) and microbial counts (log10 cfu/g DM) as total viable count (TVC) and coliform and mould counts; LOD = limit of detection
Material | Source* | TVCa, b | Coliformsb | Mouldsb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Wood-based materials | ||||
 Wood granulate | 1 | <  3.70 | < LOD | <  3.70 |
 Wood shavings | 1 | < LOD | < LOD | < LOD |
 Sawdust | 1 | <  3.73 | < LOD | <  3.73 |
 Millings | 1 | 3.81 | <  3.69 | <  3.69 |
Loose straw and hay | ||||
 Flax (Linum L.) straw | 1 | 7.04 | 5.78 | 4.73 |
 Wheat, (Triticum L.), rye (Secale cereal L.), triticale (Triticale Tscherm.-Seys. ex Müntzing) meal | 1 | 6.99 | 6.20 | 4.65 |
 Alfalfa Medicago sativa L.) hay mixed with green harvested oats (Avena L.) and clover (Trifolium L.) and treated with molasses and vegetable oil | 1 | 5.66 | 3.86 | <  3.73 |
 Rye (Secale cereal L.) straw meal | 1 | 6.81 | 6.23 | 5.34 |
 Hemp (Cannabis L.) straw | 1 | 6.76 | 5.43 | 4.38 |
 Grass hay | 2 | 7.54 | 6.45 | 6.94 |
 Wheat (Triticum L.) straw | 2 | 7.63 | 5.96 | 5.94 |
Compressed straw and hay | ||||
 Compressed wheat (Triticum L.) and rape (Brassica napus L.) cylinder | 1 | 4.34 | < LOD | < LOD |
 Wheat (Triticum L.) pellets | 1 | 5.43 | < LOD | < LOD |
 Grass and herb hay pellets | 1 | 7.00 | < LOD | < LOD |
 Miscanthus (Miscanthus ANDERSSON) cylinder | 1 | 5.04 | <  3.72 | 4.15 |
Miscellaneous | ||||
 Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris L.) pulp with molasses | 1 | < LOD | < LOD | < LOD |
 Maize (Zea mays L.) pellets | 1 | 4.11 | < LOD | < LOD |
 Peat (rooting material for piglets) | 1 | 6.65 | < LOD | 4.91 |
 Lick block | 1 | 3.70 | < LOD | < LOD |
 Lignocellulose made of dehydrated molasses, vegetable fat and mineral nutrients | 1 | < LOD | < LOD | < LOD |
 Maize (Zea mays L.) silage | 2 | 7.89 | < LOD | <  4.15 |