The relationship between spoilage and Listeria monocytogenes contamination in bagged and wrapped big bale silage

A farm‐scale trial to compare the effectiveness of polythene bags and wrapping of big bale silage was monitored for Listeria monocytogenes contamination. There was no significant difference between the level of L. monocytogenes found in wrapped and bagged big bale silage, but the work confirmed that big bale silage is prone to contamination by Listeria organisms, and that the degree of Listeria contamination could be significantly reduced by the removal of obviously spoiled material prior to feeding.