Abstract
The current study was undertaken to investigate the ensilage characteristics in triticale lines treated by inoculants and their interaction on fermentation metabolites and rumen degradability. Costs were estimated for growing and feeding whole-crop triticale lines for animal production. Triticale hybrids were harvested at the dough stage of maturity (38% dry matter, DM). Plants were chopped approximately 2 cm after harvest and then treated with inoculants and were ensiled in 1.5-L mini laboratory silos. Two lactic acid bacterial inoculants with enzymes (LAB+enzymes I: Pediococcus acidilactici, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Streptococcus faecium with cellulase, hemicellulase, pentosanase, and amylase; LAB+enzyme II: P. acidilactici, L. plantarum, and amylase) were used as silage additives. Inoculants were applied at 1.5 × 105 cfu/g chopped fresh material. Silages with no additive served as the control. Four jars per treatment were sampled on day 60 after ensiling for chemical and microbiological analysis. At the end of the ensiling period (60 day), the silages were subjected to an aerobic stability test. The nutrient degradability of silages was determined in situ. Overall, there were no obvious interactions between triticale lines and the treatments for any of the parameters measured. The fermentation and nutritive value of silages were affected by treatments. LAB+enzymes increased the concentrations of lactic acid of the triticale silages and decreased the concentrations of butyric acid, total alcohols, and ammonia-N. Under aerobic conditions, LAB+enzyme treated silages had lower pH, CO2 production, and number of yeasts. Fibrous fractions were decreased with the application of LAB+enzymes. The 48 h in situ organic matter, DM, and neutral detergent fiber digestibility of the silages were enhanced by treatments. Addition LAB+enzymes to dough stage triticale silage reduces proteolysis; the inoculant possess antimicrobial properties and improves fermentation and nutritional value. The economic results are favorable financially for growing winter triticale as an animal feed in Mediterranean-type climates.
Highlights
Forage resources and their utilization will be modified in the future because of soil and climate constraints (Steenwerth et al, 2014)
All silages were relatively well fermented, but the extent of fermentation differed depending on the LAB+enzyme applications
The use of LAB+enzyme lowered (P
Summary
Forage resources and their utilization will be modified in the future because of soil and climate constraints (Steenwerth et al, 2014). Triticale has been a crop of future promise. It offers several advantages including an extended growing period that is adapted well to acidic, droughty, or other extreme conditions (Kara et al, 2009; Hackett et al, 2012; Kaplan et al, 2015) with low production costs (Saade, 1995; Lozano-del Rio et al, 2004; Hackett et al, 2012). Recent advances in triticale breeding and harvesting have renewed interest in the integration of triticale as forage in animal production. This interest is apparent with dairy farmers; triticale forage may be suitable pasture forage for grazing beef cattle. Whole crop triticale silage can provide a good option for dairy dry cows, heifers, and beef cattle as energy and an effective fiber source (Hogg et al, 2002; Lozano del Rio et al, 2004; Myer and Lozano del Rio, 2004; Jacobs et al, 2009)
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