Days Of Ensiling Research Articles

Ensiling Characteristics, Bacterial Community Structure, Co-Occurrence Networks, and Their Predicted Functionality in Alfalfa Haylage Silage with or Without Foliar Selenium Application

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element in living systems. In this study, we applied a spray of 50 mg/kg sodium selenite to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) at different stages of development (bud, initial bloom, and full bloom stages). After 0, 1, 3, 7, and 45 days of ensiling, we assessed the fermentation quality, chemical composition, and bacterial community of the alfalfa. Our findings indicated that the addition of Se led to an increase in the Se content and a decrease in the pH, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents. As ensiling fermentation progressed, the Se treatments increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, which was significantly greater than that in the control group (42.44% vs. 3.76%). In conclusion, the addition of sodium selenate to silage additive ensures the quality of the silage and reduces bacterial community diversity. This study provides valuable insights for the investigation of Se enrichment in alfalfa haylage silage.

Greenhouse gas and volatile organic compound emissions of additive-treated whole-plant maize silage: part A—anaerobic fermentation period

BackgroundSilage emits climate- and environment-relevant gases during fermentation and feed-out periods. This trial aimed to determine the unknown carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide, ethanol, and ethyl acetate emissions of constant maize silage material over both periods. The results will be published in two consecutive articles (Part A: anaerobic fermentation period, Part B: aerobic storage period).MethodsThe untreated control (CON) was compared with the chemical additive treatment (CHE; 0.5 g sodium benzoate and 0.3 g potassium sorbate per kg fresh matter) and the biological additive treatment (BIO; 108 colony-forming units (CFU) Lentilactobacillus buchneri and 107 CFU Lactiplantibacillus plantarum per kg fresh matter). Barrel silos (n = 4) were connected to gas bags to quantify gas formation during anaerobic fermentation (30 or 135 ensiling days). Glass jar silos (n = 12) were used for laboratory silage analysis.ResultsCHE produced significantly (p < 0.05) less gas (6.7 ± 0.3 L per kg dry matter ensiled material (kgDM) until ensiling day 14.0 ± 0.0) and ethanol (8.6 ± 1.5 mg kgDM–1) than CON did (8.5 ± 0.2 L kgDM–1 until ensiling day 19.5 ± 6.4; 12.2 ± 1.5 (mg ethanol) kgDM–1). BIO indicates prolonged gas formation (9.1 ± 0.9 L kgDM–1 until ensiling day 61.3 ± 51.9; 12.0 ± 2.1 mg kgDM–1). CO2 is the main component of the gas formed. All treatments formed methane and nitrous oxide in small quantities. CON emitted significantly more CO2eq emissions than BIO and less than CHE (p < 0.05). Additives had no effect on ethyl acetate gas emissions. For BIO, ethanol concentrations in the material (rS = 0.609, p < 0.05) and gas quantities (rS = 0.691, p < 0.05) correlate with ethyl acetate gas quantities. All the treatments exhibited decreasing gas and CO2 quantities, and the dry matter mass increased between ensiling days 14 and 30 (− 0.810 ≤ rS ≤ 0.442; p < 0.05 to p = 0.20).ConclusionSilage generates climate- and environmental-relevant gases during fermentation and silage additives affect this pattern. Gas formation exceeds the fixation potential, and the carbon footprint of silage fermentation is negative.Graphical

Effect of Ensiling Density on Fermentation Characteristics and Aerobic Stability of Pennisetum giganteum Silages

The current work aimed to evaluate the effect of ensiling density on the fermentation quality and aerobic stability of Pennisetum giganteum silages. The silage was ensiled in laboratory silos (1 L), and three treatments were designed according to different ensiling densities: (1) low density (LD, 750 kg/m3); (2) medium density (MD, 900 kg/m3); and (3) high density (HD, 1050 kg/m3). During ensiling, the silage was sampled for a fermentation quality analysis. All silages were well preserved, as indicated by the high lactic acid (LA) content and low pH (&lt;4.2). The MD treatment had the highest acetic acid content (24.9 g/kg dry matter) and the HD treatment had the lowest ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) content (68.2 g/kg total nitrogen, TN) among all silages after 45 days of ensiling. The aerobic stability of HD, MD, and LD persisted for 51 h, 54 h, and 48 h, respectively. The NH3-N contents of HD and MD were below 80 g/kg TN during aerobic exposure. These results show that the increase in ensiling density improved the fermentation quality and aerobic stability of Pennisetum giganteum silages.

Gas production characteristics of oats and tritical silages and techniques for reducing gas emissions1

Greenhouse gas (GHG) production during ensiling not only causes the nutrient losses of silage but also promotes climate warming. However, there is little information on the production of GHG and strategies for mitigating GHG emissions during ensiling. This work aimed to study the gas production characteristics and techniques for reducing gas emissions during ensiling. Oats and triticale, with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) or corn meal (CM) addition, were ensiled. The cumulative gas volume rapidly increased and reached to the peak within the first 9 days of ensiling for both forage crops. The highest cumulative gas volume of triticale silage was twice as much as that of oats silage. Triticale silage produced lower carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, higher methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) concentrations than oats silage within the 28 days of ensiling. Adding LP or CM significantly improved the fermentation quality and decreased the gas volume and GHG concentrations of two silages on d56 (except CH4 of triticale). At the early stage of ensiling, more Enterobacter, Lactococcus and Leuconostoc related to gas production were observed, and adding LP increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and decreased the abundance of bacteria like Kosakonia, Pantoea, Enterobacter and Lactococcus positively correlated with gas volume, CO2 and N2O concentrations. These results suggest that gas formation during ensiling mainly occurs in the first 9 days. Adding LP or CM can significantly improve the fermentation quality and decrease the gas volume. This would benefit to reducing GHG emissions in silage production.

Ensiling sugar beets: Effect of mixer feed used for co-ensiling on fermentation products and losses when ensiled in vacuum bags

Co-ensiling beets with other feeds allows for year-round feeding of beets and reduces the risk of dry matter (DM) loss as effluent from the silage. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of co-ensiling high DM beets with maize and grass/clover silage, grass seed straw, fresh beet pulp, and high DM concentrates (dried beet pulp, wheat distillers’ grain solubles; DDGS, wheat bran, rapeseed meal, sunflower meal, soybean hulls, and maize gluten feed) on gaseous weight loss (GWL), loss of effluents, and silage quality. Beets from harvest year 2021 were used to produce two sets of silages in laboratory silos, resulting in a total of 2 pure beet silages and 12 mixed beets silages. GWL was measured by weighing the laboratory silos until 181 days of ensiling. Fermentation was terminated by freezing after 30, 92, and 181 days of ensiling where loss of effluent was also measured. Total GWL was highest in the two pure beet silages (mean ± SEM; 282 ± 5.47 and 250 ± 7.94 g/kg DM, respectively), and differed among the mixed silages depending on mixer feed. Effluent was only observed in the pure beet silage in Set 1. Silage DM content at 181 days of ensiling was lowest for the two pure beet silages (180 ± 10.9 and 165 ± 5.95 g/kg). For all silages, pH was below 4.25 by 30 days of ensiling. Ethanol concentrations at 181 days of ensiling were highest in the two pure beet silages (345 ± 11.5 and 287 ± 11.8 g/kg DM). L-lactate content of pure beet silages was 38.4 ± 1.85 and 31.1 ± 1.21 g/kg DM at 181 days of ensiling. In Set 1, L-lactate content was lower in beets ensiled with maize silage, grass seed straw, dried beet pulp, or DDGS compared to pure beet silage. In Set 2, L-lactate content was higher in beets ensiled with maize gluten feed compared to pure beet silage. Silage concentration of NH3 varied depending on mixer feed. The NH3 content at 181 days of ensiling was 0.817 ± 0.626 and 2.05 ± 0.601 g/kg DM for pure beet silages and was highest in beets ensiled with grass/clover silage in both silage sets (16.4 ± 0.63 and 17.6 ± 0.60 g/kg DM). Co-ensiling beets with forages, high DM concentrates, and protein-rich feeds included in this study lowered fermentation weight loss, eliminated the loss of effluent, and resulted in silages of good fermentation quality.

Quality assessment of ensiled hybrid Napier grass by in-vitro fermentation techniques

The present study was conducted to evaluate silage made from hybrid Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ensiled in the laboratory using various additives with regard to sensory and chemical characteristics. Four different silages were prepared viz., grass ensiled without additives (GS) as control, and grass silage with Lactobacillus plantarum at 1 x 105 CFU per gram of fresh forage (GSL), grass silage with propionic acid at the rate 0.45 kg per ton of fodder (GSA), and grass silage with combination of Lactobacillus plantarum (1 x 105 CFU per gram of fresh forage) and propionic acid (0.45 kg per ton of fodder) (GSLA). Silage was opened on 21 days of ensiling and assessed the sensory and chemical characteristics. From the overall results, it could be concluded that hybrid Napier grass, ensiled for 21 days using L. plantarum was effective in preserving its nutritive value.

Forage quality and fermentation dynamics of silages of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) wilted for varying periods.

This trial was conducted to explore the impact of different wilting time of Italian ryegrass (IRG) in the field on the nutritional quality and fermentation characteristics of its silage. The harvested IRG was directly wilted in the field for 0 day (W0), 1 day (W1), 2 days (W2), and 3 days (W3), respectively, and tedded every 6 hours. And the preserved IRG was sampled at 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 45 days after ensiling and three replicates per treatment. With the extension of wilting, the dry matter (DM) content and pH value of wilted IRG gradually increased (p<0.05). There was a downward trend in; neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and hemicellulose with the increase of wilting time, but only W2 and W3 were significantly different from W0 (p<0.05). Crude protein (CP), in vitro DM digestibility), total digestible nutrients (TDN), and relative feed value decreased significantly with the increase of wilting time (p<0.05), except for W1. After 45 days of ensiling, W1 had the highest CP, TDN, and the lowest ADF and NDF. During ensiling, the increase of acetic acid and the decrease of WSC in W0 and W1 were similar, but the accumulation rate of lactic acid in W0 was faster than that in W1, resulting in the lowest pH value in W0. After 5 days of ensiling, the ratio of lactic acid to acetic acid in W1 stabilized at around 3:1, while W0 kept changing. Italian ryegrass that wilted in the field for 1 day effectively improved the dynamic changes in CP, TDN, ADF, and NDF and fermentation quality of silage. Therefore, in practice, W1 was more recommended in production of IRG silage.

Utjecaj komercijalnih inokulanata na kemijski sastav i fermentaciju silaže od lucerne

Krmne mahunarke teško se siliraju, pa je potrebno primijeniti starter-kulturu od odabranih sojeva bakterija mliječne kiseline koji podupiru proces siliranja i sprječavaju nepoželjne bakterijske maslačne fermentacije te time doprinose očuvanju i poboljšanju kvalitete silaže. Cilj istraživanja bio je procijeniti učinke komercijalnih inokulanata na kemijski sastav i fermentaciju silaže lucerne kultivara OS99. Masa lucerne podijeljena je u šest jednakih dijelova (kontrola – silaža bez inokulanta) i silaža tretirana komercijalnim inokulantima (PIO1 – Pioneer 11H50, PIO2 – Pioneer 11AFT, SIL – Silko, BON – Bonsilage alfa i SAL – Sil–All4 × 4), sve silirano u mikrosilosima. Nakon 90 dana od siliranja, silaže su analizirane s obzirom na kemijski sastav te fermentacijske parametre. Udio suhe tvari i sirovih proteina bio je veći, a udio mliječne i octene kiseline bio je značajno (p&amp;lt;0,05) veći u silaži tretiranoj inokulantima PIO1, PIO2, SIL, BON i SAL u odnosu na kontrolu. Silaža lucerne tretirana inokulantima PIO1, PIO2, SIL, BON i SAL imala je niži udio kiselih i neutralnih deterdžentskih vlakana, niži pH te značajno (p &amp;lt;0,05) niži udio maslačne kiseline, alkohola i NH3–N u usporedbi s kontrolom. Rezultati istraživanja pokazali su da komercijalni inokulanti PIO1, PIO2, SIL, BON i SAL povećavaju kvalitetu silaže lucerne kultivara OS99 u odnosu na kontrolu.

Assessing genotypes of buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) as an alternative to maize silage for sheep nutrition.

Nutritive value of five Cenchrus ciliaris (buffel grass) genotypes (IG96-50, IG96-96, IG96-358, IG96-401 and IG96-403) weredetermined. Their sugar contents (>70 mg/g of dry matter) and ensiling potential were evaluated using in vitro batch culture and in vivo studies. Research indicated significant differences (P < 0.05) in the dry matter, organic matter, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, cellulose and lignin contents of the C. ciliaris genotypes tested. Genotypes also differed (P < 0.05) in total carbohydrates, structural carbohydrates, non-structural carbohydrates and protein fractions. Genotype IG96-96 had the lowest total digestible nutrients, digestible energy and metabolizable energy contents (377.2 g/kg, 6.95 and 5.71 MJ/kg of dry matter, respectively), and net energy values for lactation, maintenance and growth. After 45 days of ensiling, C. ciliaris silages differed (P < 0.05) in dry matter, pH, and lactic acid contents, and their values ranged between 255-339, 4.06-5.17 g/kg of dry matter and 10.8-28.0 g/kg of dry matter, respectively. Maize silage had higher (P < 0.05) Organic Matter (919.5g/kg of dry matter), ether extract (20.4g/kg of dry matter) and hemi-cellulose (272.3 g/kg of dry matter) than IG96-401 and IG96-96 silages. The total carbohydrates and non-structural carbohydrates of maize silage were higher (P < 0.05), while structural carbohydrates were comparable (P < 0.05) with C. ciliaris silages. Sheep on maize silage had (P < 0.05) higher metabolizable energy, lower crude protein, and digestible crude protein intake (g/kg of dry matter) than those on C. ciliaris silage diets. Nitrogen intake and urinary-N excretion were higher (P < 0.05) on genotype IG96-96 silage diet. Overall, this study suggested that certain C. ciliaris genotypes, notably IG96-401 and IG96-96, exhibited nutritive values comparable to maize silage in sheep studies, offering a promising avenue for future exploration as potential alternatives in diversified and sustainable livestock nutrition programs.

Effect isolated lactic acid bacteria inoculation on the quality, bacterial composition and metabolic characterization of Caragana korshinskii silage

Feed shortage has hindered the development of the world’s livestock industry, and the rational use of non-conventional forages can help resolve this issue. To improve the fermentation quality of Caragana korshinskii silage, this study isolated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from fresh Caragana korshinskii and silage samples, as alternatives to traditional commercial LAB inoculants. Utilizing Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing technology and metabolomics analysis, the microbial community structure and metabolome were examined after 60 days of fermentation to elucidate the mechanism by which isolated LAB affect the fermentation quality of Caragana korshinskii silage. After 60 days of ensiling, the dominant microbial population in the silage shifted from harmful bacteria such as Erwinia, Pantoea, and Enterobacter to LAB. Compared to commercial LAB, the isolated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum significantly reduced the microbial diversity of Caragana korshinskii silage. The species composition of LAB became simpler with Lentilactobacillus parakefiri dominating and achieving a higher relative abundance. By down-regulating Butanoate metabolism and the Pentose phosphate pathway and up-regulating the Ascorbate and aldarate metabolism pathway, the isolated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum significantly lowered the pH of the silage, increased the content of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and lactic acid (LA), reduced the neutral detergent fiber content (NDF), and improved in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility (IVNDFD), thereby enhancing the fermentation quality of Caragana korshinskii silage. On the other hand, the isolated Limosilactobacillus fermentum had the opposite effect, with its ensiling outcome being less effective than that of commercial LAB. The results of the study indicate that the addition of the isolated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum improved the quality of Caragana korshinskii silage by regulating metabolic pathways and the composition of microbes within the ensiled feed.Graphical

Ensiling conditions and changes of cannabinoid concentration in industrial hemp

ABSTRACT Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an important source of fibre and seed oil and protein. By-products of industrial hemp fibre production, like hemp seeds and cakes, can be used as feed for all animal species as fat and protein source and the whole hemp plant (including stalk and leaves) might be a suitable fibre source for ruminants. However, a previous feeding experiment with leaf-flower-seed hemp silage, made from an industrial hemp variety, demonstrated detrimental effects on cow health parameters and a significant transfer of several cannabinoids, including the psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC), into cow’s milk, posing a potential risk to the safety of consumers. Based on those observations, the present study tested the hypothesis that anaerobic fermentation, as during ensiling, increases the content of ∆9-THC in hemp. Therefore, silages of whole plants from the industrial hemp Cannabis sativa L. var. Ivory were prepared in a multifactorial design, with the four treatments 1) untreated control (CON), 2) addition of 10 mL per kg fresh weight homofermentative lactobacilli at 105 cfu/mL (LBAC), 3) addition of 10 mL per kg fresh weight homofermentative lactobacilli at 105 cfu/mL plus 30 g molasses (LBACmol) and 4) addition of propionic acid (10 mL/kg fresh weight) (PRO). Ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionisation (UHPLC-MS/MS) was performed for analysis of cannabinoids in fresh hemp material and after 10 and 90 days of ensiling. The study revealed that ensiling decreased all acid forms of analysed cannabinoids in hemp at about 40–65% of the initial values after 90 days of storage, with the exception of cannabinolic acid (CBNA), and CBGA, the acidic form of cannabigerol (CBG). This decrease in most acidic forms was accompanied by an increase of the corresponding non-acidic forms of all cannabinoids, including the psychoactive ∆9-THC. Thus, although ensiling decreases the total cannabinoid content, psychoactive compounds like ∆9-THC can increase, enhancing the risk for animal health and a transfer of these substances into animal derived products.

Evaluation of epiphytic microbiota in red clover and alfalfa on silage fermentation products, bacterial community diversity and functionality of oat

Abstract The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the contribution of epiphytic microbiota on alfalfa (AL), oat (OT), and red clover (RC) to ensiling characteristics and bacterial community diversity of oat. With the irradiation of γ-ray, sterile OT (~233 g/kg dry matter (DM)) was inoculated by sterile water (STOT), epiphytic microbiota from OT (OTOT), AL (OTAL) and RC (OTRC), respectively. Triplicate silage-bags for each treatment were sampled after different days (1, 3, 7, 15, 30 and 60) of fermentation, respectively. Similar chemical compositions were found between fresh oat and STOT. Lower (P &lt; 0.05) contents of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and higher (P &lt; 0.05) accumulation of lactic acid were found in OTAL compared with OTRC and OTOT on day 3. The greatest (P &lt; 0.05) NH3-N, acetic acid concentrations and pH and the lowest (P &lt; 0.05) concentration of lactic acid were found in OTRC on day 60. After 3 days of ensiling, Lactobacillus accounted for a big proportion in OTAL and OTOT, and Hafnia-Obesumbacterium was predominant in OTRC. The bacterial communities in OTAL and OTOT had lower (P &lt; 0.05) abundances of ‘Genetic Information Processing’ than OTRC after 3 days. Overall, the composition, diversity, and activity of epiphytic microbiota can notably influence the ensiling characteristics of forage oat. The lactic acid bacteria (hetero-fermentative type) and Enterobacteriaceae species played an important role in producing ethanol contents during the ensiling of forage oat.

Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum (L) and molasses (M) on nutrient composition, aerobic stability, and microflora of alfalfa silage in sandy grasslands.

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum and molasses on the nutrient composition, fermentation quality, bacterial count, aerobic stability, and microflora of alfalfa silage in sandy grasslands. The experimental treatments included control (CK), 106 CFU/g Lactobacillus plantarum (L), 5% molasses (M), and 106 CFU/g Lactobacillus plantarum + 5% molasses (LM). The nutrient composition, fermentation quality, bacterial count, aerobic stability, and microflora were determined after 14 days and 56 days of ensiling, respectively. The results showed that the addition of L, M, and LM reduced dry matter loss (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content, and increased water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and ether extract (EE) content, compared to the CK group. Meanwhile, more lactic acid (LA) and accelerated fermentation were observed, causing the pH value to drop below 4.5 in the L, M, and LM groups after 56 days of ensiling. The addition of L, M, and LM promoted lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and inhibited yeast. The addition of L significantly increased the content of acetic acid (AA). In terms of microflora, the addition of L, M, and LM made Firmicutes become the dominant bacterial phylum earlier, while Lactobacillus, Weissella, and Pediococcus had a higher abundance. According to the result of Pearson's correlation, there is a very significant negative correlation between pH value and Lactobacillus (P < 0.01) and a very significant positive correlation between pH value and Lactococcus, Enterobacter, Enterococcus, and Leuconostoc (P < 0.01), which may be inhibited by Lactobacillus under the decreased pH value. The results of the prediction of microbial genes indicated that the addition of M could enhance the carbohydrate metabolism and membrane transport metabolism, which may contribute to LA production by LAB metabolism. In general, L, M and LM all improved the fermentation quality and reduced the loss of nutrients to varying degrees, but considering the fermentation quality, the overall effects of M and LM were better than L. M and LM are recommended to be used as silage additives in the process of alfalfa silage in sandy grasslands to improve the quality.

Investigation of fermentation profiles, bacterial community structure and bacterial β-carotene synthesis of alfalfa silage treated with propionic acid or its combination with squalene

Abstract This study examined the fermentation dynamics, bacterial community composition and bacterial β-carotene synthesis in alfalfa that was ensiled for 3, 15, 45 and 90 days without additives (CON), or with a chemical agent (propionic acid, PA); or a combination of PA and squalene, SQPA). The results showed that silage treated with PA had a lower (P &lt; 0.01) pH value than the CON silage in the early ensiling phase (3–15 days). Meanwhile, silage treated with PA had the highest contents of lactic acid, acetic acid and PA after 90 days of ensiling (P &lt; 0.01). The β-carotene in alfalfa was lost seriously in the initial ensiling phase (3 days) and epiphytic Pantoea agglomerans with the ability to produce β-carotene became extinct. With the extension of ensiling time, the loss of β-carotene was alleviated in all silages. PA and SQPA not only lowered bacterial diversity and simplified bacterial networks but also facilitated the emergence of new β-carotene-producing bacteria. The metabolic function prediction indicated that β-carotene synthesis tended to decrease initially and subsequently increase during ensiling. Furthermore, the variance of enzymes involved in the bacterial synthesis of β-carotene in silages was influenced by PA, SQPA and ensiling time. In summary, the impact of solely adding PA demonstrated superior effects on the fermentation quality of alfalfa silage compared to the effects observed with SQPA. Throughout the ensiling of alfalfa, the succession of different β-carotene-producing bacteria resulted in fluctuations in the levels of β-carotene.

Chemical characteristics, antioxidant capacity, bacterial community, and metabolite composition of mulberry silage ensiling with lactic acid bacteria.

Mulberry has high crude protein and biologically active compounds but is difficult to be ensiled due to the lack of adequate epiphytic LAB. This study aimed to investigate the effects of inoculation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus isolated from mulberry with higher antioxidant capacity alone or in combination with Streptococcus bovis on chemical characteristics, antioxidant capacity, bacterial community, and metabolite composition of mulberry silage. The results showed that all inoculation groups had higher dry matter and lower pH than the control group, particularly in LP (dry matter, DM, 32.03% and pH = 4.44) and LP_PP_SB (DM, 31.68% and pH = 4.26) after 60 days of ensiling. Ammonia nitrogen (AN) content was the lowest in both LP_SB and LP_PP_SB groups, which were 1.86 g/kg FM and 1.05 g/kg FM, respectively, (P < 0.05). Only the LP_PP_SB group showed increased polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, 1.2851 g/kg DM, P < 0.05) than the control group. Ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values were increased in all inoculation-treated groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05). 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DDPH), 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and FRAP exhibited the highest levels in the LP_PP- and LP_PP_SB-treated groups. Enterobacter was dominant in both the control and SB-treated groups, and the relative abundance was 41.18% and 32.35%, respectively (P < 0.05). The relative abundance of Lactiplantibacillus was higher in the LP-, LP_PP-, and LP_SB-treated groups (81.84%-82.69%). Relative abundance of Pediococcus was higher in the PP-, PP_SB-, and LP_PP_SB-treated groups (74.27%-85.27%). Untargeted metabolomics analysis results showed that five flavonoids (apigenin, eriodictyol, quercetin-3-glucoside, rutin, and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside)were upregulated in all inoculation groups (except for the SB-treated groups). Among them, eriodictyol was both positively correlated with ABTS and FRAP and also showed the highest relative abundance in the LP_PP- and LP_PP_SB-treated groups. To the best of our knowledge, this study was the first to investigate the relationship between inoculants of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria and antioxidant capacity by 16s rRNA Illumina sequencing technology and untargeted metabolomics analysis, respectively. Consequently, inoculated L. plantarum, P. pentosaceus alone, respectively, or in combination with S. bovis increased the relative abundance of Lactiplantibacillus and Pediococcus and decreased the relative abundance of Enterobacter, particularly in the LP_PP_SB-treated group. In addition, inoculants could increase the relative abundance of five flavonoids (apigenin, eriodictyol, quercetin-3-glucoside, rutin, and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside), especially eriodictyol to improve the antioxidant capacity of mulberry silage.

Investigating the efficacy of an exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum L75 on oat silage fermentation at different temperatures.

This study investigates the effectiveness of an exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing strain (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum L75) alone or in combination with Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the fermentation characteristics, antioxidant capacities and microbial community successions of oat silage stored at various temperatures. A rapid decrease in pH and lactic acid accumulation was observed in silages treated with L. plantarum and S. cerevisiae (LS) as early as 3 days of ensiling (p < 0.05). Over the ensiling period of 7-60 days, L. plantarum (L)-inoculated groups showed the lowest pH, lowest ammonia nitrogen and the highest amount of lactic acid regardless of the storage temperatures. When the oat silage was stored at 15°C, LS-inoculated group exhibited a higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity than control and L-inoculated group. Furthermore, the proportion of Lactiplantibacillus in the combined inoculation group increased by 65.42% compared to the L-inoculated group (33.26%). Fungal community data revealed abundant Penicillium carneum in the control and L-inoculated groups stored at 15°C. Conclusively, these results showed that combined inoculation of L. plantarum L75 and S. cerevisiae improved the fermentation quality of oat silage at 15°C, thus proposing a technique for enhancing the fermentation quality of silage in regions with low temperatures during harvest season.

Ensilage using Leuconostoc lactis and Weissella confusa reduces microbial risk and enhances hygienic quality of whole-crop corn

This study combined applied PICRUSt2 and BugBase tools to evaluate the effects of these two strains on the fermentation characteristics, microbial community, potential microbial risk and hygienic quality of whole-crop corn (WCC) silage. Fresh WCC harvested at the dough stage was ensiled with distilled water (CON), Leuconostoc lactis (LS) and Weissella confusa (WA) for 2, 4, 8, 15 and 30 days. After ensiling, all WCC silages presented desirable fermentation with high lactic acid and Lactobacillus proportions, low pH and ammonia nitrogen levels and absent butyric acid. Ensiling decreased the complexity of bacterial co-occurrence networks, and the Lc. lactis and W. confusa inoculation further decreased the complexity. The inoculation of W. confusa suppressed the most pathogenic pathways and related modules associated with zoonosis. In bacterial phenotype predicted analysis, although CON had lower proportions of ‘Potentially pathogenic’ than fresh material, this undesirable phenotype declined to negligible levels via LS and WA inoculation. Even for well-fermented WCC silages, the risk of pathogens remained after 30 days of ensiling. Therefore, WA could be developed as a promising fast start-up inoculant for reducing pathogenic contamination and improving hygienic quality of silage.Graphical

Effect of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) Powder Supplementation on Silage Fermentation Characteristics, Silage Quality, and In Vitro Digestibility in Corn Silage

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the addition of rosemary to corn silage affected the quality, fermentation, and in vitro digestion of organic matter. In the study, unaltered silage group constituted the control group, while silages prepared by adding 0.5, 1 and 2% rosemary constituted the experimental groups. After 60 days of ensiling, the pH of the opened silages was determined to be in the range of 3.67-3.72. As the amount of rosemary in the silages increased, the levels of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N/TN) decreased. Compared to the control group, increases in in-vitro organic matter digestion (IVOMD) and metabolizable energy (ME) values were observed in the experimental groups due to the addition of rosemary. In comparison to the control group, the methane gas (CH4) rate of silages was reduced in the other groups. Meanwhile, the group receiving 2% addition of rosemary had the highest values of acetic acid (AA) and lactic acid (LA) among the supplemented silage groups. But, propionic acid (PA) and butyric acid (BA) were not detected in any of the silage groups. Consequently, it was determined that 1% and 2% of rosemary added to corn silage can enhance the quality of the silage.

Bacillus velezensis promotes the proliferation of lactic acid bacteria and influences the fermentation quality of whole-plant corn silage.

This study aimed to investigate the promoting effect of a Bacillus velezensis (BV) strain on lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and determine its influence on the fermentation quality and aerobic stability of silage. Flat colony counting method was used to evaluate the effect of BV on the growth of LAB. Freshly harvested whole-plant corn was inoculated separately with BV and L. plantarum (LP), along with an uninoculated control group (CK), and assessed at 1, 3, 5, 7, 15, and 30 days of ensiling. The results indicated that BV exhibited a proliferative effect on Weissella confusa, Lactobacillus plantarum L-2, and Pediococcus pentosaceus. And exhibited a more rapid pH reduction in BV-inoculated silage compared with that in CK and LP-inoculated silage during the initial stage of ensiling. Throughout ensiling, the BV and LP experimental groups showed enhanced silage fermentation quality over CK. Additionally, relative to LP-inoculated silage, BV-inoculated silage displayed reduced pH and propionic acid. BV also prolonged aerobic stability under aerobic conditions. The microbial community in BV-inoculated silage showed greater stability than that in LP-inoculated silage. Additionally, Firmicutes and Lactobacillus exhibited more rapid elevation initially in BV versus LP-inoculated silage, but reached comparable levels between the two inoculation groups in the later stage. In summary, BV enhanced the efficacy and aerobic stability of whole-plant corn silage fermentation by stimulating LAB proliferation.

Optimizing Silage Strategies for Sustainable Livestock Feed: Preserving Retail Food Waste

In Canada, approximately 11.2 million metric tons of avoidable food waste (FW) is produced per year. Preservation of a greater proportion of this FW for use as livestock feed would have significant environmental and socioeconomic benefits. Therefore, this study blended discarded fruits, vegetables, and bakery products from grocery stores into silage to assess the ability to preserve their nutritional value and contribute to the feed supply. Two treatments for reducing the water content of FW were evaluated, sun-dried (SD) and passive-dried (PD), and compared to control (C) using laboratory mini-silos over 60 days of ensiling. Although dry matter (DM) was increased by 1–5% for PD and SD, respectively, up to 41.9% of bread products were required to produce a targeted silage DM of 38%. All mature silages were high in crude protein (15.2 to 15.7%), crude fat (6.0 to 6.3%), sodium (0.48 to 0.52%), and sugars (0.95 to 1.53%) and were low in neutral detergent fiber (6.2 to 7.6%) as compared to traditional silages used as livestock feed. Mold and other signs of spoilage were visible on FW, but mycophenolic acid was the only mycotoxin above the limit of detection in material prior to ensiling. Plate counts of molds and yeasts declined (p &lt; 0.001) by 5–7 log colony-forming units (CFU) over 60 days of fermentation and were not detected in mature silage. All silages were aerobically stable over 20 days. This study indicates that FW can produce good-quality silage but approaches other than SD and PD are required for increasing silage DM as insufficient bread products may be available for this purpose in all batches of FW.