Silage Lactic Acid Research Articles

Fermentation profile and nutritional value of millet grain silages rehydrated with whey and/or molasses

This study aimed to evaluate the fermentation profile and nutritional value of millet grain silages rehydrated with whey and/or molasses. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four treatments and six replications, with a control treatment (water rehydration), whey rehydration, water rehydration plus molasses (2.5%), and whey plus molasses (2.5%). Lower values of dry matter content (DM = 66.37; 1.55%) were found for the control silage, but within the recommended range. The contents of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, lignin and hemicellulose were not influenced by the use of additives. There was no difference (p>0.05) for aerobic stability and ammonia-N (6.04%) between treatments. For pH, lower values were observed for silages with molasses. There was a higher concentration (p <0.05) of lactic acid in silages with whey, and a higher concentration of butyric acid in silages added exclusively with molasses. The use of whey improved dry matter recovery compared to control silages. Higher dry matter degradability was observed with 8% rate of passage in silages added with molasses and/or whey in relation to the control.

Whole-plant soybean ensiling with chitosan and homolactic microbial inoculant: fermentative profile, aerobic stability, and sheep intake and digestibility

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the effects of chitosan and homolactic microbial inoculant on fermentative losses, chemical composition, fermentative profile, and aerobic stability of whole-plant soybean silage (WPSS). Additionally, it was evaluated nutrients intake and digestibility of sheep fed increasing levels of WPSS. Thirty experimental silos were randomly allocated to one of the following treatments: 1) CON: control, WPSS without additives; 2) LPPA: WPSS with Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici; and 3) CHI: chitosan, WPSS with 5 g/kg of chitosan. Ten male sheep were used to evaluate increasing dietary levels of WPSS: 0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 g/kg of diet dry matter (DM). Additives increased silage lactic acid bacteria and decreased the count of mold and yeast, gas, and total losses. Silages treated with additives had lower pH, NH3-N, and ethanol concentrations and higher lactic and propionic acids relative to CON. LPPA-treated silos showed higher organic matter and non-fiber carbohydrates content than CHI-ones. Additives increased the aerobic stability of WPSS. The addition of WPSS in sheep diets linearly increased nutrients intake and digestibility. Chitosan and LPPA improve WPSS fermentation, aerobic stability, and nutritional value. The WPSS in substitution to Cynodon hay increases sheep feed intake and nutrients digestibility.

Effects of Class IIa Bacteriocin-Producing Lactobacillus Species on Fermentation Quality and Aerobic Stability of Alfalfa Silage.

Simple SummaryBacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria are considered good alternatives for feed antibiotics because of inhibiting spoilage microorganisms in silage and non-drug resistance in animals. Owing to the narrow antibacterial spectrum, class I bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria are considered to have limitations as silage inoculants. The research was conducted to evaluate the effects of two class IIa bacteriocin-producing Lactobacillus on silage fermentation, microbial population, chemical composition, and aerobic stability. The strains results showed that class IIa bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria could improve silage fermentation quality, reduce counts of molds and yeasts, and improve aerobic stability to a greater extent than inoculation with Lactobacillus plantarum MTD/1, a proven, widely used inoculant, which does not produce bacteriocin. The findings of this research are of great value for current understandings and onwards to conduct further research and for possible practical implementation of class IIa bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria as silage inoculants.The effects of two strains of class IIa bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus delbrueckii F17 and Lactobacillus plantarum (BNCC 336943), or a non-bacteriocin Lactobacillus plantarum MTD/1 (NCIMB 40027), on fermentation quality, microbial counts, and aerobic stability of alfalfa silage were investigated. Alfalfa was harvested at the initial flowering stage, wilted to a dry matter concentration of approximately 32%, and chopped to 1 to 2 cm length. Chopped samples were treated with nothing (control, CON), Lactobacillus delbrueckii F17 (F17), Lactobacillus plantarum (BNCC 336943) (LPB), or Lactobacillus plantarum MTD/1 (NCIMB 40027) (LPN), each at an application rate of 1 × 106 colony-forming units/g of fresh weight. Each treatment was ensiled in quadruplicate in vacuum-sealed polyethylene bags packed with 500 g of fresh alfalfa per bag and ensiled at ambient temperature (25 ± 2 °C) for 3, 7, 14, 30, and 60 days. The samples were then subjected to an aerobic stability test after 60 days of ensiling. Compared with the CON silage, the inoculants reduced the pH after 14 days of ensiling. After 60 days, pH was lowest in the LPB-treated silage, followed by the F17 and LPN-treated silages. Inoculation of F17 increased concentrations of lactic acid in silages fermented for 7, 14, 30, and 60 days relative to other treatments, except for the LPN-treated silages ensiled for 30 and 60 days, in which the lactic acid concentrations were similar to that of F17 silage. Application of F17 and LPB decreased the number of yeast and mold relative to CON and LPN-treated silages. Compared with the CON silage, inoculant-treated silages had greater aerobic stability, water-soluble carbohydrate, and crude protein concentrations, and lower neutral detergent fiber, amino acid nitrogen, and ammonia nitrogen concentrations. The LPB-treated silage had the greatest aerobic stability followed by the F17-treated silage. Both class IIa bacteriocin producing inoculants improved alfalfa silage fermentation quality, reduced the growth of yeasts and molds, and improved the aerobic stability of the ensiled forage to a greater extent than the proven LPN inoculant. However, higher crude protein concentration and lower ammonia nitrogen concentration were observed in LPN-treated silage relative to other treatments.

Dynamic profiles of fermentation characteristics and bacterial community composition of Broussonetia papyrifera ensiled with perennial ryegrass

Broussonetia papyrifera (B. papyrifera) has been proposed to improve silage fermentation due to its high content of protein and abundant active plant extracts. Thus, dynamic profiles of fermentation quality and bacterial community of B. papyrifera mixing with perennial ryegrass in different ratios: 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, and 50:50 were examined during 60-d fermentation. Results showed that adding perennial ryegrass increased soluble carbohydrate content and lactic acid production in silage and decreased pH and population of epiphytic microorganisms. Adding ryegrass exerted a remarkable effect on the silage bacterial community with a dramatic decrease in the abundance of Enterobacter. Spearman’s rank correlation showed that silage lactic acid concentration was positively correlated with Lactobacillus and Stenotrophomonas abundance, while ammonia nitrogen concentration was positively correlated with the abundance of Enterobacter. In conclusion, B. papyrifera ensiled with perennial ryegrass could improve B. papyrifera silage quality and provide high-quality forage resources for sustainable ruminant livestock production.

Physical and chemical quality of silage from two Pennisetum purpureum sp varieties supplemented with molasses at different levels

This study aimed to determine quality of silage from Pennisetum purpureum sp and Pennisetum purpureum cv.Mott supplemented with molasses at different levels. The study was designed using a complete 2 x 3 factorial randomized design. The first factor was grass varieties, Pennisetum purpureum sp and Pennisetum purpureum cv.Mott and the second factor was supplementation of molasses with levels 0, 3 and 6%. The variables measured included physical and chemical characteristics of silage. The results showed that molasses supplementation produce silage with good physical quality in both Pennisetum purpureum variety used. The increased levels of molasses supplementation lowering pH and silage NH3 (P<0.05) concentration, and lactic acid was significantly increase (P< 0.05). The treatment of molasses supplementation showing interactions at pH, NH3 concentration and silage lactic acid concentration in both varieties. It is concluded that Pennisetum purpureum sp with the level of 6% molasses supplementation produce best silage in term of its physical and chemical quality.

Assessing the ability of silage lactic acid bacteria to incorporate and transform inorganic selenium within laboratory scale silos

Selenium (Se) is a non-metallic trace element essential for normal cellular function, which has been linked with reduced risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline and thyroid disease in humans. Se deficiency in livestock is associated with white muscle disease, retained placenta, ill-thrift and mastitis. Where Se status or bioavailability from the soil for plants is poor, livestock rely on supplemental Se in their diets predominantly as either sodium selenite (inorganic form) or selenised-yeast (organic form). As lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been shown to incorporate Se as either organic or elemental (Nano-Se) there may be potential to use silage inoculant bacteria to improve the Se status of feed to provide the Se requirements of livestock. We screened twenty-seven LAB in MRS broth in the presence of sodium selenite for growth and uptake of Se as organic (selenocysteine and selenomethionine), inorganic (selenite and selenate) or/and Nano-Se, with the aim to identify potential candidates for a mini-silo study. Sodium selenite addition into the growth medium of LAB reduced growth rates but also resulted in the conversion of the inorganic sodium selenite into predominately Nano-Se and small quantities of organic-Se. Based on a rank analysis of growth and ability to take up (total Se content) and convert inorganic Se (Nano and organic Se content), three LAB were selected for further investigation as silage inoculants: L. brevis DSMZ (A), L. plantarum LF1 (B), and L. plantarum SSL MC15 (C). Each LAB was used as an inoculant within a grass mini-silo trial, either cultured in the presence of sodium selenite before inoculation or sodium selenite added to the inoculum at inoculation versus controls with no Se. The addition of sodium selenite either into the growth media of LAB or applied at inoculation of grass silage did not interfere with the ability of the LAB to act as a silage inoculant with no difference in silage fermentation characteristic between LAB with no Se added. The addition of sodium selenite either to the LAB growth medium or at inoculation resulted in the conversion of sodium selenite into Nano-Se and organic-Se (Nano-Se, ca. 103 higher than organic), as previously shown in the screening trial. There was no difference between the three LAB for incorporation of Se or in silage quality, indicating the potential to develop silage inoculants to increase the bioavailable form of Se (elemental and organic) to livestock through conversion of inorganic forms during ensiling.

The potential of silage lactic acid bacteria-derived nano-selenium as a dietary supplement in sheep

Context Selenium (Se) is a trace element essential for cellular function in animals as a component of the enzymes glutathione peroxidase and iodothyronine-5-deiodinase. In many parts of Europe, Se is often deficient in livestock diets due to the low Se status of soil. Supplementation of diets with selenised yeast (predominately as seleno-methionine) or inorganic sodium selenite is common practice in most livestock systems, including ruminants. Lactic acid bacteria have been shown to convert inorganic Se into predominantly elemental nano-Se, which has been used recently in human pro-biotics as a less toxic form of Se. Therefore, silage lactic acid bacteria may provide a supplementation route of bioavailable nano-Se for ruminants. Aim Here, we report on the effect of feeding inoculated silage enriched with a supra-nutritional level of nano-Se (Selage) versus control inoculated silage (Silage) on the Se status of finishing lambs and their products, followed by a second study where blood parameters were investigated in ewes. Methods In the first study, 40 Charollais × Suffolk lambs (42 ± 1.7 kg) were paired according to weight and sex, then allocated to the two treatments for 8 or 10 weeks. Uptake of Se into wool was temporally assessed, as well as excretion of Se into faeces. Selenium concentrations in blood and muscle, carcass characteristics and meat quality are reported postmortem. In the second study, individually penned Suffolk × Mule ewes (n = 12; 76 ± 4.5 kg) were offered the same diets as in the first study. Blood parameters were assessed at the start and after 6 weeks, with intake and excretion into faeces and urine assessed temporally throughout the study. Key results In the first study, dry-matter (DM) intake was similar in both treatment groups, at 0.8 ± 0.03 kg/day, but Se concentrations of the diets were significantly different, resulting in intakes of ~0.14 and 1.60 mg/day on the Silage and Selage diets, respectively. This was reflected in higher Se concentrations in faeces (0.4 vs 2.0 mg/kg DM; P &amp;lt; 0.001), wool (0.11 vs 0.25 mg/kg DM; P &amp;lt; 0.001), blood (0.19 vs 0.46 mg/L; P &amp;lt; 0.001) and muscle (0.31 vs 0.41 mg/kg: P &amp;lt; 0.01) on the Selage than on the Silage diet. Colour (chroma) shelf life of the meat was significantly higher on the Selage treatment (8.05 vs 9.2 days; P &amp;lt; 0.05). In the second trial, for ewes fed Selage, blood seleno-methionine increased from 0.21 to 0.25 mg/L and seleno-cysteine from 0.25 to 0.35 mg/L after 6 weeks on the treatment, whereas there was no change in ewes fed Silage. Glutathione peroxidase increased, whereas haematocrit, haemoglobin and platelet count were decreased across time during the study, but there was no difference between the treatments. Conclusions Nano-Se provided by the Selage treatment was shown to be available to sheep and improve shelf life, with no adverse haematological effects. Implications There is potential to use silage inoculants to provide bioavailable Se to ruminants. Further research is required to determine the most appropriate dose for animal performance and product quality.

Influences of malic acid isomers and their application levels on fermentation quality and biochemical characteristics of alfalfa silage

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of different malic acid (MA) isomers (D-MA, L-MA and DL-MA) and their application levels (0, 0.2, 0.6 and 1% of fresh weight, FW) on the fermentation and biochemical characteristics of alfalfa silage, as well as on the degradation of these MA isomers in silage. Alfalfa was harvested at early bloom stage, and after wilting to approximately 35% dry matter (DM), the chopped forages were ensiled in vacuum-sealed polyethylene bags containing 200–230 g wilted forage for 60 d, with 3 replications for each treatment. Silage pH decreased with the increase of the application level of MA. Lactic acid in silage also increased when the application level of MA ranged from 0.2% to 0.6%. However, a decline in lactic acid was observed when the application level of MA reached 1% (FW). On average silage treated with DL-MA had greater lactic acid concentration compared to D-MA or L-MA treated silages. Treatment with MA lowered non-protein nitrogen (NPN) concentration in ensiled forage as application level of the MA increased. In comparison with the control silage, inclusion of MA at ensiling effectively decreased the proportion of saturated fatty acids (SFA) in total fatty acid, whereas it markedly increased the proportion of α-linolenic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and silages treated with DL-MA had greater PUFA and lower SFA. After 60 d of ensiling, the concentration of MA decreased from 22.4 g/kg DM in fresh alfalfa to 6 g/kg DM in silage. On average the greatest percent of MA degraded was observed in L-MA followed by DL-MA, and the averaged residues of MA in D-MA, L-MA and DL-MA-treated silages were 19.8, 12.6, and 16.1 g/kg DM, respectively. Although the amount of degraded MA in ensiled alfalfa increased with the elevated application levels, the percent of MA degraded decreased constantly. Overall, silage microbes used more of L-MA or DL- MA than D-MA, and application of 0.6% DL-MA at the ensiling of alfalfa effectively improved silage fermentation, limited proteolysis, lipolysis and biohydrogenation in ensiled alfalfa.

Effects of addition of malic or citric acids on fermentation quality and chemical characteristics of alfalfa silage

We studied the effects on alfalfa preservation and chemical composition of the addition of different levels of malic acid and citric acid at ensiling as well as the utilization efficiency of these 2 organic acids after fermentation. Alfalfa was harvested at early bloom stage. After wilting to a dry matter content of approximately 40%, the alfalfa was chopped into 1- to 2-cm pieces for ensiling. Four levels (0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1% of fresh weight) of malic acid or citric acid were applied to chopped alfalfa at ensiling with 4 replicates for each treatment, and the treated alfalfa forages were ensiled for 60 d in vacuum-sealed polyethylene bags (dimensions: 200 mm × 300 mm) packed with 200 to 230 g of fresh alfalfa per mini silo and an initial density of 0.534 g/cm3. The application of malic or citric acids at ensiling for 60 d led to lower silage pH than was observed in the control silage (0% of malic or citric acids). Application of the 2 organic acids led to higher lactic acid concentration in alfalfa silage than in the control silage except with the application rate of 1% of fresh weight. Silages treated with both organic acids had lower nonprotein nitrogen concentrations than the control silages, and the nonprotein nitrogen concentrations in ensiled forages decreased with the increase in malic or citric acid application rates. The application of the 2 organic acid additives led to lower saturated fatty acid proportions and higher polyunsaturated fatty acid proportions in ensiled alfalfa than in the control silage. The amount of malic and citric acids degraded during ensiling of alfalfa was 1.45 and 0.63 g, respectively. At the application rate of 0.5% of fresh weight, residues of malic acid and citric acid in alfalfa silage were 11.1 and 13.6 g/kg of dry matter. These results indicate that including malic or citric acids at the ensiling of alfalfa effectively improved silage fermentation quality, limited proteolysis, improved fatty acid composition of the ensiled forage, and could provide animals with additional feed additives proven to promote animal performance. However, when the application rate of both organic acids reached 1%, the concentration of lactic acid in silages decreased notably. Additionally, 0.5 and 1% application rates also increased the yeast count in ensiled alfalfa.

Effects of ethanol, molasses and Lactobacillus plantarum on the fermentation quality, in vitro digestibility and aerobic stability of total mixed ration silages in the Tibetan plateau of China.

In Tibet, it is common practice to make and relocate total mixed ration (TMR) silages before feeding due to the uneven distribution of forages temporally and spatially. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum (L), molasses (M) or ethanol (E) on the fermentation quality and aerobic stability of local adaptive TMR silage. After 45 days of ensiling, pH and ammonia nitrogen in inoculated TMR silages were significantly lower than control. During the first 6 days of the aerobic exposure test, a small fluctuation in lactic acid concentration for all TMR silages was observed, and then silages with ethanol continued this trend, while lactic acid in silage without ethanol sharply decreased until the end of the aerobic exposure period. Meanwhile, pH gradually increased along the aerobic exposure; silages treated with ethanol showed lower pH after 9 days of aerobic exposure. The population of yeast gradually increased during 6 days of aerobic exposure, after that an accelerated rise was observed in TMR silages without ethanol. The combinational beneficial effect of L. plantarum and ethanol was found in combined addition of ethanol and Lactobacillus plantarum silages (EL), indicated by intermediate fermentation quality and higher aerobic stability.

Feeding value and fermentation characteristics of ensiled sugar beet wet distillers for fattening Holstein steers

Sugar beet wet distillers juice with solubles (SBWDJS) are disposed to aerobic spoilage when stored for a prolonged period. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the fermentation characteristics of ensiled SBWDJS, as well as their feeding impact on the metabolic profiles and the growth performance in fattening Holstein steers. Ensiled blends containing SBWDJS were prepared either with Amylomyces rouxii inoculation (AS) or without (US). The silos were analysed on days 0, 7, 14, 28 and 42. As expected, silage lactic acid (LA) concentrations were elevated in the AS treatment compared with the US treatment. Daily gain and final bodyweight values were similar between treatments. Statistically, blood lactic acid concentrations were lowest from AS-based diet-fed steers and highest from control-fed steers. Collectively, SBWDJS can be effectively ensiled with or without A. rouxii and used as feedstuff for fattening Holstein steers.

Effects of fibrolytic enzymes, molasses and lactic acid bacteria on fermentation quality of mixed silage of corn and hulless–barely straw in the Tibetan Plateau

AbstractThe objective of present study was to investigate the effect of fibrolytic enzymes, molasses and lactic acid bacteria on fermentation quality of mixed silage of corn and hulless–barely straw in Tibet. The mixed silage was either untreated (control) or treated with fibrolytic enzymes (E, 0.1% fresh weight, FW), molasses (M, 4% FW), Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp, 6 log colony forming unit [cfu] g−1 FW), E + Lp and M + Lp. Triplicate silos were opened after 15, 30 and 45 days of ensiling, and the average ambient temperature during ensiling was about 10°C. Adding fibrolytic enzymes, molasses or L. plantarum alone improved fermentation quality of the mixed silage with lower (P &lt; 0.05) pH, NH3‐N, acetic acid and butyric acid concentrations as compared to the control, and silage inoculated with L. plantarum showed better fermentation quality than fibrolytic enzymes or molasses treated silages (P &lt; 0.05). The concentration of lactic acid in silages treated with combined additives was higher (P &lt; 0.05) than silages treated with each of the three additives alone. Addition of fibrolytic enzymes with or without L. plantarum, both decreased (P &lt; 0.05) the ratios of neutral detergent fiber to acid detergent lignin (ADL), acid detergent fiber to ADL, hemicellulose to ADL and cellulose to ADL. The present study suggested that application of L. plantarum together with fibrolytic enzymes or molasses to the mixed silage could further improve the mixed silage quality in comparison with using each of the three additives alone.

Identification of lactic acid bacteria in the rumen and feces of dairy cows fed total mixed ration silage to assess the survival of silage bacteria in the gut

The survival of silage lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the gut of dairy cows was evaluated by examining the LAB communities of silage and gut contents. Samples were collected at 2 different research institutes (Mie and Okayama) that offered total mixed ration (TMR) silage throughout the year. Silage and feces were sampled in August, October, and November at the Mie institute, whereas silage, rumen fluid, and feces were sampled in June and August at the Okayama institute. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis using Lactobacillus-specific primers was performed to detect LAB species in the samples. The selected bands were purified for species identification and the band patterns were used for principal component analysis. Lactic acid was the predominant fermentation product in all the TMR silages analyzed, and the lactic acid level tended to be constant regardless of the sampling time and region. A total of 14 LAB species were detected in the TMR silage samples, of which 5 (Lactobacillus acetotolerans, Lactobacillus pontis, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus suebicus, and Lactobacillus plantarum) were detected in the dairy cow feces. Most of the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis bands for the feces samples were also detected in the rumen fluid, suggesting that any elimination of silage LAB occurred in the rumen and not in the postruminal gut segments. The principal component analysis indicated that the LAB communities in the silage, rumen fluid, and feces were separately grouped; hence, the survival of silage LAB in the cow rumen and lower gut was deemed difficult. It was concluded that, although the gut LAB community is robust and not easily affected by the silage conditions, several LAB species can inhabit both silage and feces, which suggests the potential of using silage as a vehicle for conveying probiotics.

Effect of anaerobic digestion residue vs. livestock manure and inorganic fertilizer on the hygienic quality of silage and haylage in bales

AbstractAn increased recycling of nutrients from organic waste to support feed and food production is important for achieving sustainability. However, organic waste may contain undesired microorganisms that may increase the risk of impaired hygienic quality of feeds when used in forage‐cropping systems. This study aimed to investigate how the hygienic quality of silage and haylage was affected after fertilization of grassland with organic fertilizers [anaerobic digestion residue (ADR) pasteurized before spreading, or liquid cattle manure] compared with inorganic NPK fertilization. The experiment was performed on the same grass ley for 2 years, with fertilization carried out before each harvest (year 1, two harvests; year 2, one harvest). The crop was conserved as silage (300 g DM kg−1) and haylage (500 g DM kg−1) in bales (ca 40–55 kg) stored for 1, 5 or 10 months before opening, including effects of storage time and conservation method (silage or haylage) on hygienic quality. Results showed that ADR‐treated crops did not produce silage or haylage with higher microbial counts in comparison with manure‐treated crops on any occasion. The fermentation pattern in silage and haylage from ADR‐treated crops was similar to the pattern in manure‐treated crops. The use of inorganic fertilizer sometimes produced lower pH and higher content of lactic acid in silage, compared with using organic fertilizers. In conclusion, ADR could be used as an organic fertilizer for forage crops without increased risk of impaired hygienic quality compared with using liquid manure or inorganic NPK fertilizers.

Survival of silage lactic acid bacteria in the goat gastrointestinal tract as determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

To determine the survival rate of silage lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the ruminant gastrointestinal tract. Wilted Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) silage (containing 1·9×10(6) CFU LAB g(-1)) was fed ad libitum to three goats equipped with rumen cannulae. Silage was given alone or with concentrates at a 1:1 ratio on a dry matter basis. Rumen fluid was then obtained 2, 4 and 8h after the morning feeding. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis was performed to compare LAB communities in silage, rumen fluid and faeces. The LAB detected in the wilted silage included Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus murinus and Lactobacillus sakei. Bands indicative of Lact. murinus were detected in either the rumen fluid or faeces, whereas the bands indicative of Lact. plantarum, Lact. brevis and Lact. sakei were not. Although the rumen fluid LAB counts and volatile fatty acid concentrations were higher in goats fed silage plus concentrates compared with those fed silage alone, the LAB communities themselves remained unaffected. Sampling times and goat-to-goat variations did not affect the LAB communities found in the rumen fluid. LAB communities found in the gut are not remarkably affected by the consumption of silage LAB, even when the silage is accompanied by concentrates that facilitate gut fermentation. Although silage can improve probiotic function, it may be difficult for silage LAB to survive the digestive process in the ruminant gastrointestinal tract.

Silage Quality of King Grass (Pennisetum purpureophoides) Treated with Epiphytic Lactic Acid Bacteria and Tannin of Acacia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the silage quality of king grass (Pennisetum purpureophoides) treated with addition of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) prepared from fermented grass extract (FGE) or combined with tannin of acacia. Experiment was arranged to a completely randomized design with six treatments and three replications. Treatments were (A) king grass without additive as a control; (B) king grass + 3% (v/w) of FGE; (C) king grass + 3% (v/w) of FGE + 10 ml of acacia extract (50 g/100 ml); (D) king grass + 3% of FGE (v/w) + 10 ml of acacia extract (50 g/75 ml); (E) king grass + 3% of FGE (v/w) + 10 ml of acacia extract (50 g/50 ml), and (F) king grass + 3% of FGE (v/w) + 10 ml of acacia extract (50 g/25 ml). About 250 g of silage materials were ensiled in 400 ml bottle silos at room temperatures (approximately 28 °C) for 30 days. Variables measured were characteristics of FGE, fermentation characteristics and chemical composition of silage. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and the significance differences among means were tested by the Duncan's multiple range test. Results showed that the number of lactic acid bacteria in FGE increased from 0.8 × 107 cfu/ml to 2.9 × 107 cfu/ml after 2 days anaerobic incubation. Concentration of lactic acid in silages with addition of FGE or combined with tannin of acacia (B, C, D, E, and F) were higher (P3-N decreased with increasing concentration of tannin. Butyric acid concentration decreased in silages B, C, D, E, and F as compared to that in silage A. Addition of FGE combined with tannin prepared from acacia leaf improved fermentation quality of king grass silage.

Influence of exogenous enzymes ensiled with orange pulp on digestion and growth performance in lambs

Twenty-four Ossimi male lambs were used to evaluate effects of inclusion of ensiled orange pulp (EOP) in lamb diets either with or without addition of exogenous enzymes (ENZ) of ZADO® on digestion and growth performance. Lambs (21.1±1.01kg body weight (BW)) were assigned to one of three groups of 8 animals/group in a randomized complete block design being: Control (basal diet with 0g/kg EOP), EOP (Control with 150g/kg EOP) or EOP+ENZ (EOP with 5g/kg of ZADO®) in a 90-day experiment. Ensiling the orange pulp increased the crude protein, ether extract and metabolizable energy of the silage by 29, 46 and 8%, respectively, and reduced the secondary metabolites, such as total phenolics, saponins and alkaloids. Silage lactic acid and ethanol were increased by 35% and 54%, respectively for EOP and EOP with ENZ, but all silage quality parameters were in the normal range. Concentration of NH3–N before feeding was decreased (P<0.05) by 11 and 13% in EOP and EOP+ENZ, respectively, whereas at 3 and 6h after feeding ruminal VFA concentration was increased (P<0.05) by 23 and 9% respectively, only in EOP+ENZ lambs. NDFom intake was increased (P=0.036) by 52 and 59%, whereas the ADFom increased (P=0.032) by 8 and 11% in EOP and EOP+ENZ lambs, respectively. Nutrients digestion were higher (P<0.05) in EOP+ENZ than EOP lambs. Digestible DM was increased by 18%, whereas the fiber fractions (NDFom and ADFom) were increased by 93 and 47% with similar EOP+ENZ. DM intake among groups, whereas feed efficiency was higher (P=0.042) by 19 and 31% in EOP and EOP+ENZ lambs compared to control diet. Live weight gain increased (P=0.038) by 92% in EOP+ENZ lambs whereas it increased by 54% in EOP lambs. Addition of EOP to the diet improved feed efficiency and live weight gain suggesting a good quality feed, which could probably be used to replace a part of the concentrate in ruminant diets.

The effect of Lactobacillus buchneri 40788 or Lactobacillus plantarum MTD-1 on the fermentation and aerobic stability of corn silages ensiled at two dry matter contents

Whole-plant corn was harvested at 33 (normal) and 41% (moderately high) dry matter (DM) and ensiled in quadruplicate 20-L laboratory silos to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus buchneri 40788 (LB) or L. plantarum MTD-1 (LP) alone, or in combination, on the fermentation and aerobic stability of the resulting silage. Aerobic stability was defined as the amount of time after exposure to air for the silage temperature to reach 2°C above ambient temperature. The chopped forage was used in a 2×2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments: normal and moderately high DM contents, LB at 0 (untreated) or 4×105 cfu/g of fresh forage, and LP at 0 or 1×105 cfu/g. After 240 d of ensiling, corn silage harvested at the moderately high DM had higher pH, higher concentrations of ethanol, and more yeasts compared with the silage ensiled at the normal DM content. Inoculation with LB did not affect the concentration of lactic acid in silages with a moderately high DM, but decreased the concentration of lactic acid in the silage with normal DM. Higher concentrations of acetic acid were found in the silage treated with LB compared with those not treated with this organism. Inoculation with LP increased the concentration of lactic acid only in the silage with the normal DM content. The concentration of acetic acid was lower in silage treated with LP with a moderately high DM content, but greater in the silage treated with LP with the normal DM content when compared with silages without this inoculant. Appreciable amounts of 1,2-propanediol (average 1.65%, DM basis) were found in all silages treated with LB regardless of the DM content. The addition of L. buchneri increased the concentration of NH3-N in silages but the addition of L. plantarum decreased it. Aerobic stability was improved in all silages treated with LB, with greater aerobic stability occurring in the silage with moderately high DM compared with silage with normal DM content. Inoculation with LP had no effect on aerobic stability. There were no interactions between L. buchneri and L. plantarum for most fermentation products or aerobic stability of the silages. This study showed that inoculating whole-plant corn with L. buchneri 40788 or L. plantarum MTD-1 has different beneficial effects on the resulting silage. There appear to be no major interactions between these organisms when added together to forage. Thus, there is potential to add both organisms simultaneously to improve the fermentation and aerobic stability of corn silage.

Valor nutritivo e características fermentativas de silagens de capim-elefante com adição de casca de café

O experimento foi conduzido para avaliar a composição química, a digestibilidade in vitro da MS (DIVMS) e as características fermentativas de silagens de capim-elefante com diferentes níveis de casca de café. Utilizou-se o capim-elefante contendo 17,2% de MS, cortado aos 45 dias de crescimento. Os níveis de adição foram de 0, 6, 12, 18 e 24% de casca de café, na base da matéria natural (peso/peso), com quatro repetições por tratamento. O material foi acondicionado em silos de PVC, adotando-se compactação de 500 kg/m³. Observou-se aumento dos teores de MS, FDA, nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente ácido e lignina, em função dos níveis de casca de café. O teor de PB apresentou comportamento quadrático, estimando-se valor máximo de 9,9% de PB para o nível de 16,4% de adição de casca de café. Os valores de FDN reduziram linearmente e os teores de ácido lático das silagens comportaram-se de maneira quadrática em função dos níveis de casca de café, estimando-se valor máximo de 11,4% para o nível de 25,6% de casca. A casca de café foi eficiente em aumentar o teor de MS, mas diminuiu a DIVMS das silagens. A utilização de casca de café na ensilagem de capim-elefante melhorou as características fermentativas da silagem.

Proteolysis, Fermentation Efficiency, and In Vitro Ruminal Digestion of Peanut Stover Ensiled with Raw or Heated Corn

Peanut stover (PS) is similar to full-bloom alfalfa hay in chemical composition. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of adding raw or heated corn meal to PS at ensiling on silage N components, fermentation acids, and digestion by ruminal microorganisms. The PS was collected after harvesting of peanuts and ensiled immediately without and with addition of raw or heated corn meal (100 g/kg of fresh weight). Corn was added to PS so that the initial mixture would contain adequate dry matter (DM) (approximately 30%) and additional nonfiber carbohydrate to enhance silage fermentation. After 8 wk of silo fermentation, corn-treated silages contained less structural carbohydrates but more non-fiber carbohydrates compared with the untreated control. A shift from hemicellulose to nonfiber carbohydrate use during silage fermentation was evident by corn treatment. Additional corn at ensiling resulted in silage N with less water-soluble N, protein N, nonprotein N, nonprotein nonammonia N (peptides plus amino acids), and ammonia N. Based on changes in soluble nonprotein N before and after ensiling, the amount of proteolysis was approximately 66% for control silage and was nearly 40% lower in response to corn treatment. Adding corn increased silage lactic acid, but both acetic and propionic acids decreased. These changes were reflected in the lower pH and higher fermentation efficiency with corn-treated silages. More DM was digested and greater amounts of volatile fatty acids, except for branched-chain acids, were produced in vitro by ruminal microorganisms with corn-treated silages. In addition, incubations with silage treated with heated corn contained higher concentrations of acetic and propionic acids compared with raw corn. In vitro ammonia accumulation per unit of DM digested was lower for corn treatments than the control, and for heated corn vs. raw corn-treated silage. These results indicate that supplementation of either raw or heated corn on PS at ensiling could minimize proteolysis and improve fermentation efficiency. Advantages from using heated vs. raw corn could extend beyond silage fermentation and include rumen microbial fermentation.