Silage Additives Research Articles

Effect of Formic Acid and Inoculants on Microbial Community and Fermentation Profile of Wilted or Un-Wilted Italian Ryegrass Silages during Ensiling and Aerobic Exposure

Wilted (around 35% DM) or un-wilted (around 35% DM) Italian ryegrass treated with three additives (formic acid, FA; Lactobacillus plantarum, LP; Lactobacillus buchneri, LB) was utilized to evaluate the effects of the dry matter (DM) contents on the microbial community and fermentation characteristics, which was ensiled for 60 days in a laboratory-scale silo, followed by 3 days of aerobic exposure. Significantly lower pH and higher lactic acid (LA) contents were observed in the LP-treated group ensiled at both DM contents (differences were significant when p < 0.05). The contents of LA, acetic acid (AA), numbers of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) in the FA-treated group were significantly lower than those in other treatments (p < 0.05). L. buchneri was the dominant bacteria after 60 days fermentation, while Enterobacteria became prevalent after 3 days of aerobic exposure. L. buchneri was found in the LB-treated group with higher acetic acid. Although the best fermentation quality was observed in the LP-treated silages, the aerobic stability was lowest compared to other groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our findings suggest that the DM content of Italian ryegrass affected its epiphytic microbial community and the effectiveness of the different type of additives. Formic acid was more suitable for un-wilted Italian ryegrass silage, L. plantarum had a better effect in wilted Italian ryegrass silage, and L. buchneri prolonged the aerobic stability of Italian ryegrass. DM content and purpose of ensiling should be the key factors for choosing different types of additives for Italian ryegrass silage.

Enhanced silage pretreatment improving the biochemical methane potential of Miscanthus sinensis.

The choice of silage additives is an important factor for the storage of silage. One standard ensiling method and two enhanced ensiling methods (using natural silage, silage with mixed lactic acid bacteria, and silage with acetic acid, respectively) were carried out on Miscanthus sinensis. To determine the effects of these different methods, the biochemical methane potential (BMP) was determined. The results revealed that ensiling with acetic acid was the best method among the three ensiling methods. Acetic acid could quickly reduce the pH of the system to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. The rate of loss of dry matter was 0.92% when acetic acid was added, and the cumulative methane production was 149.6mL·g-1 volatile solids. From an analysis of correlations between the properties and BMP of silage, the contents of acetic acid and total volatile fatty acids were significantly correlated with the BMP. This study provides a theoretical basis for improving the BMP of M. sinensis and achieving better effects of silage.

Açai seed as an additive in Panicum maximum cv. Mombasa ensiling for ruminant nutrition: An alternative to reduce environmental pollutants

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential use of açai ( Euterpe oleracea ) seeds as a moisture sequestrant in Panicum maximum cv. Mombasa grass silage and its potential use in sheep diet. In this study, we conducted two experiments using Mombasa grass silage supplemented with açai seeds at 0, 185, 225, 433, and 520 g.kg -1 dry matter (DM). Experiment 1 was used to evaluate the effect of açai seeds on DM, effluent loss (EL), chemical composition, and fermentation characteristics of the silage, while Experiment 2 was used to evaluate the effect of açai seeds on the intake, digestibility, and nitrogen (N) balance of the sheep fed açai seed-supplemented Mombasa grass silage. In Experiment 1, the DM content of the silages increased, and the EL decreased with an increase in the açai seed concentration ( P <0.05). In Experiment 2, the DM, organic matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber intake increased ( P <0.05), while the digestible energy intake and N balance were unaffected ( P >0.05) with increasing açai seed concentration in the silage. Açai seeds, up to 520 g.kg -1 DM inclusion level, are effective moisture sequestrants in the Mombasa grass silage because they reduce EL, increase the DM recovery of the ensiled material, and increase the DM intake of the animals. Furthermore, the use of açai seeds as additives in silage is beneficial to the environment because of the reduction in waste production from the açai pulp processing and subsequent reduction in the generation of effluents from silage. • The use of açai seed reduces the effluent generated from silage • Açai seeds increase the dry matter recovery of the ensiled material • The sheep nitrogen retention does not change with açai seed inclusion in the silage • The sheep energy intake does not change with açai seed inclusion in the silage

Effects of Acremonium cellulase and heat-resistant lactic acid bacteria on lignocellulose degradation, fermentation quality, and microbial community structure of hybrid elephant grass silage in humid and hot areas.

To better evaluate the effects of Acremonium cellulase (AC) and previously screened heat-resistant Lactobacillus plantarum 149 (LP149) on lignocellulose degradation, fermentation quality, and microbial community during ensiling in humid and hot areas, this study used a small-scale fermentation system to prepare hybrid elephant grass silage at 30 and 45°C, respectively. Compared to control and commercial inoculant Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), the addition of AC or strain LP149 decreased the contents of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and cellulose and increased the contents of glucose, fructose, and sucrose during fermentation. Furthermore, AC and LP149 treatments altered the microbial communities' structure during ensiling. AC treatment provided more substrate for microbial fermentation, resulting in an increase in bacterial alpha diversity. LP149 treatment increased the Lactobacillus abundance and optimized the bacterial community compositions. In addition, AC and LP149 treatments had higher (P < 0.05) lactic acid and acetic acid contents and lower (P < 0.05) pH, butyric acid, and NH3-N levels compared to the control. These results indicated that AC and strain LP149 are promising silage additives that can promote lignocellulose degradation and improve the fermentation quality of hybrid elephant grass in humid and hot areas.

Applying the benzoate equivalent concept in rehydrated corn grain silage

The benzoate equivalent (BEq) concept is a potential tool to compare silage additives that differ in active ingredients and their respective concentrations. Thus, our objective was to define BEq coefficients for potassium sorbate and sodium propionate in comparison to sodium benzoate, and establish an application rate based on the BEq to extend the aerobic stability of rehydrated corn grain silage. Dry corn kernels were ground (hammer mill, 8-mm screen), rehydrated to 350 g/kg moisture, and treated as follows: no additive (control), potassium sorbate (PS) at 125, 250, 500 and 1000 g/t, sodium benzoate (SB) at 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 g/t, sodium propionate (SP) at 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 g/t, and a mixture of SB, PS and SP (BPS) at 250 + 150 + 53 g/t, 375 + 225 + 79 g/t, 500 + 300 + 105 g/t and 625 + 375 + 132 g/t, respectively. Treated grain was stored for 60 d in laboratory silos. All additives, alone or mixed, decreased the yeast and mold counts, ethanol and ethyl ester concentrations, and DM loss during fermentation, whereas more water-soluble carbohydrates were preserved in the treated silages. The untreated (control) corn grain silage rapidly deteriorated upon air exposure (∼ 41 h of aerobic stability), and PS, SB, and SP, alone or mixed, linearly improved the aerobic stability with increasing application rate. PS (BEq = 1.99) was more effective than SB (BEq = 1), and SB was more effective than SP (BEq = 0.35) in enhancing the aerobic stability. An application rate of approximately 1400 g/t of BEq could extend the aerobic stability of rehydrated corn grain silage for 3 d over that of untreated silage. In conclusion, the BEq concept is a plausible tool to compare commercial silage additive preparations and define their application rates in corn grain silage.

KUALITAS DAN KOMPOSISI KIMIA SILASE JERAMI JAGUNG DENGAN PENAMBAHAN BERBAGAI JENIS ADITIF SILASE

This study aims to determine the quality and chemical composition of corn straw silage with the addition of various silage additives. The study used a completely randomized design consisting of 4 treatments, namely P1 (corn straw + 10% rice bran), P2 (corn straw + EM4 10%), P3 (corn straw + 10% milled corn), and P4 (corn straw + tapioca flour 10%). Parameters observed are physical quality, fermentative quality, and chemical composition of corn straw silage. The results showed that the physical qualities of all treatments gave the same results. The pH and Fleigh Scores of all treatments show no significant difference (P&gt;0.05). The content of DM, OM, and CP from all treatments show no significant difference (P&gt;0.05),while the CF show a significant difference (P&lt;0.05). From the results of this study, it is concluded that the addition of EM4 as a silage additive gave the best results on corn straw silage.

Microbial inoculant and cottonseed cake as additives for millet silage at different fermentation times

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of microbial inoculant and cottonseed cake on the fermentation profile, microbial population, aerobic stability, organic acids, chemical composition and losses of millet silages. The experimental design was completely randomised, in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement, with the following treatments: (1) Control (millet); (2) Millet + 10% cottonseed cake (on a natural matter basis); (3) Millet + Weissella cibaria – heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria; (4) Millet + cottonseed cake and Weissella cibaria (blend); and two opening times (30 and 90 days after ensiling) with four replications, totalling 32 experimental units. Silages containing cottonseed cake had greater (P = .008) dry matter recovery. There was effect (P < .001) of the opening time on the counts of lactic acid bacteria, mould and yeast, and under aerobic stability, which were higher in silages opened at 90 days. The addition of cottonseed cake resulted in an increase in the nutritional quality of the silage, compared to control silages and silages inoculated with Weissella cibaria. The addition of cottonseed cake in millet silage proved to be efficient in reducing silage losses, improving the fermentation profile and nutritional value.

Suitability of anaerobic fungi culture supernatant or mixed ruminal fluid as novel silage additives

This study investigated silage quality characteristics and ruminal fiber degradability of grass and straw ensiled with either anaerobic fungi (AF) supernatant with active fungal enzymes or mixed ruminal fluid as novel silage additives. Compared to control silages, AF supernatant improved the quality of grass and straw silages as evidenced by decreased pH, acetic acid concentration, and dry matter losses. Likewise, mixed ruminal fluid enhanced lactic acid fermentation, which further resulted in lower pH of the treated grass silage. The ruminal fiber degradability was determined using in situ incubations and, compared to controls, the cellulose degradability was higher for grass silage with AF supernatant, whereas ruminal degradability of straw silage was reduced by this treatment. In contrast, mixed ruminal fluid did not influence fiber degradability of silages in the rumen. Concluding, both novel additives improved silage quality, whereas only AF supernatant enhanced ruminal fiber degradability of grass silage and therefore may represent an approach for improving forage utilization by ruminants.Key points• Enzymes of anaerobic fungi supernatant improve quality of grass and straw silages.• Mixed ruminal fluid enhances lactic acid fermentation when ensiling grass and straw.• Enzymes of anaerobic fungi supernatant increase ruminal grass silage degradability.

Efficacy of adding chemical and microbial additives to silage on beef cattle performance: Systematic review and meta‐analysis

AbstractThe effects of different additives on farm‐scale silage quality and beef cattle performance are inconsistent. This study aimed to carry out a systematic review and meta‐analysis to evaluate the efficacy of chemical and microbial additives to silage on beef cattle performance. Systematic searches were performed using databases and scientific journals, and 42 articles were selected. Data for all variables were grouped into subgroups according to the additive type. For dry matter intake and average daily gain, the data were also grouped by forage type due to greater comparison numbers. The treatment mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (p &lt; 0.05) were analysed using a random‐effects model. The use of homo‐ and heterofermentative microbial inoculant mixtures and chemical additives (Ch) increased the average daily gain of beef cattle fed maize/sorghum silage. Homofermentative microbial inoculant (Ho), Ch, and a mixture of microbial inoculant and chemical additives also increased the average daily gain of beef cattle fed temperate grasses. Only Ch increased dry matter intake. Ch increased feed efficiency, and Ch and Ho increased carcass weight. The evaluated additives improved the silage fermentation process mainly via pH and ammonia nitrogen reduction. Overall, this meta‐analysis demonstrated that silage additives improved the ensiling process and beef cattle performance, with better results with Ch use. Due to the aerobic stability and microbiological profile analyses being carried out more in laboratory‐scale silos, more studies are needed to determine these silage parameters after opening the silo at the farm scale.

Effects of Different Additives on the Chemical Composition, Fermentation Profile, In Vitro and In Situ Digestibility of Paper mulberry Silage

Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) plants are served as a local roughage in China, and they are mostly processed as silage for ruminants. This study aimed to explore the effects of different silage additives on the chemical composition, fermentation profile, as well as the in vitro and in situ digestibility of paper mulberry (PM) silage. Four groups consisting of PM silage, three with additives and one without any additives as the control group (CON), were established. The three experimental groups with additives were set up as follows: CON with 5 × 106 CFU per gram of fresh PM weight of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum) (LAB); CON with 3% fresh PM weight of molasses (MOL) added to the PM silage; and CON with both LAB and MOL added (LM). After 45 days of ensiling at 20 °C, all of the PM treatment groups increased their ash content and decreased their water-soluble carbohydrate content (p &lt; 0.05). Meanwhile, the pH and NH3-N content of the PM silage were lower in the additive treatment groups than in the CON group (p &lt; 0.05). Lactic acid in the LM group was the highest (p &lt; 0.05) among the four groups, and trace amounts of butyric acid was detected only in the CON group. In vitro dry matter digestibility was similar among all groups. Results of the in situ experiment found that the effective digestibility of the PM silage dry matter, as well as the acid detergent fiber digestibility was higher in the LM group than in the CON group (p &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of LAB, MOL, and their combination can improve PM silage fermentation and improve the in situ digestibility of dry matter and acid detergent fiber; however they do not affect in the vitro digestibility of PM silage.

Effects of Different Silage Additives on Silage Quality of Gramineae Forage Mixtures

Effects of Different Silage Additives on Silage Quality of Gramineae Forage Mixtures

Lignocellulose conversion of ensiled Caragana korshinskii Kom. facilitated by Pediococcus acidilactici and cellulases.

To explore the biofuel production potential of Caragana korshinskii Kom., Pediococcus acidilactici and an exogenous fibrolytic enzyme were employed to investigate the fermentation profile, structural carbohydrates degradation, enzymatic saccharification and the dynamics of bacterial community of C. korshinskii silage. After 60 d of ensiling, all additives increased the fermentation quality. The highest lactic and acetic acids and lowest non-protein nitrogen (NPN) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3 -N) were observed in P. acidilactici and Acremonium cellulase (PA + AC) treated silage. Additionally, all additives significantly increased the ferulic acid content and fibre degradability with the highest values obtained from PA + AC silage. The bacterial community in all silages was dominated by P. acidilactici throughout the entire fermentation process. The bacterial community was also modified by the silage additives exhibiting a relatively simple network of bacterial interaction characterized by a lower bacterial diversity in P. acidilactici (PA) treated silage. The highest 6-phospho-beta-glucosidase abundance was observed in PA-treated silage at the mid-later stage of ensiling. PA treatment exhibited lower structural carbohydrates degradation but performed better in lignocellulose conversion during enzymatic saccharification. These results indicated that pretreating C. korshinskii improved its silage quality and potential use as a lignocellulosic feedstock for the production of bio-product and biofuel.

Effect of rice bran and microorganism as additives in pearl millet silage

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate rice bran (RB) and microbial inoculation effects on pearl millet silage fermentative losses, fermentation profile, nutrients recovery, chemical composition, in vitro degradation and aerobic stability. Seventy-two experimental silos (PVC buckets with 28 cm diameter and 25 cm height) were used to evaluate nine treatments, from a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement: (I) levels of RB: 0, 100 and 200 g/kg as-fed; and (II) microbial inoculation: (1) Control (CON): no inoculation; (2) LPPP: inclusion 1.04 × 105 colony forming units (CFU) of Lactobacillus plantarum and 1.04 × 105 CFU of Pediococcus pentosaceus per g; and (3) LB: inclusion 1.6 × 105 CFU of Lactobacillus buchneri per g. The silage microbial inoculant inclusion had no effect on silage, regardless of RB addition. Rice bran increased silage pH and decreased ammonia-N, propionic, butyric and branched-chain fatty acids content. Rice bran decreased gas losses and recovery of DM, OM, CP and ADF, whereas increased digestible DM recovery. The addition of RB reduced OM, NDF, ADF and ADL silage content, and increased silage DM, CP and EE, and NDF degradation. Therefore, RB increases digestible DM recovery, and improves silage fermentation and nutritional value.

Safety and efficacy of the feed additives containing cellulase (produced by Aspergillus nigerCBS 120604), beta-glucanase (produced by Aspergillus neonigerMUCL 39199), or xylanase (produced by Trichoderma citrinovirideMUCL 39203 or by Trichoderma citrinoviride CBS 614.94) for all animal species (FEFANA ASBL).

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and the efficacy of the feed additives cellulase (produced by Aspergillus niger CBS 120604), beta‐glucanase (produced by Aspergillus neoniger MUCL 39199) and xylanases (produced by Trichoderma citrinoviride MUCL 39203 and CBS 614.94) as silage additives for all animal species. In 2018, the FEEDAP Panel evaluated 11 enzymes to be used as silage additives. In that opinion, the additives, including the production strains, were characterised in full and their safety and efficacy were evaluated. However, the Panel could not conclude on the identification of the production strains of the xylanase produced by the strain with deposit number MUCL 39203 (product referred as to J) and the glucanase produced by strain with deposit number MUCL 39199 (product referred as to L). The Panel could not conclude either on the efficacy of the products J, L as well as for the cellulase produced by the strain with deposit number CBS 120604 (product referred as to H) and the xylanase produced by the strain with deposit number CBS 614.94 (product referred to as K). The newly submitted information showed that the species for the xylanase produced by the strain with deposit number MUCL 39203 (product J), should be changed into Trichoderma citrinoviride, and that the species of the production strain for the glucanase produced by the strain with deposit number MUCL 39199 (product L), should be changed into Aspergillus neoniger. The Panel concluded that the four additives have the potential to reduce the protein degradation during the ensiling process when added at the corresponding inclusion levels in different types of forages.

The Change in Microbial Diversity and Mycotoxins Concentration in Corn Silage after Addition of Silage Additives

In our study the presence of bacteria, yeast, and microscopic fungi was evaluated. Three forms of corn silage were made including silage without additive, silage with microbial additive (lactic acid bacteria), and silage with nutritional additive (urea). Silage additives were applied to the matter within the recommended dosage, then the matter was ensiled into plastic bags and stored at a constant temperature. After 5.5 months of storage, average samples for microbial and mycotoxins analysis were taken. From microbiological points, the plate count agar method for enumeration of total count of bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, enterococci, yeasts, and microscopic fungi and mass spectrometry for microbiota identification were used. In total, 43 species of bacteria and yeasts and 6 genera of microscopic fungi were identified from all samples of corn silages. The most isolated species were Lentilactobacillus buchneri and Kazachstania exigua from bacteria resp. yeasts and Aspergillus and Penicillium from microscopic fungi. Mycotoxins were determined by HPLC-MS/MS and divided into two groups as regulated and emerging. In the corn silages only Fusarium mycotoxins were observed. All corn silages, regardless of the addition of the additive, were the highest in nivalenol content. Deoxynivalenol and beauvericin with the highest concentrations were present in silage with urea. Although the mycotoxins content of the variants changed, these changes were not statistically significant. In general, addition of lactic acid bacteria Lentilactobacillus buchneri and Lacticaseibacillus casei and urea as silage additives affect the microbial diversity; however, the hygienic quality of whole crop corn silage was not negatively changed.

Efficacy of formic acid, enzymes, and microbial additives in silage on the performance of sheep: Systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aimed to carry out a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of chemical, enzymatic, and microbial additives on the silage quality and performance of sheep. After article selection using the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, LILACS and MEDLINE-PubMed databases and a manual search of scientific journals and the references of articles selected in the systematic review, 4257 articles published through May 2021 were identified. Fifty-four randomized control trials eligible for review were selected. Data were grouped into subgroups by the additive type (Mho = homofermentative microbial inoculant; Mhe = heterofermentative microbial inoculant; MMi = microbial inoculant mixture; Fa = formic acid; En = enzymes). The meta-analysis was performed using the “meta” package of R software. The data were analyzed using the random effects model and the raw mean difference with a 95% confidence interval (p < 0.05). Fa use reduced (p < 0.05) the silage crude protein digestibility (CPD) (−20.7 g/kg DM), and the ammonia nitrogen (NH3–N) (−53.6 g/kg total N), and acetic acid (−5.06 g/kg DM) content and pH (−0.325) and increased the animal nitrogen retention (1.30 g/day), and the dry matter (DM) (14.1 g/kg NM), crude protein (CP) (20.4 g/kg DM) and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) (11.5 g/kg DM) content. En use reduced (p < 0.05) the silage neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) (−33.1 g/kg DM), CP (−10.8 g/kg DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (−49.1 g/kg DM), NH3–N (−25.5 g/kg total N) and acetic acid (−4.43 g/kg DM) content. Mho use increased (p < 0.05) the dry matter intake (DMI) (95 g/day), dry matter digestibility (DMD) (28.8 g/kg DM), CPD (26.6 g/kg DM), WSC (2.55 g/kg DM), nitrogen intake (2.23 g/day), retained nitrogen (2.19 g/day) and lactic acid (10.4 g/kg DM) content and reduced the mold count (−1.01 log10 CFU/g), NH3–N (−13.4 g/kg total N), acetic acid (−3.31 g/kg DM) content and aerobic stability (−33.8 h) of the silage. Mhe use increased (p < 0.05) the DMI (78.6 g/day), carcass yield (0.906%), DM (9.96 g/kg NM), aerobic stability (23 h) and acetic acid (19.9 g/kg DM) content and reduced the NDF (−20 g/kg DM) and ADF (−16.2 g/kg DM), yeast (−0.852 log10 CFU/g) and mold (−0.469 log10 CFU/g) counts. MMi use increased (p < 0.05) the average daily gain (17 g/day), DM (13.4 g/kg NM) and yeast (0.930 log10 CFU/g) count and reduced the silage pH (−0.037). All additive types improved the silage quality, but only MMi improved weight gain in sheep. Mhe increased silage aerobic stability and can be used for this purpose on commercial farms.

Exploring the Effects of Different Bacteria Additives on Fermentation Quality, Microbial Community and In Vitro Gas Production of Forage Oat Silage.

Simple SummaryForage oat is an important feed resource in the world. Few studies on the application of different bacterial additives in forage oat silage have been found, which limits the utilization and promotion of oat silage in animal husbandry. In this study, we compared the fermentation quality and in vitro gas production of oat silage treated with four additives (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum F1,LP; Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus XJJ01, LR; Lacticaseibacillus paracasei XJJ02, LC; and Propionibacterium acidipropionici 1.1161, PP). The results show that compared to the CK group (without additives), the LR group had a higher dry matter content, while the LP group showed an improvement in fermentation quality. At the same time, the bacterial community in the LR group was also different from that in other groups. The treatments of PP and LC had no significant effects on fermentation quality, but the in vitro gas production was significantly reduced in the treated oat silage. These results could help us to optimize the utilization of forage oat silage in balanced ruminant diets.Bacterial inoculants are considered as a good choice for successful ensiling, playing a key role in improving the silage quality. However, the potential of different bacteria, especially the propionic acid bacteria, in forage oat ensiling is yet to be explored. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the regulation effects of different bacterial additives on the fermentation quality of forage oat silage. Four additives (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum F1, LP; Lacticaseibacillus 0rhamnosus XJJ01, LR; Lacticaseibacillus paracasei XJJ02, LC; and Propionibacterium acidipropionici 1.1161, PP; without additives, CK) were inoculated in forage oat silage, and the fermentation quality and organic compounds were determined after 60 days of ensiling. Notably, LR showed higher dry matter preservation compared to other additives and CK. In addition, LP and LR showed strong lactic acid synthesis capacity, resulting in lower pH compared to other additives and CK. The treatments of PP and LC increased the bacterial diversity in silage, while the bacterial community in the LR group was different from that in other groups. In addition, the PP- and LC-treated oat silage showed significantly lower total in vitro gas production and a lower methane content. These results suggest that LP is more favorable for producing high-quality oat silage than LR, LC, or PP. Both the PP- and LC- treated oat silage may reduce rumen greenhouse gas emissions.

Fermentation Quality, In Vitro Digestibility, and Aerobic Stability of Total Mixed Ration Silage in Response to Varying Proportion Alfalfa Silage.

Simple SummaryEnsiling a total mixed ration (TMR) allows longer storage times for thoroughly mixed feed. In our previous study, we found that alfalfa silage could directly provide an acidic environment in fresh TMR and had a function comparable to that of lactic acid bacterial inoculants in improving fermentation quality during ensiling. However, the specific percentage of silage addition to the TMR has not been evaluated. In this study, we explored the effects of different proportions of alfalfa silage on the fermentation quality, in vitro digestibility, and aerobic stability of TMR silage and discussed the results in terms of the chemical composition of the feed. We found that the gradual development of an acidic environment during the ensiling process, which can be achieved with 40% alfalfa silage addition, can improve aerobic stability. However, the addition of 60% or 20% alfalfa silage might cause lower aerobic stability or clostridial spoilage in TMR silage. Our findings provide a more in-depth understanding of the effects of silage components on TMR silage and may guide farmers to apply a proper silage composition in rations to avoid the loss of feed value during storage or feeding stages.This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different proportions of alfalfa silage on the fermentation quality, in vitro digestibility, and aerobic stability of total mixed ration (TMR) silage. Three TMRs were prepared with different silage contents on a fresh matter basis: (1) 60% alfalfa silage (AS60), (2) 40% alfalfa silage (AS40), and (3) 20% alfalfa silage (AS20). The lactic acid in AS60 did not increase after 30 days of ensiling (p > 0.05). Butyric acid was detected in the AS20 group after 14 days of ensiling. The AS60 group showed significantly higher in vitro dry matter digestibility than the AS20 group (p < 0.05). The aerobic stability of TMR silage gradually increased with a decreasing percentage of alfalfa silage (p < 0.05). Unlike AS60, which directly gained an acidic environment from the alfalfa silage, AS40 developed a stable acidic environment during ensiling and further improved aerobic stability. However, when the percentage of alfalfa silage was reduced to 20%, a risk of clostridial spoilage occurred in the TMR silage. Therefore, the addition of 40% alfalfa silage to TMR is optimal and could achieve both good fermentation quality and considerable resistance to aerobic deterioration in TMR silage.

Pellet Quality with the Addition of Kepok Banana Peel Silage in Grower Crossbred Native Chickens Diet

Kepok banana peel is one food processing waste that can be used as poultry feedstuff. The content of fiber and tannins in banana peels limits its utilization, and the fermentation process can improve the nutritional quality of banana peels. Crossbred native chickens feed usually available in three forms mash, granules, and pellets. The nutrient content of the feed ingredients used in the manufacture of pellets will affect the quality of the pellets produced. This study aimed to examine the use of banana peel silage on pellets' physical and nutritional quality for crossbred native chickens in the grower phase. This experiment used a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replications. The four treatments were (P0) diet without banana peel silage, (P1) diet with 10% banana peel silage, (P2) diet with 20% banana peel silage, (P3) diet with 30% banana peel silage. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and continued with Duncan's New Multiple Range Test. The results showed that the level of banana peel silage had a very significant effect (p&lt;0.01) on the pellet durability, pellet density, moisture content, crude fiber, and crude fat pellet. It was concluded that kepok banana peel silage up to 30% in the crossbred native chicken feed positively impacted pellet durability, density, moisture content, fat content, crude protein content, and reduced crude fiber content.

Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum on Fermentation Quality and Anti-Nutritional Factors of Paper Mulberry Silage

There are few studies on the application of lactic acid bacteria in the reduction of anti-nutrient factors in paper mulberry silage. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different lactic acid bacteria on the fermentation quality and the amount of anti-nutritional factors in paper mulberry silage. Two strains of Lactobacillus plantarum (GX, isolated from paper mulberry silage; GZ, provided by Sichuan Gaofuji Biotechnology Co. Ltd.) were added as silage additives. On days 7, 15, 30 and 60 of the ensiling process, the fermentation quality, and the amount of anti-nutritional factors were measured. Compared with the control group, inoculation with Lactobacillus plantarum could rapidly reduce pH values, leading to lower NH3-N/TN. Besides, it also significantly increased the lactic acid content (p &lt; 0.05). The two strains of L. plantarum significantly reduced the content of hydrolysed tannin, condensed tannin, total tannin, oxalic acid, phytic acid and saponin (p &lt; 0.05). Overall, this study found that the addition of lactic acid bacteria could significantly improve the fermentation quality of paper mulberry and reduce the amount of anti-nutrient factors (p &lt; 0.05).