Silage Inoculants Research Articles

Effects of Lactobacillus buchneri isolated from tropical maize silage on fermentation and aerobic stability of maize and sugarcane silages

AbstractThis study was aimed to perform a screening of Lactobacillus buchneri strains from maize silage and use them as inoculant in maize and sugarcane silages. In all, 151 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were isolated from whole‐plant maize silage, and their identification was based on the sequence analysis of 16S rDNA. In total, 15 strains were categorized to the L. buchneri group and eight of these were selected based on growth rate and fermentation pattern. The selected strains were evaluated on fermentation and aerobic stability of maize and sugarcane silages. For maize, the inoculated silages had lower pH and higher LAB population, but lower acetic acid concentration in comparison with the untreated control silage. For sugarcane silage, the strains 56.1, 56.4 and 40788 resulted in highest dry‐matter (DM) content and lowest DM losses. However, only the strain 40788 showed lowest counts of yeasts and moulds. Sugarcane silages inoculated with the strains 56.9, 56.26 and the untreated control silage showed highest concentrations of lactic acid and ethanol, besides the great DM losses. Even so, for both crops, the aerobic stability was not affected by inoculation. After air exposure, all silages increased temperature and had high population of yeast and moulds. Nevertheless, the strains 56.1 and 56.4 are promising for use as a silage inoculant.

Effect of silage inoculants on the quality of baled whole‐crop wheat silages and milking cow performance

AbstractThe objective of the current experiment was to study the effect of lactic acid bacteria silage inoculants on baled whole‐crop wheat silages and on performance parameters of high milking cows that were fed these bales. Treatments included control (no additive), Lacobacillus buchneri 40788 (LB), Lactobacillus plantarum MTD1 40027 (LP) and Pediococcus pentosaceus 30168 (PP), each applied at 106 CFU g−1 fresh matter. Nine kg (dry matter) silages and 20 kg of dry premix were included in the total mix ration (TMR) of 32 high milking Holstein cows in a controlled feeding experiment. In the initial 10 days all cows received the control silage only, followed by 25 days during which the cows received either the control or one of the treated silages in their rations (eight cows/group). All baled silages were of good quality. The daily milk yields in the last week of the experiment were 43.3, 46.5, 44.7 and 44.5 kg, for the control, LB, LP and PP, respectively. The percent milk fat for the respective treatments was 3.39, 3.23, 3.31 and 3.39, and the percent milk protein 3.27, 3.25, 3.31 and 3.28. Among the inoculants used, LB resulted in the largest enhancement of lactating cows performance.

Effects of homolactic bacterial inoculant on the performance of lactating dairy cows

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of applying a homofermentative bacterial inoculant to corn silage on the performance of dairy cows. After harvesting, corn forage was treated with nothing (CON) or with an inoculant containing a mixture of Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Enterococcus faecium at 1.5 × 105 cfu/g of fresh forage (MC; SiloSolve MC, Chr. Hansen A/S, Hørsholm, Denmark). After 186 d of storage in Ag-Bags (A Miller-St. Nazianz Inc., St. Nazianz, WI), silages were fed as part of a total mixed ration containing 55% concentrates, 10% alfalfa hay, and 35% CON or MC corn silage. Sixty early-lactation Holstein dairy cows (30 multiparous and 30 primiparous) housed in a freestall barn with Calan gates (American Calan Inc., Northwood, NH) were assigned to the dietary treatments from 20 to 100 d in milk. Silage inoculated with MC had a more homofermentative pattern evidenced by greater lactic acid concentration (3.83 vs. 4.48% of DM) and lower concentrations of acetic (2.34 vs. 1.68% of DM) and propionic (0.37 vs. 0.10% of DM) acids and ammonia (9.11 vs. 7.82% of N) for CON and MC, respectively. Dry matter intake (23.1 vs. 23.2 kg/d) did not differ among treatments, but the MC silage had greater apparent digestibility of DM (68.8 vs. 70.8%), which led to greater yields of milk (37.7 vs. 38.5 kg/d), fat-corrected milk (37.6 vs. 38.4 kg/d), milk fat (1.30 vs. 1.33 kg/d), and lactose (1.83 vs. 1.92 kg/d) for CON and MC cows, respectively. Milk from cows fed MC silage had higher lactose (4.86 vs. 4.93%), lower protein (2.93 vs. 2.83%), and similar contents of fat (3.47 vs. 3.44%) compared with CON cows. Feed efficiency (fat-corrected milk/dry matter intake) was not affected by treatment (1.69 vs. 1.72 for CON and MC, respectively). Inoculation of corn silage with the homofermentative inoculant increased digestibility of the total mixed ration and increased milk yield by lactating dairy cows.

Nutritional composition and aerobic stability of wheat and corn silages stored under different environmental conditions

We aimed to evaluate nutritional quality, fermentation profile, aerobic stability, and dry matter losses in corn (Zea mays) and wheat (Triticum aestivum 'BRS Umbu') silages. Treatments included uninoculated and inoculated (Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici, 1.0 × 105 UFC g-1) wheat silage, corn silage from a conventional hybrid and a transgenic hybrid. Nutritional quality and fermentation profile variables were tested in a completely randomized design. Means were compared using Tukey’s test at 5% significance. An aerobic stability trial was conducted in a factorial design with two silages (wheat × inoculated wheat; conventional hybrid corn × transgenic hybrid corn) and two temperatures (ambient temperature × controlled temperature at 24°C). Data were submitted to ANOVA and means were analyzed by the F test at 5% probability. Inoculation of wheat silage increased dry matter, organic matter, and total carbohydrates, but reduced crude protein by a dilution effect. Regarding the fermentation profile, inoculation reduced acetic acid and butyric acid content, whereas it increased propionic acid in wheat silage. Bt corn hybrid silage showed higher dry matter and lower neutral detergent fiber, whereas transgenic corn silage showed lower content of acetic acid, propionic acid, alcohol, and ammonia. Conversely, Bt hybrid silage showed higher butyric acid. Transgenic corn silage showed higher temperature than the conventional hybrid silage during aerobic exposure. Inoculated wheat silage experienced larger deterioration and dry matter losses during the aerobic stability trial. Temperature control worsened aerobic stability in all treatments, increasing dry matter losses and heating.

Performance of finishing beef cattle fed diets containing maize silages inoculated with lactic-acid bacteria and Bacillus subtilis

Our objective was to evaluate the effect of lactic-acid bacteria and Bacillus subtilis as silage additives on feed intake and growth performance of finishing feedlot beef cattle. Whole-maize forage was ensiled either with distilled water (untreated), or inoculated with Lactobacillus buchneri and L. plantarum at a rate 1 × 105 cfu/g fresh forage for each bacteria (LBLP); or inoculated with B. subtilis and L. plantarum at a rate 1 × 105 cfu/g fresh forage for each bacteria (BSLP). Thirty-six young crossbreed bulls (316 ± 33.9 kg) were used in the feedlot program for 110 days, and they were assigned (n = 12) to one of three diets containing untreated, LBLP, or BSLP silages in a 40:60 forage:concentrate ratio. Dry matter (DM) intake, average daily gain, and carcass yield of bulls were unaffected by silage inoculation. Conversely, bulls fed the BSLP silage had lower DM, organic matter, and crude protein digestibility compared with bulls fed untreated silage. Bulls fed both inoculated silages had a reduction of ~12% in neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre digestibility compared with that in bulls fed untreated silage. Bulls fed the LBLP silage spent more time chewing (496 min/day) than bulls fed untreated silage. There was little effect of silage inoculation on rumen fermentation, but bulls fed the inoculated silages had a lower concentration of ammonia-N. In conclusion, adding L. plantarum combined with L. buchneri or B. subtilis to maize silage do not improve the growth performance of finishing feedlot beef cattle.

Growth performance, carcass trait, meat quality and oxidative stability of beef cattle offered alternative silages in a finishing ration

As lack of forage resource, alternative roughage sources have been developed for ruminant production and their inclusion would exert a great effect on the dietary nutrition, consequently affecting animal performance. Four silages (corn silage (CS), corn stalk silage (SS), inoculated CS and inoculated SS) were separately offered to 60 Bohai Black cattle (15 cattle/group) during a 24-week finishing period, in which the growth performance, carcass trait, beef quality and oxidative stability of steers were determined. Neither silage material nor silage inoculant exerted a significant effect on the growth performance, carcass trait and oxidative stability of beef cattle (P>0.05). As to beef quality, cattle offered CS had higher (P<0.05) contents of intramuscular fat than those offered SS along with a lower moisture content (P<0.05). The contents (mg/g muscle) of C10 : 0, C12 : 0, C14 : 1, C16 : 0, C16 : 1, C18 : 1n9c, C18 : 2n6c, C18 : 3n3, C20 : 1n9, C20 : 2, C20 : 3n6, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and n-6 fatty acids were higher (P<0.05) in the beef muscle of animals offered CS than those offered SS, whereas inoculated treatment made no difference (P>0.05) on the proximate components and fatty acids profile of beef muscle. There was neither an interaction (P>0.05) between inoculated treatment and silage material. There were no differences (P>0.05) in cholesterol content and meat quality traits in animals fed alternative silages. The collective findings suggest that it is not economical to substitute high-quality forage for relative low-quality forage in a high-concentrate finishing ration of beef cattle and silage inoculant inclusion would not exert a direct effect on animal performance.

Ефективність відгодівлі молодняку великої рогатої худоби за використання силосу, законсервованого біологічним інокулянтом

&lt;p&gt;There has been the impact on the corn silage harvesting and the influence of the corn silage store technology of the microbial inoculants studied. The main advantages and the prospects of the silage inoculants using were outlined. This has been the supplements of microorganism’s inhibition impact on the molds and the fungi development established. Thereby, this was possible to provide the initial properties of raw materials preservation. The use of the 11C33 inoculants at a dose of1 gramper 1 tone of the silage during the storage period provides the dry matter reduction at a rate of 6.9 % versus 14.9 % in comparison with the control group respectively. According to the requirements of the GOST 4782:2007 and the results of the biochemical silage studies the harvested feed without the inoculants using can be classified as the 3rd class. However, the treated silage with the 11C33 inoculant can be classified as the 1st class. The biological conservant inoculation during the milky-wax stage of ripeness helps the feed nutrients to have the better preservation. And the corn silage feeding as a part of its ration is likely to increase the average bulls daily weight gain for the feed costs production reduction. The microbial inoculants using during the corn silage harvesting helped to reduce the feed costs with the1 kgof the bull’s live weight gain by 6.07 %. We found that the preslaughter live weight at the age of 15 months was characterized by bulls of the trial group of the Ukrainian black and white milk breed and they were raised on the corn silage with the microbial inoculants. These bulls showed the better results comparing to the control group by 4.3 % (P&amp;lt;0.05) and the bull’s carcass yield of the trial group was higher than the control one, and it was 56.4 %.&lt;/p&gt;

Effects of inoculants Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus parafarraginis on the fermentation characteristics and microbial communities of corn stover silage

To improve silage quality of crop forages, bacterial inoculants are often employed. In this study, Lactobacillus brevis SDMCC050297 and Lactobacillus parafarraginis SDMCC050300 were used as inoculants to corn stover in lab silos for ensiling. At the initial stage of ensiling, the pH value of the inoculated silages reduced more drastically, and the inoculated silages had higher lactic acid and acetic acid contents. After 20 days of ensiling, a reduction in lactic acid content coupled with an increase in acetic acid and 1,2-propanediol contents was observed in inoculated silages. Furthermore, both the amount of lactic acid bacteria and the abundance of order Lactobacillales in inoculated silages were higher than those of controls in the whole process. Meanwhile, Lb. brevis predominated before day 20 and then the dominance was shifted to Lb. parafarraginis until the late stage of ensiling. In contrast, the epiphytic Lactococcus lactic and Lb. plantarum played major roles at the beginning of naturally fermented silages and then Lb. plantarum and Lb. brevis were the most abundant at the later stage. In conclusion, these two selected strains had capability of improving the silage quality and providing the reproducible ensiling process, thus having the potential as silage inoculants.

Effect of the inoculation of sugarcane silage with Lactobacillus hilgardii and Lactobacillus buchneri on feeding behavior and milk yield of dairy cows.

Despite its low NDF digestibility, sugarcane is an option for feeding dairy cattle in tropical regions. We evaluated the effect of sugarcane silages inoculated with CCMA 0170 (LH; an epiphytic bacteria isolated from sugarcane) or with NCIMB 40788 (LB; a commercial strain isolated from temperate grasses) on dairy cow performance and feeding behavior. The microbial inoculums were previously grown in the laboratory to obtain 5 log cfu/g of fresh forage. Nine tons of each inoculated silage and a noninoculated control silage (CON) were harvested from the same field and stored for at least 35 d in experimental 20 × 2.1 × 0.4 m bunker silos. Fifteen Holstein cows in late lactation (336 ± 175 days in milk at the start of the experiment) received the treatments in five 3 × 3 Latin squares with 21-d periods. The diets contained 20% of DM of sugarcane silage and 41% of DM of corn silage. Milk yield was increased from 18.0 kg/d for CON to18.8 kg/d for LH, but LB did not elicit a detectable increase in milk yield (18.1 kg/d). The daily yields of fat, protein, lactose, and total solids were increased by LH. Daily DMI and total tract apparent digestibility of nutrients did not differ among treatments. Both inoculated silages reduced acetate and increased butyrate proportions in ruminal VFA, but only LH silage reduced the acetate to propionate ratio (3.0 vs 3.3). First meal duration was shorter for CON compared to LH and LB. The proportion of daily intake between 0700 and 1300 h tended to be increased, and the proportion between 1900 and 0700 h was reduced by LH. The inoculation of sugarcane silage with affected rumen fermentation profile and feeding behavior of late lactation dairy cows, increasing the yield of milk solids.

Effects of steeped or fermented distillers dried grains with solubles on growth performance in weanling pigs.

Coproduct feeding value may be improved by enzyme and microbial inoculant treatment in liquid diets. Three experiments were conducted to assess growth performance in newly weaned 20-d-old pigs fed corn- and soybean meal-based diets with untreated, steeped, or partially fermented distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) from day of weaning. In Exp. 1, conventionally dry fed diets with untreated DDGS (DDGS) or without DDGS (Control) were fed. In Exp. 2, liquid diets (25% DM [75% moisture]) were fed with enzymes (β-glucanase and xylanase at 67.2 and 51.4 U/g DDGS, respectively) added to dry DDGS at the time of liquid feeding (UNSTP) or steeped with DDGS and added to liquid feed from d 5 to 12 of each batch prior to liquid feeding (STP). In Exp. 1 and 2 DDGS inclusion levels were 7.5% in phase 1 (d 0 to 7) and 25% in phase 2 (d 7 to 21) and phase 3 (d 21 to 35). In Exp. 3 liquid diets were fed with the Exp. 2 enzymes and silage inoculant (360,000 combined cfu and /g DDGS) added to dry DDGS at the time of liquid feeding (UNFER) or fermented with DDGS and added to liquid feed from d 1 to 7 of each batch before liquid feeding (FER). The inclusion levels of DDGS were 7.5% in phase 1 (d 0 to 7), 16.25% in phase 2 (d 7 to 21), and 25% in phase 3 (d 21 to 42 or 48). Experiment 3 diets were fed to light (LBW; 5.8 ± 0.6 kg) or heavy (HBW; 7.6 ± 0.8 kg) BW pigs at weaning, and results were analyzed separately. Pig BW and ADFI were measured weekly in each experiment. In Exp. 1, feeding diets with DDGS depressed ( < 0.05) ADFI on d 7 to 21 (491 vs. 375 ± 21 g DM/pig) and d 0 to 35 (456 vs. 405 ± 13 g DM/pig). In Exp. 2 growth performance was not affected. In Exp. 3 ADFI of HBW pigs was not affected. The HBW pigs fed FER had lower ( < 0.05) ADG and G:F on d 7 to 21 (323 vs. 264 ± 15 g/pig and 0.86 vs. 0.72 ± 0.02 g:g, respectively) and lower ( < 0.05) BW on d 21 (12.4 vs. 11.6 ± 0.2 kg) compared with HBW pigs fed UNFER. The LBW pigs fed FER had lower ( < 0.05) ADFI on d 0 to 7 and 7 to 21 (190 vs. 168 ± 3 and 318 vs. 273 ± 13 g DM/pig, respectively) and had greater ( < 0.05) ADG on d 42 to 48 (773 vs. 941 ± 60 g/pig) and BW on d 48 (24.5 vs. 25.8 ± 0.5 kg) compared with LBW pigs fed UNFER. Results show that up to 25% DDGS inclusion in weaning pig diets did not affect overall growth performance. Liquid-fed partially fermented DDGS had an influence on the growth performance of weanling pigs, particularly during the extended nursery period of pigs of light weaning weight in this study.

The capacity of silage inoculant bacteria to bind aflatoxin B1 in vitro and in artificially contaminated corn silage

The objectives were to examine the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-binding capacity of silage bacteria and factors affecting the responses. Experiments 1 and 2 examined the effects of bacterial strain and population on the AFB1-binding capacity of 10 bacteria. When applied at 106 cfu/mL to an in vitro medium, only Lactobacillus plantarum PT5B bound the AFB1 and the binding capacity was low (4%). When applied at 109 cfu/mL, all 10 bacteria bound AFB1, but L. plantarum R2014 (Lp) and EQ12, Lactobacillus buchneri R1102 (Lb), and Pediococcus acidilactici R2142 and EQ01 (Pa) had the greatest capacity (23.9 to 33%). Experiment 3 examined the AFB1-binding capacity of viable and nonviable (HCl-treated) forms of Lp, Lb, and Pa at different pH. Nonviable Lb and Lp, but not Pa, increased AFB1 binding. Binding of AFB1 was greatest at pH 2.5 and least at pH 8. As the nonviable Lb and Lp that bound AFB1 in experiment 3 would not be effective silage inoculants, experiment 4 examined effects of benign versus severe treatments (85 vs. 100°C; pH 2.5 vs. <1) on the viability of Lp, Lb, and Pa. The population of bacteria was reduced from 9 to 4 log cfu/mL by treatment with HCl at pH 2.5 and to 2 log cfu/mL by 85 or 100°C, whereas acidification at pH <1 eliminated the bacteria. Experiment 5 determined the effect of the ensiling duration and benign treatment methods [37 (viable cells) or 85°C (heated cells) or acidification with HCl at pH 2.5 (acid-treated cells)] on binding of AFB1 and silage quality during the fermentation of corn forage. Corn forage was ensiled after treatment with only deionized water (control), AFB1 (30 µg/kg of fresh forage), or a mixture of AFB1 and 109 cfu/g of each of the treated bacteria. Adding AFB1 alone to corn forage reduced the pH decline during the first 3 d of ensiling and increased or tended to increase butyric acid concentration and final pH after ensiling for 21 d. Bacterial inoculation inhibited these negative effects. The fermentation profile of silage treated with Lb and Pa did not differ from those of the control silage. In all silages treated with the toxin, the AFB1 concentration decreased linearly (from 30 to ≤0.35 µg/kg) within 3 d of ensiling. Certain silage bacteria can bind AFB1 but the efficacy depends on several factors.

Effects of Lactobacillus buchneri as a silage inoculant and as a probiotic on feed intake, apparent digestibility and ruminal fermentation and microbiology in wethers fed low‐dry‐matter whole‐crop maize silage

AbstractLactobacillus buchneri was investigated as a silage inoculant and as a probiotic on feed intake, apparent digestibility, and ruminal fermentation and microbiology in wethers fed low‐dry‐matter (DM) whole‐crop maize silage. Maize forage (279 g/kg DM) was ensiled without inoculant (untreated) and with L. buchneri CNCM I‐4323 at 1 × 105 cfu/g fresh forage (inoculated). Six cannulated wethers were arranged in a double 3 × 3 Latin square and assigned to one of three diets: (i) untreated maize silage (untreated), (ii) inoculated maize silage (inoculated), and (iii) untreated maize silage with a daily dose of L. buchneri (1 × 107 cfu/g supplied silage) injected directly into the rumen (LB‐probiotic). Wethers fed the inoculated diet had a higher (p = .050) DM intake (1.30% body weight [BW]) than wethers fed untreated and LB‐probiotic diets (1.17% and 1.18% BW respectively). The relative proportion of Ruminococcus flavefaciens (proportion of total estimated rumen bacterial 16S rDNA) in the rumen of wethers fed inoculated and LB‐probiotic diets (both 0.42%) tended (p = .098) to be lower than in the untreated diet (0.83%). Lactobacillus buchneri as a silage inoculant or as a probiotic had little effect on the variables measured in wethers.

Ensilaje de caña con aditivos químicos e inoculantes

To evaluate the effect of different additives: Urea, sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium oxide (CaO) and silage inoculant in sugarcane by chemical components and fermentation parameters for the reduction of the ensiled material losses. Silage was prepared with chemical additives and inoculate yourself bacterial, tration 1 (T1) control; tration 2 (T2) sugarcane + 1 % urea; tration 3 (T3) sugarcane 2% NaCl; tration 4 (T4) sugarcane + 2% CaO; tration 5 (T5) sugarcane + Lactobacillus buchneri bacteria. Numerically the lowest values were found with the inoculant Lactobacillus buchneri, the other treatments were satisfactory as the preservation of the ensiled material. It follows that the urea had the best value crude protein (PB), improving the quality of the silage and inhibiting undesirable proliferation of micro-organisms for silage sugarcane.

Meta-analysis of effects of inoculation with homofermentative and facultative heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria on silage fermentation, aerobic stability, and the performance of dairy cows

Forages are usually inoculated with homofermentative and facultative heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to enhance lactic acid fermentation of forages, but effects of such inoculants on silage quality and the performance of dairy cows are unclear. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to examine the effects of LAB inoculation on silage quality and preservation and the performance of dairy cows. A second objective was to examine the factors affecting the response to silage inoculation with LAB. The studies that met the selection criteria included 130 articles that examined the effects of LAB inoculation on silage quality and 31 articles that investigated dairy cow performance responses. The magnitude of the effect (effect size) was evaluated using raw mean differences (RMD) between inoculated and uninoculated treatments. Heterogeneity was explored by meta-regression and subgroup analysis using forage type, LAB species, LAB application rate, and silo scale (laboratory or farm-scale) as covariates for the silage quality response and forage type, LAB species, diet type [total mixed ration (TMR) or non-TMR], and the level of milk yield of the control cows as covariates for the performance responses. Inoculation with LAB (≥105 cfu/g as fed) markedly increased silage fermentation and dry matter recovery in temperate and tropical grasses, alfalfa, and other legumes. However, inoculation did not improve the fermentation of corn, sorghum, or sugarcane silages. Inoculation with LAB reduced clostridia and mold growth, butyric acid production, and ammonia-nitrogen in all silages, but it had no effect on aerobic stability. Silage inoculation (≥105 cfu/g as fed) increased milk yield and the response had low heterogeneity. However, inoculation had no effect on diet digestibility and feed efficiency. Inoculation with LAB improved the fermentation of grass and legume silages and the performance of dairy cows but did not affect the fermentation of corn, sorghum, and sugar cane silages or the aerobic stability of any silage. Further research is needed to elucidate how silage inoculated with homofermentative and facultative heterofermentative LAB improves the performance of dairy cows.

Bacterial and fungal core microbiomes associated with small grain silages during ensiling and aerobic spoilage

BackgroundDescribing the microbial populations present in small grain silage and understanding their changes during ensiling is of interest for improving the nutrient value of these important forage crops. Barley, oat and triticale forages as well as an intercropped mixture of the 3 crops were harvested and ensiled in mini silos for a period of 90 days, followed by 14 days of aerobic exposure. Changes in fermentation characteristics and nutritive value were assessed in terminal silages and bacterial and fungal communities during ensiling and aerobic exposure were described using 16S and 18S rDNA sequencing, respectively.ResultsAll small grain silages exhibited chemical traits that were associated with well ensiled forages, such as low pH value (4.09 ± 0.28) and high levels of lactic acid (59.8 ± 14.59 mg/g DM). The number of microbial core genome operational taxonomic units (OTUs) decreased with time of ensiling. Taxonomic bacterial community profiles were dominated by the Lactobacillales after fermentation, with a notable increase in Bacillales as a result of aerobic exposure. Diversity of the fungal core microbiome was shown to also be reduced during ensiling. Operational taxonomic units assigned to filamentous fungi were found in the core microbiome at ensiling and after aerobic exposure, whereas the Saccharomycetales were the dominate yeast population after 90 days of ensiling and aerobic exposure. Bacterial and fungal orders typically associated with silage spoilage were identified in the core microbiome after aerobic exposure.ConclusionNext Generation Sequencing was successfully used to describe bacterial communities and the first record of fungal communities throughout the process of ensiling and utilization. Adequately describing the microbial ecology of silages could lead to improved ensiling practices and the selection of silage inoculants that act synergistically with the natural forage microbiome.

Effects of Lactobacillus buchneri as a silage inoculant or probiotic on in vitro organic matter digestibility, gas production and volatile fatty acids of low dry‐matter whole‐crop maize silage

AbstractOur objective was to investigate Lactobacillus buchneri as a silage inoculant or probiotic on in vitro ruminal measurements of low dry‐matter whole‐crop maize silage. In vitro gas production was conducted using untreated (without inoculant) and inoculated (treated with L. buchneri CNCM I‐4323 at 1 × 105 cfu g−1 of fresh forage) maize silages (wet‐ground) incubated with three different ruminal inocula, in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Ruminal fluids were collected from wethers consuming (i) untreated maize silage (RF‐U); (ii) inoculated maize silage (RF‐I); and (iii) untreated maize silage with a daily dose of L. buchneri CNCM I‐4323 administered directly into the rumen (1 × 107 cfu g−1 of supplied silage [LB‐probiotic]). Gas production was consistently higher when inoculated silage was used as the substrate of fermentation, compared to the untreated silage. When untreated silage was used as substrate, the total volatile fatty acid concentration was higher using RF‐I and LB‐probiotic inocula, compared to the RF‐U inoculum, at 9 hr and at 48 hr of fermentation. It is concluded that L. buchneri should be used as a silage inoculant rather than as a probiotic because it alters fermentation within the silo thereby improving silage quality and enabling some benefits for ruminal fermentation.

Effect of the inoculation of sugarcane silage with and on feeding behavior and milk yield of dairy cows

Effect of the inoculation of sugarcane silage with and on feeding behavior and milk yield of dairy cows

Effects of Lactobacillus formosensis S215T and Lactobacillus buchneri on quality and invitro ruminal biological activity of condensed tannins in sweet potato vines silage.

This study investigated the influence of two microbial inoculants; Lactobacillus formosensis and Lactobacillus buchneri on fermentation quality, chemical composition, aerobic stability and invitro ruminal biological activity of condensed tannins in sweet potato vines silage. Sweet potato vines were ensiled for 28 and 60days; without inoculant (CON), with Lact.buchneri (LB) or with Lact.formosensis (LF), both inoculants applied to achieve 1×106 CFUg-1 fresh forage. Lactobacillus formosensis silage had lower pH and higher lactic acid than all treatments. Yeasts and moulds were not detected in LB silage after ensiling. Lactobacillus buchneri silage was more aerobically stable than all treatments, whereas LF was more stable than CON silage. In vitro ruminal biological activity of condensed tannins was lower in microbial-inoculated silages than CON after ensiling. Lactobacillus formosensis improved fermentability by reducing silage pH and improved aerobic stability by producing more propionate, which inhibited yeast activity. Lactobacillus buchneri improved aerobic stability of the silage by producing more acetate. Both strains effectively reduced the antinutritional effect of condensed tannins after ensiling. Lactobacillus formosensis has the potential to be used as a silage inoculant because of its ability to improve fermentability and aerobic stability in sweet potato vines silage.

0636 Meta-analysis of the effect silage inoculation with homolactic or facultative heterolactic bacteria on the performance of dairy cows

0636 Meta-analysis of the effect silage inoculation with homolactic or facultative heterolactic bacteria on the performance of dairy cows

Factors affecting the numbers of expected viable lactic acid bacteria in inoculant applicator tanks.

The application of correct numbers of viable microorganisms to forages at the time of ensiling is one of the most important factors affecting the probability of a beneficial effect from an inoculant. The objective of this study was to determine relationships between numbers of expected lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from silage inoculants in application tanks and various factors that might affect their viability. The pH and temperature of inoculant-water mixes were measured in applicator tanks (n=53) on farms in Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, and California during the corn harvest season of 2012. Samples were collected on-farm and plated on de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe agar to enumerate LAB and establish the number of viable LAB (cfu/mL). Expected numbers of LAB were calculated from the minimum label guarantees for viable bacteria and mixing rates with water. In addition, the pH of the inoculant-water mixes at sampling, the ambient temperature at sampling, and the length of time that the samples had been in the tank were measured and obtained. The log difference between the measured and expected numbers of LAB was calculated and expressed as ΔM - E in log scale. Ambient temperature at sampling had no relationship with time in the tank or ΔM - E. Most (83%) of the inoculants had been mixed with water in the applicator tanks for <10h. For these samples, a negative linear correlation (R2=0.36) existed between time that the inoculant-water mixes were in the applicators tanks and ΔM - E. The pH of the inoculant-water mixes was also negatively correlated (R2=0.28) with time in the applicator tank, but pH was not related to ΔM - E. The temperatures of the inoculant-water mixtures were negatively correlated with ΔM - E (R2=0.39). Seven of 8 samples whose ΔM - E were at least -0.95 or more lower than expected (equivalent of about 1 or more log concentration less than expected) had water temperatures above 35°C. These data support our previous laboratory findings and suggest that high temperatures of inoculant-water mixes have the potential to negatively affect the final application rate of some inoculants, which may affect their overall effectiveness to improve silage fermentation.