Effects of Lactic Acid Bacterial Inoculants on Fermentation Quality, Bacterial Community, and Mycotoxins of Alfalfa Silage under Vacuum or Nonvacuum Treatment

To investigate the effects of lactic acid bacterial (LAB) inoculants and vacuuming on the fermentation quality and bacterial community, alfalfas were ensiled with or without a commercial LAB YX or Lactobacillus plantarum strain ZZUA493 for 10, 30, 60, and 90 days while undergoing either vacuum (V) or nonvacuum (NV) treatment. At 90 days, analysis of the microbial community by high-throughput sequencing was performed, and contents of aflatoxin B1 and deoxynivalenol (DON) mycotoxins in alfalfa silage were determined. In all inoculated alfalfa silage, irrespective of V or NV treatment, lactic acid (LA) content increased, pH (p < 0.05), and ammonia nitrogen (p < 0.05) content decreased, and no butyric acid was detected. Lactobacillus or Pediococcus became the dominant genus, and the abundance of Garciella decreased in alfalfa silage with the addition of either inoculant. The LAB inoculants YX and ZZUA493 helped reduce the mycotoxin content in alfalfa silage. The abundance of Garciella in the control and DON content in all alfalfa silage groups were higher (p < 0.05) in NV than V. In summary, LAB inoculants and vacuuming had a positive influence on alfalfa silage quality, and LAB inoculants were effective in reducing mycotoxins in silage alfalfa.

Closing the Gap: Sustainable Intensification Implications of Increased Corn Yields and Quality for Second-Crop (Safrinha) in Mato Grosso, Brazil

Corn grown as second-crop (safrinha) immediately after soybeans contributes to Brazil’s recent sustainable intensification of efforts to land spare and reduce deforestation. Brazil’s Mato Grosso state is very important for corn production with a large number of available hybrids for producers with different characteristics. Evaluating as many hybrids as possible increases the likelihood of identifying those that are more productive. Our experiment used a randomized block design to evaluate 20 corn hybrids for yield and quality in the western Cerrado savannah region of Mato Grosso state. There were significant differences in silage quality and grain yield between hybrids. Silage quality was correlated with higher grain yield. Corn grain yields for 10 higher-yielding hybrids (average = 11,425 kg/hectare) were significantly greater than the two lowest yielding hybrids (6974 and 8207 kg/hectare) and 64% more than the 2020 average in Mato Grosso. Precipitation was not limiting during our experiment but may be in the drier Cerrado area and during other years. Higher silage quality with lower lignin content and higher in vitro digestibility can improve beef productivity as Brazil transitions from extensive grazing to more intensified systems such as pasture supplementation. Increasing corn grain yields in Mato Grosso can hedge against lower crop yields elsewhere.

Alfalfa Silage Treated With Sucrose Has an Improved Feed Quality and More Beneficial Bacterial Communities

Alfalfa silage is one of the main roughages in the production of dairy cow, which can provide nutrition with high quality to improve milk quality and production. Sucrose additions have been widely used to improve the silage quality. In this study, the effects of sucrose on the fermentation quality and bacterial communities of alfalfa silage were investigated here using 0, 0.5, and 1% sucrose ensiling treatments for 15, 30, and 60 days. The ensiling time significantly decreased the crude fiber content and increased the ammonia nitrogen, acetic acid content, and the relative abundance of Enterococcus in the silages. The 1% sucrose-treated silage at 60 days had the lowest neutral detergent fiber acid, acid detergent fiber, and crude fiber content and the highest relative feed value. Moreover, sucrose-treated silage contained less acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid, and had a lower pH than the controls for each duration. Enterobacteriaceae, Klebsiella, and Enterococcus were the dominant genera in all groups, and the relative abundance of Enterococcus and Lactobacillus was higher in the 1% sucrose-treated group than in the control. These results suggested that sucrose supplementation could improve alfalfa silage quality and increase its beneficial bacterial content.

Nutrition of the High-Yielding Dairy Cow

In addition to genetics, health status and housing management, the milk yield of the dairy cow is also significantly determined by the feeding regime. In addition to the energy and nutrient supply, the dry matter (DM) intake plays a decisive role. This is influenced by many factors, such as the palatability of the feed, the energy density, the quality of the roughage (silage quality, microbiological status, contamination with mycotoxins) or the ration design in total. Water supply of cows is often forgotten, although it has a significant influence on the feed intake and thus the performance of the cows. This article deals with those factors, gives the latest recommendations and points out possible sources of error against the background of feeding not only according to the species-specific requirements but also according to their energy and nutrient needs, as required by the Animal Welfare Act.

Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria on the Fermentation Quality and Mycotoxins Concentrations of Corn Silage Infested with Mycotoxigenic Fungi

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on fermentation quality, mycotoxin concentrations, and microbial communities of whole-crop corn silages infested with mycotoxigenic fungi. Cultured spores (106 cfu/mL) of mycotoxigenic Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium graminearum were sprayed (5 mL) on corn forage on 27 July and 10 August 2018. On 21 August 2018, sprayed (FI; 3 plots) and unsprayed (NFI; 3 plots) corn forage were harvested at the 1/2 kernel milk line stage, followed by chopping and ensiling without inoculants (CON), or with Lactobacillus buchneri (LB, 1 × 106 cfu/g FW), Lactobacillus plantarum (LT, 1 × 106 cfu/g FW), or L. buchneri + L. plantarum (BT: both L. buchneri and L. plantarum applied at 0.5 × 106 cfu/g FW). After 90 d of ensiling, FI silages had a higher (p < 0.05) pH value and higher acetic acid (ACA), ethanol, and ammonia nitrogen (ammonia N) concentrations, but lower (p < 0.05) lactic acid (LA) concentrations than NFI silage. The inoculants decreased pH and increased LA concentration and LA/ACA compared with CON. The aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was only detected in FI fresh corn and silages; ensiling decreased (p < 0.05) AFB1 concentration compared with fresh corn, and LB and BT decreased AFB1 concentration compared with CON. The zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), and fumonisin B1 (FB1) concentrations were similar (p < 0.05) for NFI silages, while ZEN concentration in BT was the lowest (p < 0.05) among all FI silages; DON and FB1 concentrations in LB, LT, and BT silages were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those of CON in FI silages. The fungal infestation increased the bacterial and fungal diversity of silages compared with NFI silages. The FI silages had a higher relative abundance (RA) of Lactobacillus, Weissella, Wickerhamomyces, Pichia, and Epicoccum than the corresponding NFI silages. The RA of Aspergillus and Fusarium markedly decreased after 90 d of ensiling, and the inoculation expanded this trend irrespective of fungal infestation. The Penicillium in FI silages survived after 90 d of ensiling, while the inoculants decreased the RA of Penicillium. Inoculants mitigate the adverse effects of fungal infestation on corn silage quality by changing the bacterial and fungal communities.

Enhancing the co-ensiling performance of corn stover and cabbage waste via the addition of cellulase

Effects of cellulase addition were assessed relative to the co-ensiling performance of air-dried corn stover (DCS) and cabbage waste (CW). The DCS and CW mixtures were co-ensiled with 0 to 0.3% of cellulase addition, and changes in composition, intermediates, and biological activity were characterized. The results showed that the addition of cellulase enhanced the decomposition of cellulose and hemicellulose by 2.51 to 6.93% and 3.41%, based on different dosages and compared with the control. Thus, the content of water-soluble carbohydrates increased. The acid content also increased from 5.8% for the control to the range 5.16 to 8.51% for the samples containing cellulase. Moreover, there was a shift from homolactic to heterolactic fermentation with prolonged ensiling time, coupled with the dominant lactic acid bacteria shifting from Paralactobacillus and Lactobacillus to more of Lactobacillus. Thus, the addition of cellulase improved the relative abundance of Lactobacillus. An assessment of fermentation quality, therefore, suggested that cellulase addition can improve the silage quality of DCS/CW during co-ensiling.