• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제27권10호
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• pp.1436-1442
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• 2014

Preservation of forage crops as silage offers opportunity to avoid the high risk of rain-damaged hay in the humid south-central USA. Recent developments with baled silage or baleage make silage a less expensive option than typical chopped silage. Silage has been important in the region primarily for dairy production, but baleage has become an option for the more extensive beef cattle industry in the region. Silage samples submitted to the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Forage Quality Lab from 2006 through 2013 were assessed for dry matter (DM) and forage nutritive characteristics of chopped silage and baleage of the different forage types from commercial farms primarily in Louisiana and Mississippi. Of the 1,308 silage samples submitted, 1,065 were annual ryegrass (AR) with small grains (SG), the warm-season annual (WA) grasses, sorghums and pearl millet, and the warm-season perennial (WP) grasses, bermudagrass and bahiagrass, providing the remaining samples. Concentration of DM was used to indicate an effective ensiling opportunity, and AR silage was more frequently within the target DM range than was the WA forage group. The AR samples also indicated a high-quality forage with average crude protein (CP) of 130 g/kg and total digestible nutrient (TDN) near 600 g/kg. The cooler winter weather at harvest apparently complicated harvest of SG silage with chopped SG silage lower in both CP and TDN (104 and 553 g/kg, respectively) than either AR silage or baleage of SG (137 and 624 g/kg for CP and TDN, respectively). The hot, humid summer weather along with large stems and large forage quantities of the WA grasses and the inherently higher fiber concentration of WP grasses at harvest stage indicate that preservation of these forage types as silage will be challenging, although successful commercial silage samples of each forage type and preservation approach were included among samples of silages produced in the region.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.511-518
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• 2015

Calliandra calothyrsus preserved in silage is an alternative method for improving the crude protein content of feeds for sustainable ruminant production. The aim of this research was to evaluate the quality of silage which contained different levels of C. calothyrsus by examining the fermentation characteristics and microbial diversity. Silage was made in a completely randomized design consisting of five treatments with three replications i.e.: R0, Pennisetum purpureum 100%; R1, P. purpureum 75%+C. calothyrsus 25%;, R2, P. purpureum 50%+C. calothyrsus 50%; R3, P. purpureum 25%+C. calothyrsus 75%; and R4, C. calothyrsus 100%. All silages were prepared using plastic jar silos (600 g) and incubated at room temperature for 30 days. Silages were analyzed for fermentation characteristics and microbial diversity. Increased levels of C. calothyrsus in silage had a significant effect (p<0.01) on the fermentation characteristics. The microbial diversity index decreased and activity was inhibited with increasing levels of C. calothyrsus. The microbial community indicated that there was a population of Lactobacillus plantarum, L. casei, L. brevis, Lactococcus lactis, Chryseobacterium sp., and uncultured bacteria. The result confirmed that silage with a combination of grass and C. calothyrsus had good fermentation characteristics and microbial communities were dominated by L. plantarum.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.516-522
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• 2016

We investigated the effects of the predominant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on the fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability of total mixed ration (TMR) silage containing soybean curd residue (SC-TMR silage). The SC-TMR materials were ensiled in laboratory silos for 14 or 56 days. LAB predominant in SC-TMR silage were identified (Exp. 1). Lactobacillus fermentum (L. fermentum) and Streptococcus bovis (S. bovis) were found in the untreated materials, Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides (L. pseudomesenteroides) in 14-day silage and Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) in all silages. Pediococcus acidilactici (P. acidilactici), Lactobacillus paracasei (L. paracasei), and Lactobacillus brevis (L. brevis) formed more than 90% of the isolates in 56- day silage. Italian ryegrass and whole crop maize were inoculated with P. acidilactici and L. brevis isolates and the fermentation and aerobic stability determined (Exp. 2). Inoculation with P. acidilactici and L. brevis alone or combined improved the fermentation products in ryegrass silage and markedly enhanced its aerobic stability. In maize silage, P. acidilactici and L. brevis inoculation caused no changes and suppressed deterioration when combined with increases in acetic acid content. The results indicate that P. acidilactici and L. brevis may produce a synergistic effect to inhibit SC-TMR silage deterioration. Further studies are needed to identify the inhibitory substances, which may be useful for developing potential antifungal agents.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제23권12호
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• pp.1614-1625
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• 2010

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of fish silage prepared from Indian oil sardines, Sardinella longiceps, as partial replacement of soybean meal as a sole source of protein for growing broiler chickens. The main objective of Experiment 1, an ileal digestibility assay, was to assess the nutritional value of fish silage compared with soybean meal for feeding broiler chickens. The two test ingredients, soybean meal and dried fish silage, were incorporated into semi-synthetic diets, as the only component containing protein. The ileal digestibility coefficients of amino acids of fish silage were considerably higher than those of soybean meal (p<0.001). The lower digestibility of amino acids from soybean meal was related to the presence of anti-nutritional factors such as trypsin inhibitors. Fish silage had higher levels of sulphur-containing amino acids than soybean meal. The objective of Experiment 2, a growth study, was to evaluate the effect of feeding fish silage on performance and meat quality characteristics of broiler chickens raised under closed and open-sided housing systems. Four diets containing various levels of fish silage (0, 10, 20 and 30%) were evaluated. Daily feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were measured. At the end of Experiment 2, 96 birds were randomly selected and slaughtered to evaluate meat quality characteristics. Housing type had significant effects on feed intake and body weight gain (p<0.01). Birds in the open-sided house consumed 4.7% less amount of feed and gained 10.6% less than their counterparts in a closed house. Birds in both houses fed diets containing 10 and 20% fish silage gained more than birds fed 30% fish silage. The current study produced evidence that fish silage can replace up to 20% of soybean meal in broiler diets without affecting either growth performance or the sensory quality of broiler meat.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.180-187
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• 2015

This study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding by-product feed (BF)-based silage on the performance, blood metabolite parameters, and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers. The BF-based silage was composed of 50% spent mushroom substrate, 21% recycled poultry bedding, 15% cut ryegrass straw, 10.8% rice bran, 2% molasses, 0.6% bentonite, and 0.6% microbial additive (on a wet basis), and ensiled for over 5 d. Fifteen steers were allocated to three diets during the growing and fattening periods (3.1 and 9.8 months, respectively): a control diet (concentrate mix and free access to rice straw), a 50% BF-based silage diet (control diet+50% of maximum BF-based silage intake), and a 100% BF-based silage diet (the same amount of concentrate mix and ad libitum BF-based silage). The BF-based silage was fed during the growing and fattening periods, and was replaced with larger particles of rice straw during the finishing period. After 19.6 months of the whole period all the steers were slaughtered. Compared with feeding rice straw, feeding BF-based silage tended (p = 0.10) to increase the average daily gain (27%) and feed efficiency (18%) of the growing steers, caused by increased voluntary feed intake. Feeding BF-based silage had little effect on serum constituents, electrolytes, enzymes, or the blood cell profiles of fattening steers, except for low serum Ca and high blood urea concentrations (p<0.05). Feeding BF-based silage did not affect cold carcass weight, yield traits such as back fat thickness, longissimus muscle area, yield index or yield grade, or quality traits such as meat color, fat color, texture, maturity, marbling score, or quality grade. However, it improved good quality grade (1+ and 1++) appearance rates (60% for the control group vs 100% for the BF-based silage-fed groups). In conclusion, cheap BF-based silage could be successfully used as a good quality roughage source for beef cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.369-378
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• 2011

The effect of a homolactic inoculant containing a blend of Lactobacillus plantarum, Pediococcus acidilactici and Enterococcus faecium or, the anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), alone or in combination on fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability and in situ DM, OM and NDF degradability of barley silage was investigated. Barley (Hordeum vulgare, L.) was harvested (45% DM), chopped and treated with water at 24 ml/kg forage (Control), inoculant at $1.09{\times}10^5$ cfu/g forage (I), SDS at 0.125% (wt/wt) of forage (S) or with the inoculant ($1.09{\times}10^5$ cfu/g) plus SDS (0.125% wt/wt; I+S). The treated forages were ensiled in triplicate mini silos and opened for chemical and microbiological analyses on d 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 42 and 77. Silage samples from d 77 were opened and aerobically exposed for 7 d. The in situ rumen degradability characteristics of silage DM, OM and NDF were also determined. The terminal concentration of NDF in S and I+S was lower (p<0.001) than in other treatments. Lactate concentration was higher (p<0.001) and the rate and extent of pH decline were greater (p<0.001) in I and I+S than S and Control silages. A homolactic pathway of fermentation in I and I+S was evidenced by reduced (p<0.001) water-soluble carbohydrates concentration, higher lactate (p<0.01), lower acetate (p<0.01) and lower pH values (p<0.001) than in S and Control silages. All silages remained stable over 7 d of exposure to air as indicated by lower temperatures and moulds, and by non-detectable yeast populations. The treated silages had lower DM and OM degradability than in the Control but NDF degradation characteristics of I+S were improved compared to other treatments. It is concluded that the inoculant alone improved the fermentation characteristics whereas the combination of the inoculant with SDS improved both fermentation and NDF degradability of barley silage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제25권9호
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• pp.1248-1254
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• 2012

The effect of silage additives on ensiling characteristics and nutritive value of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) silages was studied. Napier grass silages were made with no additive, fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (FJLB), molasses or cassava meal. The ensiling characteristics were determined by ensiling Napier grass silages in airtight plastic pouches for 2, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 45 d. The effect of Napier grass silages treated with these additives on voluntary feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation and microbial rumen fermentation was determined in 4 fistulated cows using $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. The pH value of the treated silages rapidly decreased, and reached to the lowest value within 7 d of the start of fermentation, as compared to the control. Lactic acid content of silages treated with FJLB was stable at 14 d of fermentation and constant until 45 d of ensiling. At 45 d of ensiling, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of silage treated with cassava meal were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the others. In the feeding trial, the intake of silage increased (p<0.05) in the cow fed with the treated silage. Among the treatments, dry matter intake was the lowest in the silage treated with cassava meal. The organic matter, crude protein and NDF digestibility of the silage treated with molasses was higher than the silage without additive and the silage treated with FJLB. The rumen parameters: ruminal pH, ammonia-nitrogen ($NH_3$-N), volatile fatty acid (VFA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and bacterial populations were not significantly different among the treatments. In conclusion, these studies confirmed that the applying of molasses improved fermentative quality, feed intake and digestibility of Napier grass.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.409-418
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• 2005

This study was conducted to examine the nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation characteristics in sheep fed dried mugwort and mugwort silage for 5% levels of rice straw in the basal diet, and mugwort pellet for 5% levels of concentrate in the basal diet. For the experiment, they were given a basal diet containing of rice straw and concentrate mixed at a 3: 7 ratio (DM basis). The treatments were designed as a 4 ${\times}$ 4 Latin square design with four sheep (50.2 kg body weight). The digestibility of crude protein was increased (p < 0.05) to 4.6 - 6.2 % in sheep fed mugwort silage treatments (60.23 %) compared with those of control (54.08 %) and dried mugwort treatment (55.67 %). That of ether extract was iicreased (p < 0.05) to 4.8 - 8.8 % in sheep fed mugwort silage treatments (80.22 %) compared with those of control (71.47 %) and dried mugwort treatment (75.46 %). In the dry matter intake, mugwort silage treatment (904.44 g) was the hightest and mugwort pellet treatment, dried mugwort treatment and control were 810.66 g, 780.66 g and 742.18 g, respectively. The ruminal pH in all treatments were rapidly decreased (p < 0.05) at 0.5 and 1 hour after feeding and slowly increased at 2, 4 and 8 hours after feeding, especially mugwort silage treatment. The ammonia nitrogen concentrations were the highest (p < 0.05) in sheep fed mugwort silage treatment (11.24 - 12.05mg / 100 rnz) at 0.5 and 2 hours after feeding. The ruminal concentrations of acetic acid (6.06 mmol /100 $m\ell$) and propionic acid (2.35 mmol/ 100 mz) were an increased (p < 0.05) at the mugwort silage treatments at 1 and 2 hours after feeding. Purine derivatives out put (13.41 mmol / d) and microbial protein production (11.61 mmol / d) were increased (p < 0.05) compared with those of control (5.42 and 4.93 mmol / d).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권12호
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• pp.1913-1922
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• 2018

Objective: To find out ways of improving fermentation quality of silage, the comparative analysis of fermentation characteristics and in vitro digestibility of tropical grasses silage applied with cellulases produced from Acremonium or Tricoderma species were studied in Thailand. Methods: Fresh and wilted Guinea grass and Napier grass silages were prepared with cellulases from Acremonium (AC) or Trichoderma (TC) at 0.0025%, 0.005%, and 0.01% on a fresh matter (FM), and their fermentation quality, chemical composition and in vitro digestibility were analyzed. Results: All silages of fresh Napier grass were good quality with lower pH, butyric acid, and ammonia nitrogen, but higher lactic acid content than wilted Napier grass and Guinea grass silage. Silages treated with AC 0.01% had the best result in terms of fermentation quality. They also had higher in vitro dry matter digestibility and in vitro organic matter digestibility at 6 and 48 h after incubation than other silages. Silages treated with lower levels at 0.005% or 0.0025% of AC and all levels of TC did not improve silage fermentation. Conclusion: The AC could improve silage fermentation and in vitro degradation of Guinea grass and Napier grass silages, and the suitable addition ration is 0.01% (73.5 U) of FM for tropical silage preparation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.201-208
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• 2014

This study was conducted to evaluate the ensiling characteristics and the in situ degradability of a by-product feed (BF)-based silage. Before ensilation, the BF-based mixture was composed of 50% spent mushroom substrate, 21% recycled poultry bedding, 15% ryegrass straw, 10.8% rice bran, 2% molasses, 0.6% bentonite, and 0.6% microbial inoculant on a wet basis and ensiled for up to 4 weeks. The BF-based silage contained on average 39.3% moisture, 13.4% crude protein (CP), and 52.2% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 49% total digestible nutrient, and 37.8% physically effective $NDF_{1.18}$ on a dry matter (DM) basis. Ensiling the BF-based silage for up to 4 weeks affected (p<0.01) the chemical composition to a small extent, increased (p<0.05) the lactic acid and $NH_3$-N content, and decreased (p<0.05) both the total bacterial and lactic acid bacterial counts from $10^9$ to $10^8$ cfu/g when compared to that before ensiling. These parameters indicated that the silage was fermented and stored well during the 4-week ensiling period. Compared with rice or ryegrass straws, the BF-based silage had a higher (p<0.05) water-soluble and filterable fraction, a lower insoluble degradable DM and CP fraction (p<0.05), a lower digestible NDF (p<0.05) fraction, a higher (p<0.05) DM and CP disappearance and degradability rate, and a lower (p<0.05) NDF disappearance and degradability rate. These results indicated that cheap, good-quality BF-based roughage could be produced by ensiling SMS, RPB, rice bran, and a minimal amount of straw.