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Agriculture
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Silage Preparation, Processing and Efficient Utilization
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Silage Preparation, Processing and Efficient Utilization

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Farm Animal Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 September 2024 | Viewed by 5728

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Siran Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Animal Science, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Science, Nanjing 210014, China
Interests: silage; ensiling; function potential; microbial community; metabolites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Silage is a high-quality animal feed obtained through desirable bacteria fermentation under anaerobic conditions. It is rich in nutrition, with good palatability, high digestibility, and long-term storage. Silage production, otherwise known as ensiling, is a very complex process of microbial activity and biochemical changes, and it is one of the most important ways to preserve crop straws or forage biomasses. Animals that feed on silage can effectively improve the availability of animal protein and reduce methane emissions. There are a lot of silage resources available on the Earth. However, the utilization rate is low, leading to a massive waste of resources and severe environmental pollution. On the other hand, with the rapid development of animal production, there is a considerable shortage of animal roughage yearly. With this in mind, it is essential to investigate silage preparation, processing and efficient utilization.

This Special Issue focuses on silage preparation, processing and efficient utilization in improving silage quality and animal performance. Research articles will cover a broad range of silage from forages and other roughage resources. All types of articles, such as original research, opinions, and reviews, are welcome.

Dr. Siran Wang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • silage
  • ensiling
  • lactic acid bacteria
  • bacterial community
  • fermentation
  • forage

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2271 KiB  
Article
Influence of Growth Stages and Additives on the Fermentation Quality and Microbial Profiles of Whole-Plant Millet Silage
by Na Zhao, Xia Hao, Maozhe Yin, Changqing Li, Chao Wang and Hongyan Han
Agriculture 2024, 14(8), 1323; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14081323 - 9 Aug 2024
Viewed by 608
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the optimal growth stage and additives for producing high quality millet silage through two experiments. Experiment 1: Whole-plant millet from the same field and under uniform management was harvested at the heading, sizing, milking, dough, and full-maturity stages. [...] Read more.
This study aimed to determine the optimal growth stage and additives for producing high quality millet silage through two experiments. Experiment 1: Whole-plant millet from the same field and under uniform management was harvested at the heading, sizing, milking, dough, and full-maturity stages. Then, it was chopped into 2–3 cm segments, vacuum-sealed in plastic bags without any further treatment, stored at 20 °C, and opened after 60 days. The results indicated that the dough stage had the highest water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and crude protein (CP) contents. The lactic acid (LA) and acetic acid (AA) contents during the dough and maturity stages were significantly higher than other stages, with the lowest pH observed during the dough stage. Experiment 2: The whole-plant millet was harvested at the dough stage. It was then chopped into 2–3 cm segments using a forage chopper, mixed thoroughly, and subjected to different treatments—inoculation with 106 CFU/g FM of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP), adding of 1% FM sucrose (S), and a combination of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and sucrose (MIX)—with a control group (CK) receiving an equivalent amount of water. The MIX treatment significantly enhanced the WSC content compared to other treatments (p < 0.05), and both the LP and MIX treatments showed superior LA and AA contents and lactic acid bacteria counts. These additives significantly altered the bacterial community, shifting dominance from Proteobacteria in the CK and raw materials to Firmicutes. Klebsiella dominated the CK group but was significantly reduced in the additive treatments, where Lentilactobacillus became the dominant genus. Therefore, we recommend harvesting millet at the dough stage and adding a mixture of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and sugar to improve fermentation quality and aerobic stability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silage Preparation, Processing and Efficient Utilization)
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16 pages, 486 KiB  
Article
Impact of Monensin Sodium and Essential Limonene Oil on the Fermentation and Chemical Composition of Total Mixed Ration Silages with Moisture Variations
by Ronnie Coêlho de Andrade, Marco Antonio Previdelli Orrico Junior, Yara América da Silva, Marciana Retore, Tatiane Fernandes, Ana Carolina Amorim Orrico, Fernando Miranda de Vargas Junior and Isabele Paola de Oliveira Amaral
Agriculture 2024, 14(8), 1319; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14081319 - 9 Aug 2024
Viewed by 575
Abstract
Monensin and essential oils have antimicrobial properties that may impact silage fermentation. The present study was divided into two trials to evaluate the effects of monensin (MON) and essential limonene oils (ELO) as additives in the ensiling of total mixed ration (TMR). In [...] Read more.
Monensin and essential oils have antimicrobial properties that may impact silage fermentation. The present study was divided into two trials to evaluate the effects of monensin (MON) and essential limonene oils (ELO) as additives in the ensiling of total mixed ration (TMR). In the first assay, TMR was tested with sheep in growth (65% dry matter—DM) using the following treatments: control (no additive), MON35 (35 mg of monensina per kg of DM), MON45 (45 mg of monensina per kg of DM), ELO300 (300 mg of essential limonene oil per kg of DM), and ELO600 (600 mg of essential limonene oil per kg of DM). In the second assay, the same treatments were used in TMR for lactating cows under two moisture conditions (30% and 40% DM). The parameters assessed included fermentative losses, short-chain fatty acid profiles, aerobic stability (hours needed for silage to reach 2 °C above ambient), chemical composition, and in vitro DM digestibility of the silages. Treatment averages were compared using the Scott–Knott test at 5% significance. In the first assay, the treatments with ELO had the lowest (p < 0.05) pH values and the highest (p < 0.05) lactic acid concentrations, with treatment ELO600 leading to the highest (p < 0.05) aerobic stability (297.88 h). Only the starch contents of the ELO treatments were lower (p < 0.05) than the others. In the second assay, the silages with the highest moisture contents and ELO600 exhibited the lowest (p < 0.05) values of DM recovery, lactic acid, and pH. The highest (p < 0.05) lactic acid:acetic acid ratios were observed in the silages with the most moisture added with MON35 and MON45. The use of MON and ELO increased aerobic stability, with the highest (p < 0.05) values observed for ELO600 and MON35. The treatments with MON and ELO resulted in silages with the lowest (p < 0.05) fiber contents and highest ether extract and starch contents when compared with control. Thus, MON and essential oils improve fermentative quality but ELO should be used in lower doses in humid silages to avoid negative fermentation impacts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silage Preparation, Processing and Efficient Utilization)
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12 pages, 1466 KiB  
Article
Nutritional Value Evaluation of Corn Silage from Different Mesoregions of Southern Brazil
by Mikael Neumann, Ellen Baldissera, Livia Alessi Ienke, André Martins de Souza, Paulo Eduardo Piemontez de Oliveira and Valter Harry Bumbieris Junior
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1055; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071055 - 30 Jun 2024
Viewed by 617
Abstract
Corn silage is widely used in livestock farming; however, its quality is easily altered, and one of the factors that has a high influence in this regard is the region of production. The objective was to evaluate the chemical–bromatological composition of 498 samples [...] Read more.
Corn silage is widely used in livestock farming; however, its quality is easily altered, and one of the factors that has a high influence in this regard is the region of production. The objective was to evaluate the chemical–bromatological composition of 498 samples of corn silage from mesoregions in Southern Brazil during the 2022/2023 summer harvest. The following were studied in relation to our objective: nutritional composition, dry matter, mineral matter, ether extract, starch, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, total digestible nutrients, total carbohydrates, and fractions of carbohydrates. The silages from Central South-PR had higher levels of starch and ether extract (30.68% ± 6.24% and 3.41% ± 0.92%, respectively), whereas in West-SC, the silages had higher levels in the A + B1 fraction of carbohydrates (49.59% ± 6.34%). Silages in North-PR had higher concentrations of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber (49.86% ± 5.92% and 29.70% ± 4.38%, respectively), while in Northwest-RS and West-PR, silages had higher levels of the B2 carbohydrate fractions (46.25% ± 1.98% and 44.55% ± 3.84%, respectively). The nutritional composition differences presented were due to the variables of each mesoregion, interfering in the scenario of formulating diets and animal nutrition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silage Preparation, Processing and Efficient Utilization)
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14 pages, 2742 KiB  
Article
Isolation of Bacillus velezensis from Silage and Its Effect on Aerobic Stability and In Vitro Methane Production of Whole-Plant Corn Silage
by Chen Zhang, Zimo Zhang, Mengfan Zhu, Yongliang Wang, Tangtang Zhou, Fachun Wan, Yunhua Zhang and Lijuan Chen
Agriculture 2024, 14(6), 830; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14060830 - 25 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 890
Abstract
Once a silo has been opened, the silage inside will face challenges such as aerobic deterioration, rot, and contamination. Biocontrol bacteria, as a kind of biological antiseptic, are highly effective and natural and are gaining increasing attention. This study aimed to screen a [...] Read more.
Once a silo has been opened, the silage inside will face challenges such as aerobic deterioration, rot, and contamination. Biocontrol bacteria, as a kind of biological antiseptic, are highly effective and natural and are gaining increasing attention. This study aimed to screen a strain with anti-microbial activity against silage spoilage microorganisms and examine its effects on the fermentation quality, aerobic stability, in vitro digestion, and methane production of silage. Lactic acid bacteria, pathogenic and rot-causing microorganisms, were used as indicators to screen the strains for putrefactive silage. The bacteriostatic spectrum, growth performance, and tolerance to the silage environment of the strain were tested. A strain named D-2 was screened from rotten whole-plant corn silage and identified as Bacillus velezensis through physiological and biochemical tests as well as 16S rDNA sequencing. This study found that D-2 exhibits antibacterial effects on several microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enteritidis, Aspergillus niger, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Fusarium oxysporum, and Fusarium graminearum. However, it has no adverse effect on Lactobacillus reuteri, Enterococcus faecium, or Lactobacillus casei. D-2 can attain a stable stage within 10 h and withstand temperatures of up to 70 °C. Moreover, this study found that D-2 had a high survival rate of over 97% after 48 h in a lactic acid environment with pH 4. Freshly chopped whole-plant corn was inoculated without or with D-2 and ensiled for 60 days. The results show that D-2 inoculations increase the content of water-soluble carbohydrates, acetic acid, and propionic acid in the silage and decrease the number of yeasts and molds, the NH4+-N/TN ratio, and the pH. We also found that fermenting whole-plant corn with D-2 significantly increased the in vitro digestibility and the propionic acid content, while also significantly inhibiting methane production. After being exposed to air for 10 days, D-2 can still effectively reduce the total number of yeasts and molds, prevent the decrease in lactic acid bacteria, and inhibit the increase in the pH and NH4+-N/TN ratio of silage products. Overall, D-2 is resistant to pathogenic and rot-causing microorganisms, allowing for easy adaptation to silage production conditions. D-2 can effectively improve aerobic stability and reduce losses in the nutritional value of silage, indicating possible applications for the prevention of silage rot and methane production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silage Preparation, Processing and Efficient Utilization)
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11 pages, 2252 KiB  
Article
Screening Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains for Their Tolerance to Increased Osmotic Pressure and Their Suitability to Ensile High Dry Matter Forages
by Siriwan D. Martens, Wolfgang Wagner, Mariana Schneider, Klaus Hünting, Susanne Ohl and Christof Löffler
Agriculture 2024, 14(6), 825; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14060825 - 25 May 2024
Viewed by 632
Abstract
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) should not only survive, but also perform under increased osmotic pressure in the process of ensiling, which results from the best practice of wilting forage. Simple laboratory protocols are needed to select suitable LAB strains as inoculants for high [...] Read more.
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) should not only survive, but also perform under increased osmotic pressure in the process of ensiling, which results from the best practice of wilting forage. Simple laboratory protocols are needed to select suitable LAB strains as inoculants for high dry matter (DM) conditions. The aim of this study was to simulate conditions of high osmolality without inducing salt stress and to select a suitable indicator of LAB performance. For that, an MRS medium was enriched with increasing concentrations of glucose and fructose plus a maximum of 28 g KCl/L until achieving an osmolality of 2.4 osmol/kg. Both, growth in the inoculated medium and pH decline, were then compared to the LAB performance in the basic medium. The latter was clearly delayed in the new medium. Finally, the method was validated by comparing the pH of small-scale grass silages of 30–35 and 45–49% target DM after 3–5 days of ensiling to the pH values of the microbiological growth medium. The pH levels of treatments with the homofermentative LAB were clearly attributable to the dry matter or the sugar concentration, respectively. The developed liquid growth medium sufficiently approximates high DM conditions to select for the osmotolerant homofermentative LAB. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silage Preparation, Processing and Efficient Utilization)
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22 pages, 1046 KiB  
Article
Assessing Fermentation Quality, Aerobic Stability, In Vitro Digestibility, and Rumen Degradation Characteristics of Silages Mixed with Sweet Sorghum and Aerial Parts of Licorice
by Feng Chen, Jiao Wang, Sujiang Zhang, Abdul Shakoor Chaudhry and Hassan Khanaki
Agriculture 2024, 14(2), 212; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14020212 - 28 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1308
Abstract
(1) Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the fermentation quality, chemical composition, aerobic stability, in vitro digestibility, and rumen degradation characteristics of silage mixtures with different ratios of sweet sorghum (SS) and aerial parts of licorice (LC). (2) Methods: Five mixtures were produced [...] Read more.
(1) Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the fermentation quality, chemical composition, aerobic stability, in vitro digestibility, and rumen degradation characteristics of silage mixtures with different ratios of sweet sorghum (SS) and aerial parts of licorice (LC). (2) Methods: Five mixtures were produced on a dry matter (DM) basis: (i) 0%SS + 100%LC (0%SS); (ii) 25%SS + 75%LC (25%SS); (iii) 50%SS + 50%LC (50%SS); (iv) 75%SS + 25%LC (75%SS); and (v) 100%SS + 0%LC (100%SS). First, the chemical composition of the silages was measured before and after fermentation. Next, the aerobic stability, dynamic microbial colonization and dynamic volatile fatty acids of the mixed silage after fermentation were determined for 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 days. Finally, the parameters related to gas production and the characteristics of the gas production were determined. At the same time, the rate of degradation of the chemical composition of the mixed silage in the rumen was studied. (3) Results: (a) As the proportion of SS increased, pH, ammonia, butyric acid, acetate, and aerobic stability showed a decreasing trend, but lactic acid content gradually increased. (b) The content of the fermentation and gas production parameters were significantly higher in 100%SS and 50%SS than others (p < 0.05). (c) The rate of degradation of DE, ME, Neg, DM, CP, ADF, NDF, and ADL of 50%SS in the rumen of sheep was significantly higher than others (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: In conclusion, ensiling SS and LC mixtures can improve silage quality, especially if the SS and LC are ensiled together at a ratio of 50:50. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silage Preparation, Processing and Efficient Utilization)
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