The microbiota and fermentation quality of cassava foliage (CF) ensiled in the absence of additive (CK), or the presence of citric acid (CA), malic acid (MA), and their combination with aLactobacillus plantarumstrain (CAL and MAL)were investigated. These additives reduced (P< 0.05) the pH, butyric acid, and ammonia-N contents but increased (P< 0.05) the lactic acid content, and CAL and MAL showed similar remarkable effects.Paenibacillus(mean, 27.81%) andBacillus(mean, 16.04%) were the predominant strains in CF silage. The addition of CA or MAL increased the abundance ofPaenibacillus(25.81–52.28% and 47.97%, respectively), and the addition of MA increased the abundance ofBacillus(15.76–32.48%) compared with the CK group. Moreover, CAL and MAL increased the abundances of the potentially desirable bacteriaCellulosimicrobium(CAL 0–12.73%),Hyphomicrobium(0–7.90% and 8.94%), andOceanobacillus(0–8.37% and 3.08%) compared with the CK group. These findings suggested that CA and MA could enhance the silage quality of CF, and their combinations withLactobacillus plantarumwere more effective.

Geese are extremely adept in utilizing plant-derived roughage within their diet. However, the intestinal microbiome of geese remains limited, especially the dietary effect on microbial diversity. Cassava foliage was widely used in animal feed, but little information is available for geese. In this study, the geese were fed with control diet (CK), experimental diet supplemented with 5% cassava foliage (CF5) or 10% (CF10) for 42 days, respectively. The cecal samples were collected after animals were killed. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to investigate the microbial diversity in the caecum of geese with different dietary supplements. Taxonomic analysis indicated that the predominant phyla were distinct with different dietary treatments. The phyla Firmicutes (51.4%), Bacteroidetes (29.55%) and Proteobacteria (7.90%) were dominant in the CK group, but Bacteroidetes (65.19% and 67.29%,) Firmicutes (18.01% and 17.39%), Proteobacteria (8.72% and 10.18%), Synergistete (2.51% and 1.76%) and Spirochaetes (2.60% and 1.46%) were dominant in CF5 and CF10 groups. The abundance of Firmicutes was negatively correlated with the supplementation of cassava foliage. However, the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were positively correlated with the supplementation of cassava foliage. Our study also revealed that the microbial communities were significantly different at genus levels. Genes related to nutrient and energy metabolism, immunity and signal transduction pathways were primarily enriched by the microbiome.

To effectively utilize the tropical cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) foliage (CF) resources, the CF silages were prepared with microbial additives, including Chikuso-1 (CH1, Lactobacillus plantarum), Snow Lact L (SN, L. rhamnosus), Acremonium cellulase (CE), SN + CE and CH1 + CE. Silage fermentation, chemical composition and ruminal degradation were studied in Hainan, China. CF silages prepared with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and CE were well preserved, with a higher (P < 0.05) lactic acid, a lower (P < 0.05) pH value, butyric acid content and NH3-N ⁄ total-N compared with the controls. The additive-treated silages showed increased crude protein (CP) content, but decreased (P < 0.05) NDF and ADF contents. Meanwhile, the additive treatment improved relative feed value and ruminal degradability of dry matter (DM), CP, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber. In addition, the combination of LAB and CE resulted in better fermentation quality and ruminal degradability compared with LAB or CE single treatment. The results demonstrated that the CF could be prepared as ruminant feed, and the combination of LAB and CE might exert beneficial synergistic effect on silage fermentation.

As the by-product of cassava, cassava foliage (CF) has been widely used in livestock feed. However, little information is available on its utilizatio