This experiment investigated the effects of lactic acid bacteria and cellulase on the fermentation quality, in vitro digestibility, and aerobic stability of Flammulina velutipes spent mushroom substrate silage (F-silage) and Pleurotus eryngii spent mushroom substrate silage (P-silage). Silage treatments included groups without any additives (control), with lactic acid bacteria (L), with cellulase (E), and with lactic acid bacteria and cellulase (M). Data analysis was performed using independent sample t-test and analysis of variance. After 45 days of ensiling, the pH in F-silage and P-silage from the L, E, and M groups were lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The pH, acetic acid (AA), and propionic acid (PA) levels in P-silage were lower than those in F-silage, and the LA content in P-silage was higher than that in F-silage (p < 0.05). Compared with the control, the E treatment increased in vitro neutral detergent fibre digestibility (IVNDFD) and in vitro acid detergent fibre digestibility (IVADFD) in F-silage and P-silage (p < 0.05). The aerobic stability of F-silage inoculated with L increased (p < 0.05) by 24 h compared to the control. The aerobic stability of P-silage inoculated with M increased (p < 0.05) by 6 h compared to the control. The improvement in fermentation quality and aerobic stability is extremely large in terms of applying M in F-silage and P-silage. The E is effective in improving the in vitro digestibility of P-silage. The research results provide a theoretical basis for the production of high-quality spent mushroom substrate fermented feed.

We investigated the effects of the moisture content and silage starter preparation on the fermentation quality, nutritional value, and in vitro digestibility of waxy corn processing byproducts and rice bran (WRB) mixed silage and waxy corn processing byproducts and rice polished powder (WRPP) mixed silage. Two mixed silages with 55%, 60%, and 65% moisture content (MC) were set up without any additives (control) or with former Lactobacillus (L), and opened on the 60th day after storage the fermentation quality, nutritive value, and in vitro digestibility of the silages in each treatment. The optimal formulation of high-quality waxy corn processing byproduct (WCPP) silage was screened to provide a reference and theoretical basis for the further development and utilisation of WCPPs. The results showed that the proportions of ammonia nitrogen to total nitrogen (AN/TN) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) significantly decreased with a decreasing MC, whereas the levels of lactic acid (LA), crude protein (CP), dry matter (DM), and in vitro crude protein digestibility (IVCPD) significantly increased (p < 0.05) for both mixed silages with L. After treatment with 60% MC, the content of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) was significantly lower, and the CP content was significantly greater in the WRB mixed silage treated with L (p < 0.05). With 55% MC, the addition of L not only reduced the pH and AN/TN ratio of the two mixed silages but also significantly improved their in vitro digestibility (p < 0.05). Studies have shown that reducing the MC of silage raw materials and adding L allows for the preparation of high-quality silage.

This experiment investigated the effects of different additives on the fermentation quality, in vitro digestibility, and aerobic stability of amaranth and wheat bran (AWB) mixed silage. In this experiment, a two-factor (moisture content × additive) completely randomized experimental design was used, with amaranth as the raw silage material, and the moisture content was adjusted to 60%, 65%, and 70% using wheat bran. At each moisture content condition, the silage treatments included groups without any additives (control), with lactic acid bacteria (L), with cellulase (E), and with lactic acid bacteria and cellulase (M). Six replicates of each treatment were analyzed for fermentation quality, chemical composition, and in vitro digestibility of AWB mixed silage after 60 days of ensiling. The results showed that in the same L group, the pH and the lactic acid (LA) in the 60% moisture content (MC) group were lower and higher, respectively, than in the 70% MC group (p < 0.05). In the same E and M groups, the ammonia nitrogen to total nitrogen (AN/TN) in the 60% MC group was lower than that in the 70% MC group, and the in vitro crude protein digestibility (IVCPD) was higher than that in the 70% MC group (p < 0.05). At the same time, the aerobic stability of AWB mixed silage gradually decreased as the MC of the raw material increased (p < 0.05). Under 60% MC, the IVCPD and in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility (IVNDFD) in AWB mixed silage from the E and M groups were higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Under 60% MC, the pH and AN/TN in AWB mixed silage from the M group were lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Compared with the control under 60% MC, the aerobic stability of AWB mixed silage inoculated with L, E, and M increased by 33 h, 42 h, and 57 h, respectively. It was shown that the addition of M resulted in the best fermentation quality, in vitro digestibility, and aerobic stability of AWB mixed silage when the amaranth MC was 60%.

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of moisture content, additives and their interactions on the fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro digestibility of mixed silage of amaranth and corn meal. Amaranths and corn meal were mixed in mass ratios of 69:31, 76:24 and 84:16, and the silage water content was adjusted to 60% (W1), 65% (W2) and 70% (W3), respectively. Silage treatments included no additives (U), the addition of Lactobacillus plantarum (L), the addition of cellulase (E), and the addition of Lactobacillus plantarum + cellulase (M) mixed reagents. The results showed that pH and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N/TN) levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in W1 compared to W2 and W3. At the same time, dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), in vitro dry matter digestibility (ivDMD), in vitro dry matter digestibility (ivDMD), in vitro organic matter digestibility (ivOMD), and in vitro crude protein digestibility (ivCPD) were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the aerobic stability of mixed silage of seed amaranth and corn meal decreased with increasing water content. The aerobic stability of the L, E, and M treatment groups was improved by 15, 105, and 111 hours, respectively, compared to the control group at W1. pH and NH3-N/TN levels were lower in the addition of E (E and M) than in the absence of E (U and L) (3.73, 20.1 g kg−1DM vs. 3.64, 22.9 g kg−1 DM, p < 0.05).NDF and ADF were significantly lower with the addition of E than without the addition of E (598 g kg−1 DM, 145 g kg−1 DM vs. 632 g kg−1 DM, 160 g kg−1 DM, p < 0.05). However, CP, ivDMD, ivOMD, and ivCPD were significantly higher (p < 0.05). AA and NH3-N/TN were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) with the addition of L (L and M) compared to without the addition of (U and E). In conclusion, the best fermentation quality, in vitro digestibility and aerobic stability of amaranth and cornmeal mixed silage treated with Lactobacillus plantarum + cellulase (M) were achieved at 60% water content.

In order to develop new feed resources, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of moisture content, additives, and their interactions on the fermentation quality, aerobic stability, and in vitro digestibility of mixed silage of amaranth and cornmeal. The mass ratios of amaranth and cornmeal were 69:31, 76:24, and 84:16 for adjusting the moisture content of silage to 60% (W1), 65% (W2), and 70% (W3), respectively. The silage treatments included no additives (U), the addition of Lactobacillus plantarum (L), the addition of cellulase (E), and the addition of Lactobacillus plantarum + cellulase (M) mixed reagents. The results revealed that the pH and ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N/TN) ratios were significantly lower in W1 than in W2 and W3 (3.66,19.3 g kg⁻¹ TN vs. 3.70, 3.70, 20.0 kg⁻¹ TN, 25.1 kg⁻¹ TN, p < 0.05). Moreover, dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), in vitro dry matter digestibility (ivDMD), in vitro organic matter digestibility (ivOMD), and in vitro crude protein digestibility (ivCPD) significantly increased (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the aerobic stability of mixed silage containing amaranth and cornmeal decreased with increasing water content. The aerobic stability of the L, E, and M treatment groups was improved by 15, 105, and 111 h, respectively, compared with that of the control group at W1. The pH and NH₃-N/TN ratios were lower with the addition of E (E and M) than with the absence of E (U and L) (3.73, 20.1 g kg⁻¹ DM vs. 3.64, 22.9 g kg⁻¹ DM, p < 0.05). NDF and ADF were significantly lower with the addition of E than without the addition of E (598 g kg⁻¹ DM, 145 g kg⁻¹ DM vs. 632 g kg⁻¹ DM, 160 g kg⁻¹ DM, p < 0.05). However, CP, ivDMD, ivOMD, and ivCPD were significantly higher (p < 0.05). AA and NH₃-N/TN were significantly lower (p < 0.05) with the addition of L (L and M) than without the addition of L (U and E). In conclusion, the best fermentation quality, in vitro digestibility, and aerobic stability of amaranth and cornmeal mixed silage treated with Lactobacillus plantarum + cellulase (M) were achieved at 60% water content. The present study confirmed the potential of amaranth as silage and its potential application for improving feed quality and animal performance.