This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of homo or hetero fermentative inoculants on fermentation quality and aerobic stability of sweet potato vine (SPV) silage containing Italian ryegrass hay as moisture absorbent. The SPV was harvested at 15% dry matter, mixed with Italian ryegrass hay at 1:1 ratio on a fresh weight basis, and chopped to 3 to 5 cm length. After then, the chopped forage mixture was ensiled into 20-L mini silos in quadruplicate for 7, 48, and 100 days after application of microbial inoculants at 1.2×105 colony forming units (cfu)/g of forage following: no inoculant (CON), Lactobacillus plantarum as a homo fermentative (LP), Lactobacillus buchneri as a hetero fermentative (LB), and mixture of LP and LB at 1:1 ratio as a combo fermentative (MIX). The LP and MIX silages had lowest pH (p<0.001) on 7 and 48 days, while MIX and CON silages had greatest lactate concentrations (p<0.05) on 7 and 48 days, respectively. Acetate concentrations were highest (p<0.01) in LB and MIX silages on 7 days, and in LB silage on 48 days, while lactate to acetate ratios were lowest (p<0.001) in LB silages. The chemical compositions and nutrient digestibility of silage ensiled for 100 days was not affected by inoculants. On 100 days of ensiling, LB silage had lowest (p<0.01) lactate concentration and lactate to acetate ratio, but highest acetate concentration. Aerobic stability was highest (p<0.001) in LB silage followed in MIX silage. On contrast, LB silage had lowest (p<0.05) lactic acid bacteria and mold. The results indicated that application of LB solely had a better effect on aerobic stability than not only LP, but also MIX. However, LP application did not show beneficial effects from the viewpoints of fermentation quality and aerobic stability compared to CON.

This study estimated the effects of oil sources on fermentation characteristics, greenhouse gas, microbial diversity, and biohydrogenation of fatty acids in the rumen. In vitro ruminal incubation was performed with 7 mg of oil source, 15 mL rumen buffer, and 150 mg of synthetic diet at 39 °C for 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h. Oil sources consisted of corn oil (CO; linoleic acid (C18:2n-6)), linseed oil (LSO; linolenic acid (C18:3n-3)), or Ca-salts (protected C18:2n-6). The ruminal gas was collected for CH₄ and CO₂ analysis. Incubated rumen buffer was sub-sampled for the analysis of microbial quantification, fermentation characteristics, and fatty acid profiles. The results showed that Ca-salt increased acetate (p = 0.013), while CO increased propionate (p = 0.007). Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, and R. albus increased (p < 0.05) with Ca-salt after 12 h of incubation, while Streptococcus bovis increased (p < 0.05) by LSO. The CO and Ca-salt resulted in the highest C18:2n-6 (p = 0.002), while LSO resulted in the highest C18:3n-3 (p = 0.001). The Ca-salt had the lowest C18:0 (p = 0.002), but the highest C18:1cis-9 (p = 0.004). In conclusion, Ca-salt supplementation resisted biohydrogenation to some extent, decreased methanogenic archaea and protozoa, and exerted less toxic effects on fibrolytic bacteria.

This study examined the effect of chestnut ( Castanea sativa ) meal (CNM) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of pigs. Thirty-two crossbred pigs were randomly allocated equally into four groups and fed one of four diets containing 0, 30, 50, or 100 g kg⁻¹ DM CNM for 49 days. The animals were housed individually into the cage, fed the diet ad libitum , and allowed to access water freely. Feed efficiency decreased quadratically, while carcass yield decreased linearly with increasing CNM supplementation. The highest pH and the lowest drip loss were found in 30 g kg⁻¹ of CNM supplementation, respectively, while no effects on fatty acid profiles were observed in all treatments. The addition of CNM at 30 g kg⁻¹ into the diets could improve feed efficiency and reduce drip loss in meat.

Feed substrate containing probiotic culture of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis and Sacharomyces cerevicae were prepared for feeding calves. Twelve 2 weeks old calves were distributed equally in two groups (6 calves in each) and supplemented with (treated) or without probiotic feed (Control). Calves were reared in an individual pan and provided with ad libitum suckling, calf starter, and soft green grass. In 90 days trial period data were collected on growth performance, blood metabolic profile, immune status, fecal microbial load, morbidity etc. It was observed that milk intake, dry matter intake (DMI), daily gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not differed (P>0.05) between treatments. Claves under the probiotic fed group voided feces of better physical properties (color, odor and consistency) compared to the control. Weekly E. coli count (log₁₀CFU/g) in feces was found lower (P<0.01) in the probiotic group compared to the control. The plasma IgG (ng/ml) concentration was found higher (P<0.05) in probiotic group than in the control, and total cholesterol level tended to be high (P=0.071) in the same group. It is concluded that, probiotic feed improved fecal characteristics, lesser E. coli load in feces, lowered diarrheal incidence and improved immunoglobulin status of calves from 15^th to 105^th days of age. Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science, 52 (2): 45-54

This study integrated phenotypic and molecular characterisation of LAB isolated from whole‐crop maize and Napier fodder and silage with laboratory‐scale ensiling to evaluate their fermentation efficacy in maize silage. Twenty‐one LAB isolates were screened, of which seven were confirmed by 16 s rRNA gene sequenced as Limosilactobacillus fermentum and Bacillus subtilis . The isolates exhibited broad physiological tolerance, growth at 15°C–43°C, pH 4.0–9.5, 7% NaCl, and the ability to ferment multiple carbohydrates. Selected strains ( L. fermentum PQ482012 and B. subtilis PQ482016) were evaluated as silage inoculants in maize fodder over 45 days under controlled conditions. Inoculated silages exhibited significantly improved fermentation, with reduced pH (4.04–4.09; p = 0.004) and lower ammonia‐nitrogen (4.20–6.10 mg/100 mL; p = 0.001) compared to uninoculated control (pH, 4.19; 7.25 mg/100 mL). L. fermentum inoculation resulted in higher crude protein retention (92.20 g/kg of dry matter; p = 0.001), whilst combined inoculation enhanced acidification but caused greater DM loss (48.65 g/kg; p = 0.001). Inoculated silage also exhibited higher LAB counts, suppression of yeast, and absence of moulds. Overall, the native L. fermentum and B. subtilis strains exhibit strong strain‐specific fermentation traits, showing promise as bio‐inoculants for enhancing maize silage quality.