The current study aimed to determine the nutritional quality and aerobic stability of sorghum, maize, and their mixture silages without any additives. Sorghum and maize were harvested at dough stage from a local farm in Tekirdağ. Fresh plant materials were chopped to a length of 2-3 cm and packed into polythene bags, and vacuumed. A total of 12 vacuum-packed silos (4 replications in each treatment) were prepared with sorghum (S), maize (M), and a mixture of sorghum-maize (SM) forage (w:w, 50:50 according to dry matter) and stored at room temperature for 60 days. The chemical and microbiological composition of silages with the rate of aerobic deterioration upon aerobic exposure were evaluated. Based on the pH and ammonia nitrogen concentration, all silages could be classified as good quality. The water-soluble carbohydrate level of the SM group increased due to mixing S and M forages, leading to improved lactic acid content. The NDF and ADF values of silages varied between 520.52-588.32 and 234.98-309.01 g kg-1, and the differences between silages were significant (P<0.01). The Hemicellulose/Cellulose ratio of S, M, and SM silages were found 0.94, 1.49, and 1.18, respectively. The lactobacilli and yeast content of silages were significant and varied between 5.18-7.41 and 5.18-7.29 log cfu g-1, and the highest and lowest values were observed in SM and S silages, respectively (P0.05). The pH, CO2, and yeast numbers were varied in groups between 4.88-6.74, 55.71-119.33 g kg-1, and 8.40-9.01 log cfu g-1. It was concluded that it is possible to improve the nutritional and fermentation characteristics of sorghum and maize silage by ensiling their mixture. However, it is highly recommended that silage additives should be used to guarantee and strengthen the fermentation and aerobic stability of silage mostly made by a mixture of these two energetic forage crops.

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of organic acid mixture and/or mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) on growth performance, blood parameters and intestinal microbiota in 120 Ross 308 male broiler chicks, over a period of 21 days. Birds were maintained in battery brooders confined in an environmentally controlled experimental room. There were 4 dietary treatments, each consisting of 6 replicates. Dietary treatments were: (i) basal diet (as a control), (ii) basal diet + MOS 2 kg/ton feed, (iii) basal diet + organic acid mixture 3 kg/ton feed and (iv) basal diet + MOS 2 kg/ton feed + organic acid mixture 3 kg/ton feed. Weight gain of the broilers in this study was significantly influenced by the addition of organic acid mixture (P<0.01). The lowest feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were detected in the MOS supplemented groups (P<0.05). Erythrocyte length (EL) was significantly increased in MOS + organic acid mixture fed groups (P<0.05). In ileal digesta, lactic acid bacteria counts increased in MOS + organic acid mixture fed groups (P<0.001). Otherwise, E. coli counts decreased in MOS, organic acid mixture and MOS + organic acid mixture fed groups compared to control groups (P<0.001). In caecal digesta, lactic acid bacteria counts increased (P<0.001), whereas E. coli numbers decreased compared to control groups (P<0.001)

This study was carried out to determine the effects of apple vinegar and sodium diacetate addition on the aerobic stability of fermented high moisture maize grain (HMM) silage after opening. In the study, the effect of three different levels (0%, 0.5% and 1%) of apple vinegar (AV) and sodium diacetate (SDA) supplementation to fermented HMM at two different storage conditions (27–29 °C, 48% Humidity; 35–37 °C, 26% Humidity) were investigated. The material of the study was fermented rolled maize grain with 62% moisture content stored for about 120 days. Silage samples were subjected to aerobic stability test with three replicates for each treatment group. Wendee and microbiological analyses were made at 0, 2, 4, 7, and 12 days. Meanwhile, samples were displayed in the T200 IR brand thermal camera. According to the thermogram results, 1% SDA addition positively affected HMM silages at the second and fourth days of aerobic stability at both storage conditions (p < 0.05). Aerobic stability and infrared thermography analysis indicated that 1% AV, 0.5%, and 1% SDA additions to HMM silages had promising effects. Due to our results, we concluded that thermal camera images might be used as an alternative quality indicator for silages in laboratory conditions.

Bu çalışma, laktik asit bakteri+enzim (LAB+E) karışımı inokulantın yaş bira posası silajlarının fermantasyon ve aerobik stabilite özellikleri ile in vitro organik madde sindirilebilirliği (IVOMS) üzerindeki etkilerinin belirlenmesi amacıyla düzenlenmiştir. İnokulant olarak, Lactobacillus plantarum ve Enterococcus faecium bakterileri ile birlikte selülaz, pentozanaz ve amilaz enzimlerini içeren SILAID (Global Nutritech Biotechnology LLC, Richmond, VA) kullanılmıştır. İnokulant silajlara 5x105, 1x106 ve 5x106 kob g-1 düzeylerinde ilave edilmiştir. Yaş bira posaları yalnızca gaz çıkışına izin veren 1 litrelik cam kavanozlara silolanmışlardır. Altmış günlük silolanma süresi sonrasında açılan silajlarda kimyasal ve mikrobiyolojik analizler yapılmış ve silajlar 5 gün süreyle aerobik stabilite testine tabi tutulmuştur. Ayrıca, silajların enzimatik yöntem ile IVOMS saptanmıştır. Sonuç olarak, LAB+E inokulantı ilavesi silajların pH, amonyak azotu ve asetik asit içeriklerini düşerken, laktik asit içeriklerini ve lactobacilli sayısını artırmıştır (P<0.05). Ayrıca LAB+E ilavesi silajların nötr deterjanda çözünmeyen lif, asit deterjanda çözünmeyen lif ve selüloz içeriğini azaltmıştır (P0.05).

This study was carried out to determine the effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inoculants and lactic acid bacteria+enzymes (LAB+E) inoculant on the fermentation, aerobic stability, and feed value of rye silages. Whole crop rye was harvested at dough stage. Biosil (Wuthenow, Germany), Silaprilis Pro (Timac Agro, USA) and Sil-All (Allteck, UK) were used as lactic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria+enzyme mixture inoculants. Inoculants were applied to silages at 6.00 log10 cfu/g levels. After the treatment, alfalfa was ensiled in 1.0-L special polyethylene vacuum bags. The bags were stored at 20±2°C under the laboratory conditions. Three bags from each group were sampled for chemical and microbiological analyses 2, 4, 8 and 75th days after ensiling. At the end of the ensiling period, all silages were subjected to an aerobic stability test for 5 days. In addition, in vitro dry matter, and organic matter digestibility of experiment silages were determined. The results showed that lactic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria+enzyme mixture inoculants increased characteristics of fermentation and aerobic stability of rye silages. Lactic acid bacteria+enzyme mixture inoculants decreased neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and celluloses content in the silages. Lactic acid bacteria+enzyme mixture inoculants increased in vitro dry matter digestibility, organic matter digestibility and metaboze energy of rye silages. Therefore, lactic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria+enzyme mixture inoculants might improve the fermentation properties and feed values of rye silages harvested at dough stage.

This study was carried out to determine the effects of lactic acid bacteria+ enzyme (LAB+E) inoculants on the fermentation characteristics and feed values of silages prepared from alfalfa harvested at three maturity stages. Alfalfa was harvested at the early, middle and late flowering stages. Sil-All (Alltech, UK) were used as LAB+E inoculants. Inoculants were applied to the silages at the rates of 1×105, 5×105 and 1×106 cfu/g levels in 1 liter capacity plastic bags. The bags were stored at 20±2°C under the laboratory conditions. Three bags from each group were sampled for chemical and microbiological analyses on the 45th day after ensiling. The results showed that LAB+E inoculants reduced pH values and ammonia-nitrogen content, whereas increased lactic acid contents and lactobacillus count of alfalfa silages. High doses LAB+E inoculant decreased neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber content, increased in vitro organic matter digestibility and metabolic energy of alfalfa silages. It has been demonstrated that the most effective application dose of LAB+E inoculant to improve fermentation and feed value of alfalfa silage was 1×106 cfu/g, but 1x105 and 5×105 cfu/g level can also be considered as effective dose.