This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and identify acetic acid-producing lactic acid bacteria from fresh sorghum plants and silage, and to evaluate the effect of the isolates as microbial inoculants on taxonomic diversity and silage fermentation quality. For the first experimental stage, eight experimental silos were prepared, and the fresh sorghum plant cv. BRS Ponta Negra (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.) was sampled to characterize and identify the bacteria. Five strains were chosen to be inoculated in the second experimental stage, in a 7 × 2 factorial design, with seven treatments and two opening times, in four replications. Four types of species were identified, with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum predominating at 72.73%. There was an interaction effect between treatments and opening times on effluent losses, gas losses, the population of lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, and lactic acid content. The aerobic stability treatments that stood out were Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (GML 66) and Weissella cibaria, which showed 71.75 and 68.87 h of stability. The use of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (GML 66) as a microbial inoculant in sorghum silage increased the dry matter content, reduced effluent losses, and improved dry matter recovery. It also reduced the yeast population in the silage, promoting greater aerobic stability in the silage.

This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological composition of cactus pear-based diets with increasing levels of buffel grass hay, and its effect on the blood and physiological parameters and occurrence of diarrhea in feedlot sheep. Four diets containing different percentages of buffel grass hay were tested. Diets were composed of forage cactus, buffel grass hay and concentrate, and the treatments were represented by different levels of hay in the dry matter of the feed: 7.5% buffel grass hay; 15% buffel grass hay; 30% buffel grass hay; and 45% buffel grass hay on a dry matter basis. There was a significant effect (p = 0.0034) of inclusion levels of buffel grass hay on fecal score. Only at the 45% inclusion level diarrhea was not observed, showing that the level of buffel grass affected more the animals than the collection period, although the collection period has affected the microbial counts. Probably there was a physiological adaptation of animals over time. There were significant changes (p < 0.0001) in the blood parameters of sheep. The reduction of the proportion of cactus and the inclusion of greater than 15% buffel grass hay, on a dry matter basis, provides less contamination of the diet and animal feces by enterobacteria, such as E. coli.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the fermentative characteristics, chemical composition, and in vitro digestibility of a total mixed ration silage containing two babassu by-products, starchy flour and babassu cake. The treatments were distributed in a completely randomised design containing four treatments and five replications. The treatments consisted of corn silage, corn silage based on the standard corn and soybean diet, corn silage with babassu flour, and corn silage with babassu cake. No significant difference was observed in the pH values (p = 0.256) for the studied silages. Higher values for dry matter recovery were observed for the silages of the total diets. The corn silage presented lower lactic acid production (55.15 g/kg DM) and acetic acid (11.54 g/kg DM) in relation to the total ration silages. The inclusion of babassu by-products increased the dry matter (p < 0.001), crude protein (p < 0.001), and total digestible nutrient content (p < 0.001) in the total ration silages. Silage in the form of the total ration containing regional babassu by-products improved the fermentative profile of the silages and the nutritional value of the diets, endowing them with potential for use as a feed alternative for dairy cattle.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of microbial inoculant and cottonseed cake on the fermentation profile, microbial population, aerobic stability, organic acids, chemical composition and losses of millet silages. The experimental design was completely randomised, in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement, with the following treatments: (1) Control (millet); (2) Millet + 10% cottonseed cake (on a natural matter basis); (3) Millet + Weissella cibaria – heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria; (4) Millet + cottonseed cake and Weissella cibaria (blend); and two opening times (30 and 90 days after ensiling) with four replications, totalling 32 experimental units. Silages containing cottonseed cake had greater ( P = .008) dry matter recovery. There was effect ( P < .001) of the opening time on the counts of lactic acid bacteria, mould and yeast, and under aerobic stability, which were higher in silages opened at 90 days. The addition of cottonseed cake resulted in an increase in the nutritional quality of the silage, compared to control silages and silages inoculated with Weissella cibaria . The addition of cottonseed cake in millet silage proved to be efficient in reducing silage losses, improving the fermentation profile and nutritional value.

Using additives in sugarcane silage can reduce dry matter losses and enhance animal performance by preserving nutritional value. This study evaluated the performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood parameters of sheep fed sugarcane silage with or without cottonseed cake. Twenty-six uncastrated, mixed-breed male lambs (approximately 6 months of age; 26 ± 1.3 kg) were allocated to two dietary treatments based on sugarcane silage (SS) and cottonseed cake (CSC), which differed in the form of feed presentation: (1) the control, consisting of SS and fresh CSC provided simultaneously but offered separately, without physical mixing; and (2) the Partial Mixed Ration silage (S + CSC), in which SS and CSC were pre-mixed and ensiled together at a proportion of 80:20 (natural matter basis). Dry matter intake (1620 g/kg) was similar between diets, but dry matter digestibility (64.75%) and average daily gain (202.88 g/day) were higher in the cottonseed cake group, leading to greater total weight gain (8.11 kg). These animals also had a lower acetate/propionate ratio (4.2 vs. 2.0 mmol/L) and higher blood glucose (44 vs. 35 mg/dL). Higher N intake, urinary N, and retained N were observed in the cottonseed cake diet, which also improved the diet’s mineral balance. In conclusion, adding cottonseed cake to sugarcane silage enhances fermentation, preserves nutritional value, and improves sheep performance.