Triticale, a hybrid cereal crop derived from the cross of wheat and rye, is widely used for silage production owing to its high nutritional qualities and tolerance to varying climatic conditions. The genotype and maturity stage of forage crops govern the efficiency of microbial inoculants used for ensiling. The effects of homofermentative (HMF; Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium) and heterofermentative (HTF; Lentilactobacillus buchneri) inoculants, either alone or in combination, on the fermentation quality, nutrient composition, and in vitro rumen digestibility of ensiled triticale varieties (Alperbey and Karma 2000) were assessed in this study. The study was carried out using a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of two triticale varieties, two levels of HMF [0 or 1 × 10⁵ CFU/g fresh forage (0.8 mg/kg)], and two levels of HTF [0 or 0.5 × 10⁵ CFU/g fresh forage (500 mg/kg)]. Forages were harvested at the early dough stage, vacuum-packed in 110 μm-thick plastic bags (35 cm × 25 cm), and allowed to ferment for 120 days. Fermentation characteristics, chemical composition, volatile fatty acids, and digestibility traits were evaluated after ensiling. Application of HMF inoculant significantly reduced silage pH compared to the control and HTF treatments in Alperbey, whereas in Karma 2000, terminal pH remained statistically similar between control and HMF treatments. Generally, inoculated silages had lower ammonia nitrogen levels than control silages, reflecting better protein conservation. The HTF significantly increased the acetic acid and decreased the butyric acid concentrations. There were significant two-way (variety × HMF and variety × HTF) and three-way (variety × HMF × HTF) interactions for crude protein content, fiber contents, volatile fatty acids profile, and digestibility characteristics (p < 0.05). For Karma 2000, the application of HMF increased crude protein concentration; however, it also increased lignin and fiber contents, thereby reducing organic matter digestibility. In contrast, dual inoculation raised neutral detergent fiber digestibility. The results show that variety-specific inoculant selection can improve triticale silage quality, underscoring the importance of aligning microbial additives with the forage’s biochemical properties.

Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH) is a progressive, age related, destructive disease of equine dentition that involves odontoclastic resorption of dental tissues with hypercementosis. This narrative review aims to synthesize current available clinical evidence, as well as to establish a consistent staging model that can be used in making therapeutic decisions in horses suffering from EOTRH. A review of relevant peer reviewed literature was conducted through the key scientific databases to determine the studies that cover the clinical, radiographic, pathophysiological, and therapeutic nature of EOTRH. EOTRH mostly influences the incisors and canines of horses over the age of 20, and the incidence rate in this age group is up to 34%. High level imaging procedures such as intraoral radiography and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) are essential in the detection of certain radiographic signals of tooth resorption and hypercementosis. Therefore it is required for its proper diagnosis. Treatment of this disease includes the use of pharmacological therapy involving anti inflammatory drugs and bisphosphonates, and also surgical intervention in the advanced stages. It is extremely important to detect EOTRH as early as possible because the delay in managing the condition may lead to serious complications. Combining modern literature and introducing the diagnostic staging as a treatment decision pathway has allowed this review to develop a practical, clinically applicable algorithm of EOTRH intervention. It is vital to identify and treat equines with EOTRH early in their life to improve welfare outcomes and to have better prognoses in the long term. Future research is justified to assess the accuracy of the suggested algorithms, as well as to outline long term treatment efficacy.

This study evaluates the effect of homofermentative and heterofermentative inoculants used independently or in combination on the quality of fermentation, chemical composition, fiber digestion, and nutritional value of silage made from four wheat varieties (Bayraktar 2000, Kızıltan 91, Bezostaja 1, and Tosun bey). Four treatments were applied within each variety: an untreated control group; a homofermentative inoculant (HMF group; Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, formerly Lactobacillus plantarum, and Enterococcus faecium, applied at 1.0 × 10⁵ cfu/g fresh weight); a heterofermentative inoculant (HTF group; Lentilactobacillus buchneri, formerly Lactobacillus buchneri, applied at 5.0 × 10⁴ cfu/g fresh weight); and their combination (HMF+HTF; group 1.5 × 10⁵ cfu/g fresh weight). The whole-crop wheat silage collected at the dough stage was allowed to ferment for 120 days using a 4 × 2 × 2 factorial design having four replications. Statistically significant differences between varieties and inoculation treatments were seen in most of the recorded characteristics (p < 0.001), demonstrating that inoculant responses were significantly impacted by genotype. In Kızıltan 91, dry matter (DM) did not differ significantly among treatments (p > 0.05). In Bayraktar 2000, DM was reduced only by HTF applied alone (36.56% vs. 43.23% in the control), while HMF and HMF+HTF did not differ from the control. In Bezostaja 1, both HTF and HMF+HTF decreased DM relative to the control, whereas HMF alone had no effect. In Tosun bey, all LAB treatments increased DM relative to the control, with the homofermentative inoculant producing the greatest increase. Homofermentative inoculants demonstrated improved fermentation characteristics by lowering silage pH and ammonia-nitrogen concentrations and enhancing physical traits, while Heterofermentative inoculants reduced butyrate accumulation and raised acetic acid concentration, which reached 3.50 g/kg DM in Kızıltan 91 during combined inoculation. According to genotype, the application of inoculants varied the amount of fiber and digestibility. In vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility, net energy of lactation, total digestible nutrient, and relative feed value (RFV) were frequently reduced by the combination HMF+HTF treatment. In Bayraktar 2000, RFV was found to have decreased the most, from 166.79 to 106.51. Conversely, Bezostaja 1 showed comparatively constant levels of energy content and digestibility regardless of the treatment, suggesting greater adaptability to the effects of microbial inoculants. In general, wheat genotype was the main factor influencing the nutritional value and quality of silage, and varietal characteristics had a significant impact on the efficacy of microbial inoculation. These results show how essential it is to choose inoculant methods according to variety in order to maximize fermentation quality and maintain feeding value in the production of wheat silage.

A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted to study the individual and combined effects of barley variety (Tarım 92 and Bravo), homofermentative inoculant (HMF; Lactobacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium), and heterofermentative inoculant (HTF; Lactobacillus buchneri) on the fermentation characteristics, chemical composition, nutritive value indices, and in vitro digestibility of whole-crop barley silages which were harvested at the early dough stage. Forty-eight laboratory silos (six replicates per treatment) were ensiled for 120 days. Tarım 92 silage exhibited superior fermentation stability across all treatments, with pH ranging from 4.11 to 4.30, Flieg points of 102.94–115.47, and lower NH₃-N concentrations (142.01–173.72 mg/kg TN (total nitrogen)), reflecting better protein preservation than Bravo silage. In contrast, the poorest fermentation outcome (pH 5.24; Flieg 47.06; NH₃-N 307.48 mg/kg TN) was exhibited by the Bravo silage inoculated with only homofermentative inoculants. Significant three-way interaction effects were detected among barley variety, homofermentative inoculant, and heterofermentative inoculant (p < 0.05). The dual-inoculated Tarım 92 silage showed the optimum in vitro digestibility and nutritional value (TDN 77.14%; NEL 1.81 Mcal kg⁻¹ DM; RFV 176.25; ADF 18.75%; IVOMD 65.72%; predicted DMI 3.06% BW), while higher amounts of butyric acid and NH₃-N suggested that better nutritional value was not always accompanied by better protein preservation. The combined inoculation also yielded the best outcomes within Bravo treatments (RFV 144.00), whereas HTF inoculation alone reduced IVDMD and IVOMD below uninoculated controls. Overall, these results show that the response to microbial inoculation is genotype-dependent and a combination of homofermentative and heterofermentative inoculation for high-dry-matter barley varieties can enhance nutritive value and digestibility. However, fermentation quality indicators, particularly butyric acid and NH₃-N, require consideration in the selection of technique.