Effects of inoculants on the fermentation characteristics and in vitro digestibility of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) silage on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau. (23rd March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Liangyin; Li, Ping; Gou, Wenlong; You, Minghong; Cheng, Qiming; Bai, Shiqie; Cai, Yimin
• Is Part Of: Animal science journal. Volume 91:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-03-23
• Subjects: in vitro gas production -- microbial additive -- Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau -- reed canary grass -- role bale silage; Animal culture -- Periodicals; Livestock -- Periodicals; 636
• DOI: 10.1111/asj.13364
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1344-3941

Abstract

Abstract: To effectively use local available grass resources to cover the winter feed shortage on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau, direct‐cut and wilted reed canary grass (RCG) silages were prepared by using a rolled‐bale system, and their ensiling characteristics and in vitro digestibility were studied. Silages were treated without (control) or with inoculants including LP ( Lactobacillus plantarum ), LPLB ( L. plantarum, L. buchneri ), and LPLBc ( L. plantarum, L. buchneri, and cellulase), and were stored at ambient temperature (5.7–14.6°C) for 90 days. Compared with control, the inoculated silages increased ( p < .05) lactic acid and acetic acid contents, and reduced ( p < .05) final pH value and ammonia‐N ratio of total N. The highest WSC content (41.2 g/kg DM) occurred for LPLB‐inoculated silage, whereas LPLBc‐treated silage displayed the lowest contents of NDF (522.9 g/kg DM) and ADF (275.5 g/kg DM). In addition, LPLBc‐inoculated silage had the highest in vitro gas production (51.0 ml/g DM), in vitro DM digestibility (619.3 g/kg DM), and metabolic energy (9.6 kJ/kg DM). These results confirmed that treatments with inoculants at ensiling could improve silage fermentation and in vitro digestibility of RCG, and this could be a potential winter feed for animals on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau.