Effects of <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i> and Cellulase on Mixed Silages of <i>Amaranthus hypochondriacus</i> and Cornmeal: Fermentation Characteristics, Nutritional Value, and Aerobic Stability

Abstract

In order to develop new feed resources, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of moisture content, additives, and their interactions on the fermentation quality, aerobic stability, and in vitro digestibility of mixed silage of amaranth and cornmeal. The mass ratios of amaranth and cornmeal were 69:31, 76:24, and 84:16 for adjusting the moisture content of silage to 60% (W1), 65% (W2), and 70% (W3), respectively. The silage treatments included no additives (U), the addition of Lactobacillus plantarum (L), the addition of cellulase (E), and the addition of Lactobacillus plantarum + cellulase (M) mixed reagents. The results revealed that the pH and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N/TN) ratios were significantly lower in W1 than in W2 and W3 (3.66,19.3 g kg−1 TN vs. 3.70, 3.70, 20.0 kg−1 TN, 25.1 kg−1 TN, p ivDMD), in vitro organic matter digestibility (ivOMD), and in vitro crude protein digestibility (ivCPD) significantly increased (p 3-N/TN ratios were lower with the addition of E (E and M) than with the absence of E (U and L) (3.73, 20.1 g kg−1 DM vs. 3.64, 22.9 g kg−1 DM, p −1 DM, 145 g kg−1 DM vs. 632 g kg−1 DM, 160 g kg−1 DM, p ivDMD, ivOMD, and ivCPD were significantly higher (p 3-N/TN were significantly lower (p Lactobacillus plantarum + cellulase (M) were achieved at 60% water content. The present study confirmed the potential of amaranth as silage and its potential application for improving feed quality and animal performance.

Keywords

• amaranth
• fermentation quality
• nutritional value
• in vitro digestibility
• aerobic stability