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Effects of applying oil‐extracted microalgae on the fermentation quality, feed‐nutritive value and aerobic stability of ensiled sweet sorghum
Author(s) -
Chen Lei,
Li Junfeng,
Dong Zhihao,
Yuan Xianjun,
Shao Tao
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.8970
Subject(s) - silage , dry matter , fermentation , sweet sorghum , neutral detergent fiber , food science , sorghum , clostridia , lactic acid , chemistry , forage , agronomy , biology , bacteria , genetics
BACKGROUND A laboratory‐silo study was conducted to evaluate the fermentation quality, feed‐nutritive value and aerobic stability of sweet sorghum silage with or without oil‐extracted microalgae supplementation. Sweet sorghum was mixed with four microalgae levels (0%, 1%, 2% and 3% on a dry matter basis; control, M1, M2 and M3, respectively) and ensiled for 45 d. Further, the four experimental silages were subjected to an aerobic stability test lasting 7 d. RESULTS All the silages except M3 silage had good fermentative characteristics with low pH and ammonia nitrogen concentrations, and high lactic acid concentrations and favorable microbial parameters. Meanwhile, oil‐extracted microalgae supplementation improved the feed‐nutritional value of sweet sorghum silage. Fibre (neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin and cellulose) concentrations decreased, while dry matter and crude protein levels markedly increased ( P < 0.05 ). Compared with the control (69.7 h), treatments M2 and M3 improved the aerobic stability of sweet sorghum silage by 43.8% and more than 143% respectively, and decreased the clostridia spore counts during the stage of air exposure. CONCLUSION Sweet sorghum silage produced with 2% oil‐extracted microalgae addition was the most suitable for animal use due to the optimal balance of fermentation quality, feed‐nutritional value and aerobic stability, which merits further in vivo studies using grazing ruminants. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry