ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of inoculation of homo-fermentative lactic acid bacteria [LAB] on ensiling characteristics and nutritive value of low dry matter corn silage [LDMCS]. Corn forage was harvested at milk stage [22.8 +/- 0.9% DM], chopped at theoretical length of cut [TLC] 2.5 cm, and stored in eighteen 3.8 L mini silos for each treatment. The following treatments were used, 1] control [uninoculated], 2] ecosyl [treated with ecosylTM corn silage inoculants containing Lactobacillus plantarum], and 3] biotal [treated with biotalTM corn silage inoculants containing Lactobacillus plantarum, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Propionibacter freudenreichii]. Triplicate silos for each treatment were opened and sampled for chemical analyses after 3, 6, 12, 16, 21 and 90 days of ensiling. Neither ecosyl nor biotal improved fermentation characteristics of LDMCS compared to the control silage. Neutral detergent fiber [NDF], acid detergent fiber [ADF], crude protein [CP], water soluble carbohydrate [WSC] contents and lactic acid [LA] concentration were not affected significantly by inoculants [P>0.05]. Acetic acid concentration of control silages was higher; however, ethanol concentration was lower than the other silages. Biotal treated silages had the highest ammonia-N [NH3-N] concentrations compared to the control [P<0.05]. In vitro dry matter disappearance [IVDMD] of control silage was higher than treated silages [P<0.05]. In conclusion, the results showed that homo-fermentative LAB inoculants used in this experiment did not improve the fermentation characteristics and nutritive value of LDMCS
ABSTRACT
Objective: Evaluating the differences in performance traits and carcass composition in Shal fattening lambs fed organic or inorganic chromium [Cr]
Design: Experimental study
Animals: Seventy fat-tailed ram lambs of Shal breed with an average body weight [BW] of 37.0 +/- 2.8 kg, randomly partitioned in seven groups
Procedure: Feeding a 60.5% barley-based diet [12.2% crude protein] supplemented with 0 [control], 200, 600, or 1000 ig/kg dry matter of Cr from chromium nicotinate [CrNic] and 200, 600, or 1000 ig/kg dry matter of Cr from chromium chloride [CrC13] to individually penned lambs, measuring dry matter intake [DMI] and average daily gain [ADG] through wk 12, and slaughtering lambs and determining carcass characteristics at the end of wk 15 of the experiment
Statistical analysis: Analysis of covariance for studying treatment differences and orthogonal coefficients for contrasting treatment groups
Results: Addition of 600 or 1000 ig/kg dietary dry matter of Cr from CrNic decreased ratio of DMI to% BW [P<0.04] but did not affect wk 6 and 12 body weights, ADG, daily DMI and ADG: DMI ratio. Backfat thickness increased by Cr [P<0.04]. Addition of 1000 ig/kg dry matter of Cr from CrNic increased loin-eye area [P<0.02] and muscle weight of right side carcass [P<0.04]. Percentages of water, protein, lipid, or ash in carcass muscle were not affected by Cr supplements, whereas weights of protein and ash in carcass muscle increased by Cr with more positive effect of 1000 ig/kg dry matter of Cr from CrNic [P<0.03]
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that supplementation of chromium nicotinate may be beneficial for increasing lean tissue of Shal fattening lambs