益生菌补充剂对断奶仔兔饲料效率、生长性能和微生物种群的影响

本研究旨在探讨单株或双株益生菌补充剂对断奶仔兔饲料效率、生长性能和微生物数量的影响。试验选择64只28 d断奶(公母各半)新西兰白兔,随机分为4组,每组4个重复,每个重复4只。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组分别在基础日粮中添加1×10^6 cfu/g枯草芽孢杆菌(BS组)、1×10^7 cfu/g乳酸菌(LA组)及0.5×106枯草芽孢杆菌+0.5×10^7 cfu/g乳酸菌(BL组)。结果显示:LA组在42 d时体重显著增加(P<0.05),BL组较对照组显著提高日增重和饲料转化率(P<0.05)。LA组和BL组的干物质、有机质、粗蛋白质、中性洗涤纤维、总能量消化率均显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。公兔回肠内芽孢杆菌和大肠杆菌数量均显著高于雌兔(P<0.05)。与对照组相比,BS组家兔肠道各节段的芽孢杆菌数量均高于对照组(P<0.05),而LA和BL组仔兔肠道乳酸杆菌数量显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:日粮单独添加1×107 cfu/g乳杆菌或0.5×10^6 cfu/g枯草杆菌+0.5×10^7 cfu/g乳杆菌可以提高肠道有益菌群数量、营养物质消化率、盲肠发酵、饲料效率和生长性能。此外,仅添加乳杆菌的家兔肠道大肠菌群和粪便评分均有所下降。     

Effect of coated and non-coated fatty acid supplementation on broiler chickens experimentally infected with Campylobacter jejuni

The aim of this study was to examine whether and to what extent the supplementation of feed with a coated or non-coated mixture of fatty acids (caprylic and capric acid) affects broiler chickens experimentally infected with Campylobacter jejuni. The study was carried out using 48 chickens divided into four experimental groups. Throughout the whole rearing period (1-42 days), the chickens were fed a diet supplemented with 0.25% caprylic and capric acid (1:1), coated or non-coated. At the age of 14 and 28 days, chickens were orally challenged with C. jejuni. At regular time intervals post-inoculation, the shedding of C. jejuni was assayed using quantitative real-time PCR. Both supplements significantly decreased faecal C. jejuni counts by 1.2-4.1 log(10) CFU/g 4 days post-inoculation; after this time period, the effect of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) was less pronounced or absent. Campylobacter jejuni counts in excreta samples were significantly lower in chickens fed coated MCFA than in those fed non-coated MCFA. No effect of MCFA on feed intake or growth of chickens was observed. In conclusion, (i) MCFA are active against C. jejuni and (ii) the encapsulation enhanced the efficacy of the acids. These results allow the recommendation of using MCFA as feed additives in chickens, preferably 2-3 days before slaughter.     

短芒大麦草青贮微生物特性研究及优良乳酸菌筛选

以短芒大麦草为研究对象,利用传统培养法从叶围和青贮发酵体系中分离出乳酸菌、大肠杆菌、好氧细菌、酵母菌和霉菌,并计数;结合细菌形态学、生理生化特征及16S rDNA序列分析鉴定分离出的乳酸菌菌株;通过研究乳酸菌的生长曲线、产酸特性及耐酸性,筛选优质乳酸菌。以期探明短芒大麦草叶围及青贮发酵体系中微生物菌群特性及青贮料中乳酸菌多样性,筛选出具有促发酵效果的乳酸菌菌株,为有益微生物饲料研发奠定基础。试验结果表明,短芒大麦草经青贮发酵后各微生物菌群数量发生不同程度变化,乳酸菌数量由0 cfu/g FM增加到4.00×10⁸ cfu/g FM,酵母菌数量由8.50×10⁵ cfu/g FM增加到1.02×10⁸ cfu/g FM,而好氧细菌、大肠杆菌和霉菌数量变化不明显;从短芒大麦草青贮发酵体系分离得到4株乳酸菌,经鉴定Lx36为Lactobacillus pentosus,Lx37为Lactobacillus brevis,Lx53为Pediococcus pentosaceus,Lx54为Lactobacillus parabuchneri;筛选得到1株益于青贮的乳酸菌株Lx36,约在20 h后进入稳定生长期,OD值达到4.21,且发酵12 h的pH仅为4.08,并可以在pH=3.0环境条件下生长。综上所述,青贮发酵是体系中各种微生物相互作用的过程,微生物菌群的数量及变化直接影响青贮饲料发酵品质。短芒大麦草青贮饲料中乳酸菌种类较丰富,筛选得到的戊糖乳杆菌繁殖速度快、产酸能力强同时表现出了较强的耐酸性,具有潜在的生产应用价值,适宜用作促发酵的青贮添加剂菌种。     

日粮添加亚油酸对断奶至2月龄肉兔生长性能、免疫指标及脂质代谢的影响

选用断奶伊拉肉兔200只,随机分成5组,每组40个重复,每个重复1只肉兔,分别饲喂添加0、0．3％、0．6％、0．9％和1．2％亚油酸（LA）的日粮。结果表明,在初始体质量无显著差异的情况下,日粮添加LA对平均日采食量、平均日增重和料重比影响不显著（P=0．9158,0．5747,0．9252）,对血清甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白和极低密度脂蛋白影响不显著（P=0．5998,0．5717,0．6603）,对血清总胆固醇影响显著（P=0．0258）,0．9％和1．2％添加组显著低于0和0．6％添加组（P〈0．05）,对血清低密度脂蛋白影响极显著（P=0．0006）,0．9％和1．2％添加组显著低于0和0．6％添加组（P〈0．05）;免疫器官肝、脾指数和血清免疫球蛋白IgG、IgA、IgM受日粮LA水平影响不显著（P〉0．05）;日粮LA水平对肝脏乙酰辅酶A羧化酶（ACC）mRNA表达量影响不显著（P=0．7433）,对肉碱脂酰转移酶1（CPT1）mRNA表达量影响极显著（P=0．0034）,其中0．9％和1．2％添加组极显著高于对照组（P〈0．01）。日粮添加I。A对断奶至2月龄肉兔生产性能及免疫指标无显著影响,主要影响机体的脂质代谢。     

Growth performance,apparent nutrient digestibility,caecal fermentation,ileal morphology and caecal microflora of growing rabbits fed diets containing probiotics and prebiotics

Ninety eight male, mixed breed weaner rabbits were used in a 70 day feeding trial to study the performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, caecal fermentation, ileal morphology and caecal microflora of growing rabbits fed diets containing Prediococcus acidilactis (1×10¹⁰ cfu/g; 0.5 g/kg), Bacillus cereus (1×10⁹ cfu/g; 0.5 g/kg), mannan oligosaccharides (MOS; 1 g/kg), arabinoxylans oligosaccharides (AX; 1 g/kg), oxytetracycline (1 g/kg), or synbiotics (TGI; 1 g/kg). A basal diet containing no feed additive was formulated. There were 14 rabbits per treatment. Rabbits fed diets containing MOS had the highest (P<0.05) final live weight and weight gain. Dietary inclusion of prebiotics (MOS, AX) resulted in higher (P<0.05) weight gains and improved feed to gain ratios. Rabbits fed diets containing MOS showed the highest (P<0.05) while those fed diets containing probiotics (Prediococcus acidilactis, Bacillus cereus) had the least (P<0.05) caecal total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration. Rabbits fed diets containing prebiotics (MOS, AX) had longer ileal villi than groups fed with other treatments (P<0.05). Inclusion of various additives showed reduced caecal coliform counts. The lowest (P<0.05) lactobacillus count was obtained in the caecal content of rabbits fed diets containing MOS. Poor growth response was obtained with rabbits fed diets containing Prediococcus acidilactis or Bacillus cereus while inclusion of prebiotics in growing rabbits resulted in improved growth and gut morphology. Rabbits fed diet containing MOS showed the highest overall final live weight, weight gain, total VFA concentration and reduced caecal lactobacillus count.     

含水量和乳酸菌添加剂对多花黑麦草青贮品质的影响

本试验旨在研究含水量和乳酸菌添加剂对多花黑麦草青贮品质的影响,探究优质多花黑麦草青贮饲料的调制方法。试验选用孕穗期的多花黑麦草为原料,原料含水量设85.23%(W₁),74.70%(W₂)和65.70%(W₃)3个水平,乳酸菌添加浓度设置对照组0 cfu/g鲜样(L₀),10⁵ cfu/g鲜样(L₁),10⁶ cfu/g鲜样(L₂),10⁷ cfu/g鲜样(L₃)4个水平。桶装青贮42 d后开盖,取样测定青贮饲料的青贮品质。结果表明,在高含水量(85.23%)的条件下,无论是否添加乳酸菌,丁酸的含量和氨态氮/总氮均未能达到优质青贮的条件,青贮失败;当含水量为74.70%时,添加乳酸菌组的青贮品质优于未添加组,且随着添加浓度的增加青贮品质更佳;在含水量为65.70%的条件下,无论是否添加乳酸菌添加剂,青贮饲料均能获得较好的青贮品质,但添加乳酸菌后效果更佳。因此,W₃L₃(含水量65.70%+10⁷ cfu/g鲜样)处理的青贮效果最佳。     

添加乳酸菌和纤维素酶对苜蓿青贮品质的影响(简报)

初花期收获的苜蓿经过0,8和32 h的晾晒,添加乳酸菌和纤维素酶进行青贮。结果表明,不同干物质含量的苜蓿青贮时,乳酸菌 纤维素酶的添加均能使青贮pH值快速下降;苜蓿半干青贮(干物质含量为38.45%)可使青贮氨态氮含量显著降低,并保存有较多的粗蛋白质,生成较多乳酸,其中以添加乳酸菌106cfu/g 纤维素酶0.05g/kg的青贮效果最好,其青贮综合评定得分最高,达93分。     

泊洛沙姆-辛酸法对鸡卵黄脱脂条件的研究

本文就泊洛沙姆浓度、辛酸浓度、泊洛沙姆沉淀法沉淀离心条件对泊洛沙姆-辛酸法对鸡卵黄脱脂的影响进行了探讨。实验结果表明:泊洛沙姆浓度、辛酸浓度分别对卵黄脱脂存在不同程度影响,卵黄稀释液沉淀离心条件对卵黄脱脂影响不大。蛋黄稀释液不经离心直接纱布过滤,辛酸浓度为0.2%,泊洛沙姆浓度分别为0.6%、0.8%、1%、1.2%、1.4%、1.6%、1.8%的7个处理中,以1.2%浓度的提取效果最好;泊洛沙姆浓度为1.2%,辛酸浓度为0.2%,蛋黄稀释液经离心处理和纱布过滤处理对卵黄脱脂影响不大;泊洛沙姆浓度为1.2%,蛋黄稀释液纱布过滤处理,辛酸浓度分别为0、0.1%、0.2%、0.3%、0.4%、0.5%的6个处理中,以0.2%浓度的提取效果最好。     

添加乳酸菌和纤维素酶对苜蓿青贮品质的影响

初花期收获的苜蓿(Medicago sativa)经过0、8、32 h的晾晒,添加乳酸菌和纤维素酶进行青贮。结果表明,苜蓿凋萎（干物质含量为38.45%）青贮可以使青贮料的氨态氮含量显著降低,并保存有更多的粗蛋白质,生成更多的乳酸。苜蓿青贮时添加乳酸菌和纤维素酶能明显改善苜蓿青贮料的发酵品质,即降低青贮料的氨态氮含量和保存更多的粗蛋白质以及生成更多的乳酸。晾晒8 h的苜蓿添加乳酸菌（106 cfu/g）和纤维素酶（0.05 g/kg）的青贮效果最好;而晾晒32 h的苜蓿直接青贮的效果最好。     

The isolation of salmonella from kangaroos and feral pigs processed for human consumption

A total of 154 feral pig carcases and 81 kangaroo carcases were examined for the presence of Salmonella, coliforms and total aerobic counts. Approximately 34% of pig carcases yielded one or more serotypes of Salmonella, while about 11% of kangaroo carcases were contaminated with salmonella. The results differed widely between sampling occasions. A total of 13 serotypes were isolated from feral pigs with S. anatum (31 isolates) and S. typhimurium (9 isolates) being the predominant serotypes. Coliforms were isolated from approximately 90% of carcases. The mean log10 coliform count on feral pigs was 4.39 +/- 1.45/g and the mean log10 total count was 6.15 +/- 1.15/g. About 21% of carcases were contaminated with more than 100,000 coliforms/g. A total 3 serotypes were isolated from kangaroos (S. bahrenfeld, S. binza, and S. onderstepoort). The mean log10 coliform count on kangaroos was 3.54 +/- 1.04. More than 50% of kangaroo carcases were contaminated with less than 100 coliforms/g. About 15% of carcases were contaminated with more than 10,000 coliforms/g. The mean log10 total count was 5.2 +/- 1.01/g.     

Effects of inulin on performance, egg quality, gut microflora and serum and yolk cholesterol in laying hens

1. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of inulin on laying hens. A total of 360 Brown Nick laying hens were divided randomly into 6 groups of 60 with 6 replicates of 10 hens and fed on diets containing 0 (control), 0·1, 0·5, 1·0, 1·5 or 2·0% inulin during the 4-week trial. 2. Dietary supplementation of inulin reduced cholesterol concentration (mg/g yolk) and content (mg/egg) in eggs. Cholesterol content in eggs decreased linearly with increasing levels of dietary inulin level. 3. Supplementation of inulin in diets decreased coliform bacteria counts and pH in the caecum. The lowest coliform bacteria counts (6·30 ± 0·03 log10 cfu/g) and pH (6·47 ± 0·01) were obtained in the 2·0% inulin group, the two indices decreasing by 21·6% and 3·0% respectively, compared with the control group. Coliform bacteria count and pH were changed linearly in accordance with increasing levels of dietary inulin level. Caecal Bifidobacteria counts were increased in the 2·0%-inulin group. 4. Inulin supplementation of layer diets did not appear to have any adverse effects on laying rate, egg weight, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency, cracked-egg rate, eggshell thickness or Haugh unit compared with the control laying hens. 5. Therefore, dietary supplementation with inulin may lead to the development of low-cholesterol chicken eggs as demanded by health-conscious consumers.     

乳酸菌对苜蓿青贮发酵品质和细菌菌群的影响

为探究乳酸菌作为青贮添加剂对苜蓿青贮发酵品质和细菌菌群的影响,试验选取萎焉苜蓿为原料分为三个处理组,分别为无添加剂对照组(CK组)和分别添加1×106cfu/g乳酸菌YX(LPI组)、乳酸菌ZZU A341(LPA组)。结果表明:LPI或LPA组乳酸积累量显著高于CK组(P<0.05),pH和氨态氮含量显著低于CK组(P<0.05),且pH均降至5.00以下;CK组或LPI组的优势菌属为Pediococcus属(56.40%、98.63%),LPA组为Lactobacillus属(98.88%)。综上所述,乳酸菌作为青贮添加剂可通过调控青贮环境中细菌菌群的组成或相对丰度,从而提高青贮苜蓿的发酵品质。     

Anticoccidial efficacy of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) in calves

Anticoccidial efficacy of dietary fat was evaluated in calves with coccidial infection (Eimeria spp., including E. bovis and E. zuernii). Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT)--natural edible fats composed of caprylic (C8), capric (C10), and lauric (C12) acids -- were given orally with milk to 5 calves and with 10% glucose solution to 3 older, weaned calves by using the reticular groove reflex. After 3 to 11 days of MCT feeding, all Eimeria spp. oocysts had disappeared from the feces of all calves. MCT had no adverse effects on appetite or on fecal pH, ammonia, lactic acid, or volatile fatty acid levels. MCT feeding for coccidial control in calves has minimal side-effects and has benefits in terms of residue-free food production.     

Dose-dependent effects of dietary zinc oxide on bacterial communities and metabolic profiles in the ileum of weaned pigs

Pharmacological levels of zinc oxide (ZnO) can improve the health of weaning piglets and influence the intestinal microbiota. This experiment aimed at studying the dose-response effect of five dietary concentrations of ZnO on small intestinal bacteria and metabolite profiles. Fifteen piglets, weaned at 25 ± 1 days of age, were allocated into five groups according to body weight and litter. Diets were formulated to contain 50 (basal diet), 150, 250, 1000 and 2500 mg zinc/kg by adding analytical-grade (>98% purity) ZnO to the basal diet and fed ad libitum for 14 days after a 7-day adaptation period on the basal diet. Ileal bacterial community profiles were analysed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and selected bacterial groups quantified by real-time PCR. Concentrations of ileal volatile fatty acids (VFA), D- and L-lactate and ammonia were determined. Species richness, Shannon diversity and evenness were significantly higher at high ZnO levels. Quantitative PCR revealed lowest total bacterial counts in the 50 mg/kg group. Increasing ZnO levels led to an increase (p = 0.017) in enterobacteria from log 4.0 cfu/g digesta (50 mg/kg) to log 6.7 cfu/g digesta (2500 mg/kg). Lactic acid bacteria were not influenced (p = 0.687) and clostridial cluster XIVa declined (p = 0.035) at highest ZnO level. Concentration of total, D- and L-lactate and propionate was not affected (p = 0.736, p = 0.290 and p = 0.630), but concentrations of ileal total VFA, acetate and butyrate increased markedly from 50 to 150 mg/kg and decreased with further increasing zinc levels and reached low levels again at 2500 mg/kg (p = 0.048, p = 0.048 and p = 0.097). Ammonia decreased (p < 0.006) with increasing dietary ZnO level. In conclusion, increasing levels of dietary ZnO had strong and dose-dependent effects on ileal bacterial community composition and activity, suggesting taxonomic variation in metabolic response to ZnO.     

Effect of double nursing on some anatomical and physiological properties of the digestive tract of rabbits between 23 and 44 days of age

Anatomical and physiological properties of the digestive tract were examined and compared in young rabbits nursed either by one (SS) or by two does (DD) daily up to the age of 35 days. At the age of 23, 30, 37 and 44 days, 8 young per treatment were euthanised. Double suckling and the subsequent higher level of solid feed intake after weaning were found to exert a stronger influence on the weight of the entire gastrointestinal tract and that of its individual parts (the stomach, small intestine, caecum and colon) than on its length. The quantity of the gastric content was found to rise with advancing age in both groups (from 36 to 70 g and from 37.5 to 79 g). In both groups the pH of the stomach was higher during the suckling period (4.5-5.3) than subsequent to weaning (1.6-2.4). The quantity of the caecal content also increased with age (from 4 or 8 g), but on the 37th day significantly higher quantities of caecal content were recorded in DD rabbits (50.5 g compared with 35 g). The pH of the caecal content decreased more slowly from an initial high value (6.0 and 6.5 in SS and DD rabbits, respectively), and by the 37th day had settled at a low value (5.7-5.8) in both groups. The dry matter content of the caecal content decreased from 270-273 g to 188-207 g in both groups. Total volatile fatty acid (tVFA) and acetic acid (C2) concentration, which amounted to 66-88% of tVFA, rose; in SS rabbits they were at higher levels by the 30th day (53.6 and 42.2 mmol/L, respectively), and remained at an increased level until the 44th day (P < 0.05). The ratio of C3: C4 was high on the 23rd day (2.5 and 2.4), but dropped at the age of 30 days (0.5 in SS and 1.7 in DD, P < 0.05) and, further, by the 37th day (0.2 in SS). In SS rabbits coliform count proved significantly lower (10(5)) on the 23rd day than in DD rabbits (10(6)). By the 37th day this count had decreased in both groups and subsequently remained at a low level (< 10(4)). By the 23rd day Bacteroides were present in large quantities (10(8)) in the caecum and showed no change with advancing age or feeding regime.     

饲粮中添加泛酸对生长獭兔肝脏脂肪代谢的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮中添加泛酸对生长獭兔肝脏脂肪代谢的影响。试验选用体重相似的断奶獭兔160只,随机分为4组,每组40个重复,每个重复1只。对照组獭兔饲喂基础饲粮,试验组獭兔分别饲喂在基础饲粮中添加10、20和40 mg/kg泛酸的饲粮。预试期7 d,正试期56 d。结果表明:与对照组相比,饲粮中添加40 mg/kg泛酸显著降低了生长獭兔肩胛、胃周和肾周脂肪沉积率(P0.05);饲粮中添加10~20 mg/kg泛酸显著降低了生长獭兔肝脏中脂滴的含量(P0.05)。饲粮中泛酸添加水平对生长獭兔血浆中总胆固醇和白蛋白的含量无显著影响(P0.05);随着饲粮中泛酸添加水平的升高,生长獭兔血浆中甘油三酯的含量先降低后趋于稳定,20、40 mg/kg添加组显著低于对照组(P0.05);与对照组相比,饲粮中添加20~40 mg/kg泛酸显著升高了生长獭兔血浆中极低密度脂蛋白的含量(P0.05)。与对照组相比,饲粮中添加40 mg/kg泛酸显著增加了肝脏中激素敏感脂酶(HSL)和骨骼肌中脂肪酸转运蛋白(FATP)基因的表达量(P0.05);饲粮中添加20~40 mg/kg泛酸显著增加了肝脏中肉毒碱棕榈酰转移酶1(CPT1)基因的表达量(P0.05);饲粮中添加10~40 mg/kg泛酸显著增加了肝脏中脂肪酸合成酶(FAS)基因和骨骼肌中CPT1基因的表达量(P0.05)。综上所述,饲粮中添加泛酸影响生长獭兔肝脏内脂肪代谢,泛酸添加水平为40 mg/kg时可降低肝脏内脂肪的沉积,并能降低机体脂肪沉积率,增加骨骼肌对脂肪酸的摄取和利用。     

正交设计在苜蓿青贮添加剂试验中的应用研究

初花期收获的苜蓿经过不同时间的晾晒(水分含量分别是80.3%、71.2%、62.5%、40.3%),添加不同含量的乳酸菌(0、106、107、108cfu/g)、纤维素酶(0、0.025、0.05、0.1 g/kg)和葡萄糖(0、10、15、20 g/kg)进行苜蓿青贮的4因子4水平的正交试验。结果表明,凋萎苜蓿组(水分含量为71.2%)青贮时,在4个水分组中具有最好的青贮质量,即降低青贮料中的NH3-N含量和生成更多的乳酸。4个因子对苜蓿青贮品质的影响顺序依次是葡萄糖添加量>苜蓿含水量>纤维素酶添加量>乳酸菌添加量。正交试验所得的最佳组合是:苜蓿水分含量为71.2%,乳酸菌的添加量为106cfu/g,纤维素酶的添加量为0.1 g/kg,葡萄糖的添加量为20 g/kg。     

Fermented and nonfermented liquid feed to growing pigs: effect on aspects of gastrointestinal ecology and growth performance

The effect of feeding dry feed (DF), nonfermented liquid feed (NFLF), and fermented liquid feed (FLF) to growing pigs on aspects of gastrointestinal ecology and on performance was investigated. Nonfermented liquid feed was prepared by mixing feed and water at a ratio of 1:2.5 immediately before feeding. Fermented liquid feed was prepared by mixing feed and water in the same ratio as NFLF, and stored in a tank at 20 degrees C for 4 d, after which half the volume was removed twice daily at each feeding and replaced with the same volume of feed and water mixture. A total of 60 pigs (initial BW of 30.7 kg) from 20 litters was used. Twenty pigs, housed individually, were allotted to each of the diets and fed restrictively. Five pigs from each diet were sacrificed at an average BW of 112 kg and digesta from the gastrointestinal tract (GI-tract) was obtained to examine variables describing some aspects of the gastrointestinal ecology. Fermented liquid feed contained high levels of lactic acid bacteria (9.4 log cfu/g) and lactic acid (approximately 169 mmol/kg), low levels of enterobacteria (<3.2 log cfu/g), and had a low pH (4.4). Nonfermented liquid feed contained 7.2 log cfu/g of lactic acid bacteria, and 6.2 log cfu/g of enterobacteria, which indicated that fermentation had started in the feed. The pigs fed FLF had the lowest levels of enterobacteria along the GI-tract (<3.2 to 5.0 log cfu/g), and those fed NFLF the highest levels (5.7 to 6.6 log cfu/g; P < or = 0.02). Fermented liquid feed caused a decrease in gastric pH from 4.4 and 4.6 for DF and NLF, to 4.0 (P = 0.003), and increased numerically the gastric concentration of lactic acid (P = 0.17) from 50 to 60 mmol/kg in the DF and NFLF treatments to 113 mmol/kg in the FLF treatment. The animals fed NFLF showed the highest weight gain (995 g/d) and feed intake (2.14 kg/d), and those fed FLF the lowest values (weight gain, 931 g/d; feed intake, 1.96 kg/d; P = 0.003 for weight gain, and P < 0.001 for feed intake). The results from the present study indicate that feeding FLF as prepared here may be a valid feeding strategy to decrease the levels of enterobacteria in the GI-tract of growing pigs, whereas feeding liquid feed that has started to ferment (high levels of enterobacteria and high pH as with NFLF) increases the presence of these undesirable bacteria. Nonetheless, higher daily feed intake and body weight gain are obtained when feeding NFLF compared with feeding FLF or DF.     

Effect of applying lactic acid bacteria and propionic acid on fermentation quality and aerobic stability of oats‐common vetch mixed silage on the Tibetan plateau

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of lactic acid bacteria and propionic acid on the fermentation quality and aerobic stability of oats‐common vetch mixed silage by using a small‐scale fermentation system on the Tibetan plateau. (i) An inoculant (Lactobacillus plantarum) (L) or (ii) propionic acid (P) or (iii) inoculant + propionic acid (PL) were used as additives. After fermenting for 60 days, silos were opened and the aerobic stability was tested for the following 15 days. The results showed that all silages were well preserved with low pH and NH₃‐N, and high lactic acid content and V‐scores. L and PL silages showed higher (P < 0.05) lactic acid and crude protein content than the control silage. P silage inhibited lactic acid production. Under aerobic conditions, L silage had similar yeast counts as the control silage (> 10⁵ cfu/g fresh matter (FM)); however, it numerically reduced aerobic stability for 6 h. P and PL silages showed fewer yeasts (< 10⁵ cfu/g FM) (P < 0.05) and markedly improved the aerobic stability (> 360 h). The result suggested that PL is the best additive as it could not only improved fermentation quality, but also aerobic stability of oats‐common vetch mixed silage on the Tibetan plateau.     

Characterization and application of lactic acid bacteria for tropical silage preparation

Strains TH 14, TH 21 and TH 64 were isolated from tropical silages, namely corn stover, sugar cane top and rice straw, respectively, prepared in Thailand. These strains were selected by low pH growth range and high lactic acid‐producing ability, similar to some commercial inoculants. Based on the analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence and DNA‐DNA relatedness, strain TH 14 was identified as Lactobacillus casei, and strains TH 21 and TH 64 were identified as L. plantarum. Strains TH 14, TH 21, TH 64 and two commercial inoculants, CH (L. plantarum) and SN (L. rhamnosus), were used as additives to fresh and wilted purple Guinea and sorghum silages prepared using a small‐scale fermentation method. The number of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the forages before ensilage was relatively low but the numbers of coliform and aerobic bacteria were higher. Sorghum silages at 30 days of fermentation were all well preserved with low pH (3.56) and high lactic acid production (72.86 g/kg dry matter). Purple Guinea silage inoculated with LAB exhibited reduced count levels of aerobic and coliform bacteria, lower pH, butyric acid and ammonia nitrogen and increased lactic acid concentration, compared with the control. Strain TH 14 more effectively improved lactic acid production compared with inoculants and other strains. © 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science