Herbage biomass production and nutritive value of mulberry (Morus alba) and Calliandra calothyrsus harvested at different cutting frequencies

Current approaches on the roles of lactic acid bacteria in crop silage

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play pivotal roles in the preservation and fermentation of forage crops in spontaneous or inoculated silages. Highlights of silage LAB over the past decades include the discovery of the roles of LAB in silage bacterial communities and metabolism and the exploration of functional properties. The present article reviews published literature on the effects of LAB on the succession, structure, and functions of silage microbial communities involved in fermentation. Furthermore, the utility of functional LAB in silage preparation including feruloyl esterase-producing LAB, antimicrobial LAB, lactic acid bacteria with high antioxidant potential, pesticide-degrading LAB, lactic acid bacteria producing 1,2-propanediol, and low-temperature-tolerant LAB have been described. Compared with conventional LAB, functional LAB produce different effects; specifically, they positively affect animal performance, health, and product quality, among others. In addition, the metabolic profiles of ensiled forages show that plentiful probiotic metabolites with but not limited to antimicrobial, antioxidant, aromatic, and anti-inflammatory properties are observed in silage. Collectively, the current knowledge on the roles of LAB in crop silage indicates there are great opportunities to develop silage not only as a fermented feed but also as a vehicle of delivery of probiotic substances for animal health and welfare in the future.

A Nutritional Investigation of Major Feed Types and Feed Rations Used in Medium-Scale Dairy Production Systems in Sri Lanka

In this paper, the nutritional quality, digestibility, and chemical composition of major feed types as well as the use of those feeds in rations by medium-scale dairy farmers in the Kurunegala district of Sri Lanka were studied. Nine dairy farms were visited fortnightly over a five-month period to identify the feeds that were commonly used. All farms operated under a stall-feeding system in which a manually mixed ration (MMR) was fed 2–3 times daily. Four forages were identified: Guinea grass ecotype A (Panicum maximum), called Guinea grass; Hybrid Napier CO-3 (Pennisetum purpureum × Pennisetum americanum), called CO-3 grass; Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium); and maize stover (Zea mays L.), along with three other supplementary feeds (maize silage, barley distillers’ by-products, and commercially formulated cattle feed). These feeds were subjected to proximate analysis and in vitro digestibility analysis. The metabolisable energy (ME) of the forages ranged from 7.5–10.0 MJ/kg dry matter (DM), with the ME of Guinea grass and CO-3 grass (7.5 and 8.0 MJ/kg DM, respectively) being lower than that of Gliricidia (10.0 MJ/kg DM). The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) concentration of both Guinea grass and CO-3 grass (both 72% DM) was much higher than that of Gliricidia (47% DM). Crude protein (CP) was higher in Gliricidia (17.5% DM) than in either Guinea grass or CO-3 grass (8.0 and 8.8% DM, respectively). The ME of the supplementary feeds varied between 11.0 and 12.8 MJ/kg DM, while CP varied between 15.0 and 24.0% DM. The daily ME intake of cows was consistently 10% lower than their calculated daily energy requirement; for dry cows, the mean intake was 90 MJ/cow/day supplied vs. 101 MJ required, while for cows in early lactation the mean intake was 126 MJ/cow/day supplied vs. 140 MJ required. The average CP intake of lactating cows (13.5% DM) was inadequate (requirements: 16 to 17.5% DM), while the average CP intake of dry cows (11.8% DM) was satisfactory (requirements: 11 to 12% DM). The current study shows that the majority of the feed types used in these medium-scale dairy farms provide insufficient ME or CP to meet the nutritional requirements of either lactating or dry cows irrespective of the quantity of feed provided.

Effects of N Fertilization During Cultivation and Lactobacillus plantarum Inoculation at Ensiling on Chemical Composition and Bacterial Community of Mulberry Silage

As unconventional forage source, mulberry (Morus alba L.) has been cultivated to alleviate animal feed shortages. This study aimed to investigate the effects of N fertilization during cultivation and Lactobacillus plantarum inoculation at ensiling on the chemical composition and bacterial community of mulberry silage. Mulberry was separately cultivated under two N fertilization rates (N1, 390 kg/ha/year; N2, 485 kg/ha/year) in 2016-2019, harvested on 30 April (the first-cut) and 15 June (the second-cut) in 2019, and then chopped for producing small bag silage. The silage was treated without (control) or with L. plantarum (LP, a recommended application rate of 10⁵ cfu/g on fresh matter basis). After storage of 60 days in dark room at ambient temperature, silage was sampled for analysis of chemical and microbial compositions. Higher (P < 0.05) final pH value and acetic acid content and lower (P < 0.05) lactic acid content were found in silage of mulberry under N2 fertilization, resulting in more dry matter loss than that under N1 fertilization. Compared with control, inoculation of LP at ensiling increased (P < 0.05) lactic acid content and decreased (P < 0.05) final pH value, acetic acid and propionic acid contents of silage, by advancing the dominance of Lactobacillus and reducing the abundance of Enterococcus and Enterobacter. In particular, inoculation of LP at ensiling decreased (P < 0.05) dry matter loss and butyric acid content of first-cut silage. In conclusion, inoculation of LP at ensiling could reduce the undesirable effects from high N fertilization rate during cultivation on silage quality of mulberry harvested at different growing seasons.

Buffer nitrogen solubility, in vitro ruminal partitioning of nitrogen and in vitro ruminal biological activity of tannins in leaves of four fodder tree species

This study explores the chemical composition, buffer N solubility, in vitro ruminal N degradability and in vitro ruminal biological activity of tannins in leaves from Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, Morus alba and Trichanthera gigantea trees. These tree leaves are a potential protein source for ruminants, but their site-influenced nutritive value is largely unknown. Leucaena leucocephala leaves had the highest N content (42.1 g/kg DM), while T. gigantea leaves had the least (26.1 g/kg DM). Leucaena leucocephala had the highest buffer solubility index (20%), while 10% of the total N in leaves of the other three species was soluble. The rapidly fermentable N fraction 'a' was highest in M. alba leaves (734.9 g/kg DM) and least in T. gigantea leaves (139.5 g/kg DM). The rate of fermentation (c) was highest for M. alba (7%/hours) leaves. No significant correlations were recorded between buffer solubility index of N and in vitro ruminal N degradability parameters: a, b, and c. The highest response to tannin inactivation using polyethylene glycol, in terms of percentage increase in 36-hours cumulative gas production, was recorded in M. alba (39%) and T. gigantea (38%) leaves. It was concluded that buffer solubility of N is not a good indicator of ruminal N degradation in the leaves of these tree species. Leaves of M. alba could be more valuable as a source of rapidly fermentable N when animals are offered low-protein, high-fibre diets compared with other tree species evaluated in the current study. However, when feeding M. alba leaves, the role of tannins must be considered because these secondary plant compounds showed significant in vitro ruminal biological activity.

Antioxidant and anti-fatigue effects of anthocyanins of mulberry juice purification (MJP) and mulberry marc purification (MMP) from different varieties mulberry fruit in China

Anthocyanins, copiously distributed in a variety of colored fruits and vegetables, are probably the most important group of visible plant pigments besides chlorophyll. And the mulberry fruit is one of the anthocyanins-rich fruits. Total flavonols, total phenolic acids and anthocyanins contents of ten varieties mulberry juice purification (MJP) and mulberry marc purification (MMP) were determined. The highest content was 965.63±4.90 mg RE/g, 690.83±7.38 mg GAE/g and 272.00±1.20 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/g FW, respectively. Moreover, MJP and MMP exhibited high antioxidant activity, including total force reduction (TRP), Fe³⁺ reducing power (FRAP) and DPPH • radical scavenging capacity. In addition, the anti-fatigue activity of MJP and MMP was determined through mice-burden swimming experiments. Interestingly, the antioxidant and anti-fatigue capacities of MMP were much higher than those of MJP. The experimental results suggested that the generally discarded mulberry marc had greater value of development and utilization as food processing waste.

Effect of increasing levels of white mulberry leaves (Morus alba) on ruminal dry matter degradability in lambs

A study was conducted to estimate dry matter (DM) degradability in the rumen of lambs offered a basal soybean meal and sorghum grain diet with three levels of white mulberry (WM) leaves (Morus alba). Diets consisted of 90% concentrate and 10% sorghum straw, which was incrementally replaced by WM leaves at 0% (control diet, T1), 2.5% (T2), and 5% (T3) of the total ration. Crude protein (CP) in WM was 21.8% (DM basis). Diets had equal CP (14% DM basis) and metabolizable energy (10.8 MJ/kg DM) content. Three non-castrated Pelibuey male lambs fitted with permanent rumen cannula were utilized in a 3 × 3 Latin square design. Each experimental period consisted of 10 days of adaptation followed by sampling. DM degradability was determined using the nylon bag technique. Bags contained the experimental diets offered in each period and were incubated in rumen in pairs for 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h. The potential degradation was higher (P < 0.05) for T2, followed by T3 and T1. WM level did not influence the degradation rate or the effective degradation at the three passage rates modeled. It was concluded that WM forage may have useful application in feedlot diets for growing lambs, as this forage increases potential degradation of high-grain diets. The incorporation of WM in diets for feedlot lambs in tropics may reduce the use of expensive conventional protein supplements.