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Fermentation
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Fermentation Strategies to Enhance Feed Nutritional Value and Optimize Industry...
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Fermentation Strategies to Enhance Feed Nutritional Value and Optimize Industry Resources

A special issue of Fermentation (ISSN 2311-5637). This special issue belongs to the section "Industrial Fermentation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 2717

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yukun Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
Interests: animal nutrition; bio-enzyme; antioxidant; probiotic; fermentation; immunology; intestinal microorganism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Amina Moss

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
Interests: crustacean; phospholipids; sustainable aquaculture; aquaculture welfare; aquaculture nutrition; feed additives; interaction of aquaculture feed and the environment; aquaponics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Weilong Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
Interests: aquaculture nutrition; carotenoids metabolism in crustaceans; live food cultivatology; functional feed additive
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the global demand for high-quality sustainable animal feed has grown significantly. Fermentation offers a promising approach to address the challenges faced by the feed industry, particularly in enhancing the nutritional value of raw materials and optimizing the use of available resources. By improving the digestibility, protein content, and bioavailability of essential nutrients, fermentation can significantly reduce reliance on conventional feed ingredients such as fish- and soybean meal. Furthermore, fermentation processes can increase the presence of bioactive compounds, probiotics, and antioxidants, contributing to better animal health, growth performance, and environmental sustainability.

This Special Issue focuses on innovative fermentation strategies and their application in the feed industry, exploring novel methods, microbial solutions, and substrates which can enhance feed quality and efficiency. We welcome research papers, reviews, and case studies that contribute to the understanding and development of fermentation technologies aimed at optimizing raw material utilization, improving feed efficiency, and supporting a more sustainable and resource-efficient feed production system.

We look forward to your valuable contributions to this exciting field.

Dr. Yukun Zhang
Dr. Amina Moss
Dr. Weilong Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fermentation is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • animal feed optimization
  • waste valorization
  • nutrient bioavailability
  • sustainable feed ingredients
  • microbial fermentation
  • feed efficiency improvement
  • protein enhancement in feed
  • gut health and microbiota
  • fishmeal replacement
  • soybean meal replacement

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1280 KiB  
Article
The Fermentative and Nutritional Effects of Limonene and a Cinnamaldehyde–Carvacrol Blend on Total Mixed Ration Silages
by Isabele Paola de Oliveira Amaral, Marco Antonio Previdelli Orrico Junior, Marciana Retore, Tatiane Fernandes, Yara América da Silva, Mariany Felex de Oliveira, Ana Carolina Amorim Orrico, Ronnie Coêlho de Andrade and Giuliano Reis Pereira Muglia
Fermentation 2025, 11(7), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11070415 - 18 Jul 2025
Viewed by 233
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of different doses of limonene essential oil (LEO) and a blend of cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol (BCC) on the fermentative quality and chemical–bromatological composition of total mixed ration (TMR) silages. Two independent trials were conducted, each focused on one [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the effects of different doses of limonene essential oil (LEO) and a blend of cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol (BCC) on the fermentative quality and chemical–bromatological composition of total mixed ration (TMR) silages. Two independent trials were conducted, each focused on one additive, using a completely randomized design with four treatments (0, 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg of dry matter), replicated across two seasons (summer and autumn), with five replicates per treatment per season. The silages were assessed for their chemical composition, fermentation profile, aerobic stability (AS), and storage losses. In the LEO trial, the dry matter (DM) content increased significantly by 0.047% for each mg/kg added. Dry matter recovery (DMR) peaked at 97.9% at 473 mg/kg (p < 0.01), while lactic acid (LA) production reached 5.87% DM at 456 mg/kg. Ethanol concentrations decreased to 0.13% DM at 392 mg/kg (p = 0.04). The highest AS value (114 h) was observed at 203.7 mg/kg, but AS declined slightly at the highest LEO dose (600 mg/kg). No significant effects were observed for the pH, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein (CP), or non-fiber carbohydrates (NFCs). In the BCC trial, DMR reached 98.2% at 548 mg/kg (p < 0.001), and effluent losses decreased by approximately 20 kg/ton DM. LA production peaked at 6.41% DM at 412 mg/kg (p < 0.001), and AS reached 131 h at 359 mg/kg. BCC increased NDF (from 23.27% to 27.73%) and ADF (from 35.13% to 41.20%) linearly, while NFCs and the total digestible nutrients (TDN) decreased by 0.0007% and 0.039% per mg of BCC, respectively. In conclusion, both additives improved the fermentation efficiency by increasing LA and reducing losses. LEO was more effective for DM retention and ethanol reduction, while BCC improved DMR and AS, with distinct effects on fiber and energy fractions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fermentation Strategies to Enhance Feed Nutritional Value and Optimize Industry Resources)
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15 pages, 270 KiB  
Article
Performance, Metabolism, and Economic Implications of Replacing Soybean Meal with Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles in Feedlot Cattle Diets
by Andrei L. R. Brunetto, Guilherme L. Deolindo, Ana Luiza de F. dos Santos, Luisa Nora, Maksuel Gatto de Vitt, Renato S. de Jesus, Bruna Klein, Luiz Eduardo Lobo e Silva, Roger Wagner, Gilberto V. Kozloski and Aleksandro S. da Silva
Fermentation 2025, 11(7), 363; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11070363 - 23 Jun 2025
Viewed by 569
Abstract
The growing demand for biofuels, especially ethanol produced from corn, has driven the production of co-products such as dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). With a high protein content (around 30%), fiber, and minerals, DDGS presents an economical alternative for animal nutrition, replacing [...] Read more.
The growing demand for biofuels, especially ethanol produced from corn, has driven the production of co-products such as dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). With a high protein content (around 30%), fiber, and minerals, DDGS presents an economical alternative for animal nutrition, replacing traditional sources like soybean meal while maintaining productive performance and reducing costs. This study evaluated the total replacement of soybean meal with DDGS in the diet of confined Holstein cattle, focusing on weight gain, feed intake, digestibility, feed efficiency, animal health, meat quality, and economic viability. The 24 animals received diets with 80% concentrate, containing either DDGS or soybean meal, and no significant differences were observed in terms of body weight (p = 0.92), feed intake (p = 0.98), or feed efficiency (p = 0.97) between the two treatments. The average daily gain was 1.25 and 1.28 kg for cattle in the DDGS and soybean meal groups, respectively (p = 0.92). Regarding metabolic and digestive parameters, no relevant changes were found in blood levels, except for higher serum cholesterol (p = 0.03) levels in animals fed DDGS. The digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (p = 0.03) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (p = 0.05) was lower in the DDGS group, while the digestibility of ether extract was higher (p = 0.02). Rumen fluid analysis revealed an increase in the production of short-chain fatty acids (p = 0.01), such as acetic and butyric acids (p = 0.01), in the DDG-fed animals. In terms of meat quality, animals fed DDGS produced meat with lower levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA) (p = 0.05) and higher levels of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) (p = 0.02), especially oleic acid (p = 0.05). This resulted in a healthier lipid profile, with a higher UFA/SFA ratio (p = 0.01). In terms of economic viability, DDGS-based diets were 10.5% cheaper, reducing the cost of production per animal by 7.67%. Profitability increased by 110% with DDGS compared to soybean meal, despite the high transportation costs. Therefore, replacing soybean meal with DDGS is an efficient and economical alternative for feeding confined cattle, maintaining zootechnical performance, increasing meat lipid content and improving fatty acid profile, and promoting higher profitability. This alternative is particularly advantageous in regions with easy access to the product. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fermentation Strategies to Enhance Feed Nutritional Value and Optimize Industry Resources)
17 pages, 2461 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Palm Kernel Cake Bioconversion with P. ostreatus: An Efficient Lignocellulosic Biomass Value-Adding Process for Ruminant Feed
by Aldo Ibarra-Rondón, Dinary Eloisa Durán-Sequeda, Andrea Carolina Castro-Pacheco, Pedro Fragoso-Castilla, Rolando Barahona-Rosales and José Edwin Mojica-Rodríguez
Fermentation 2025, 11(5), 251; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11050251 - 1 May 2025
Viewed by 646
Abstract
This study aims to optimize the bioconversion of palm kernel cake (PKC) by Pleurotus ostreatus to improve fungal biomass production, lignocellulolytic enzyme expression, and the nutritional value of the substrate as ruminant feed. Three inorganic nitrogen sources (ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, and urea) [...] Read more.
This study aims to optimize the bioconversion of palm kernel cake (PKC) by Pleurotus ostreatus to improve fungal biomass production, lignocellulolytic enzyme expression, and the nutritional value of the substrate as ruminant feed. Three inorganic nitrogen sources (ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, and urea) were evaluated for fungal biomass production using a central composite design (CCD) in liquid fermentations. The formulated culture medium (18.72 g/L glucose and 0.39 g/L urea) effectively yielded better fungal biomass production (8 g/L). Based on these results, an extreme vertex design, mixtures with oil palm by-products (PK, hull, and fiber) supplemented with urea, were formulated, finding that PKC stimulated the highest biomass production and laccase enzyme activity in P. ostreatus. The transcriptome of P. ostreatus was obtained, and the chemical composition of the fermented PKC was determined. Transcriptomic analysis revealed the frequency of five key domains with carbohydrate-activated enzyme (CAZy) function: GH3, GH18, CBM1, AA1, and AA5, with activities on lignocellulose. In the fermented PKC, lignin was reduced by 46.9%, and protein was increased by 69.8%. In conclusion, these results show that urea is efficient in the bioconversion of PKC with P. ostreatus as a supplement for ruminants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fermentation Strategies to Enhance Feed Nutritional Value and Optimize Industry Resources)
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