Search Results (17)

This study was conducted to determine the influence of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LpP) isolated from homemade pickles on chemical, physical, and microbiological properties, in vitro digestibility and feed value, and aerobic stability in pure maize and mixture silages of maize and soybean. The treatment groups were inoculated maize silage, inoculated soybean silage, inoculated 75% Maize + 25% Soybean silage, inoculated 50% Maize + 50% Soybean silage, inoculated 25% Maize + 75% Soybean silage, and their respective uninoculated control silages. By inoculating maize and soybean combination silages with LpP, these silages’ organic matter content increased, and their neutral and acid detergent fiber contents decreased. In these silages, lactic acid bacteria content and relative feed value increased, while yeast levels decreased, compared to the control silage. Inoculation improved silage quality and aerobic stability by reducing CO₂ production, especially in pure soybean silage, and reduced the in vitro digestible organic matter and net energy lactation value of pure maize and pure soybean silages but did not affect maize-soybean mixed silages. The results showed that LpP isolated from homemade pickles can contribute to increase silage quality with respect to aerobic stability in low-structural carbohydrate contained silage materials, and maize itself for these materials. It can be suggested that LpP isolated from homemade pickles can be safely used as a bacterial inoculant for ensiling crops such as soya crops, which are difficult and risky to ensilage, alone or in mixtures with maize. Full article

Combining soybeans with grass or biomass maize in silage holds promise in addressing the nutritional limitations of individual crops, providing a roughage with a good energy–protein balance. This study evaluated the effects of replacing urea-treated rice straw (UTRS) with silages made from intercropped maize–soybean and Guinea grass (GG) in calf diets on feed intake and growth performance. Sixteen native Yellow calves (130.7 ± 16.1 kg live weight and 12.8 ± 2.6 months old) were used; the experiment had a randomised complete block design with four dietary treatments: Treatment 1 (70% UTRS + 30% GG); Treatment 2 (40% UTRS + 30% GG + 30% Guinea grass silage); Treatment 3 (40% UTRS + 30% GG + 30% Guinea grass–soybean silage); and Treatment 4 (40% UTRS + 30% GG + 30% maize–soybean silage). The animals were fed 0.5 kg concentrate per 100 kg live weight daily, with unlimited access to forage and clean water, for 12 weeks after a two-week adaptation. The results indicate that silages containing soybean increased total weight gain and average daily gain (ADG) and decreased feed conversion ratio (FCR); however, silage replacements had no impact on dry matter intake and body conformation, suggesting that Guinea grass–soybean or maize–soybean silage can effectively enhance the ADG and decrease the FCR of growing calves fed UTRS-based diets. Full article

Bread by-product and maize silage as substrates for Tenebrio molitor larvae were studied in four isonitrogenous diets: a control substrate (CTL) made of wheat grain, wheat bran, and soybean meal and three diets where wheat grain and wheat bran were partly substituted with bread by-product (BBP) or with this and either a low (MSL) or high (MSH) proportion of maize silage (170 or 310 g/kg, respectively). Larval weight was weekly monitored, and the chemical composition of larvae and residual substrates was analyzed at the end of the experiment. Larvae fed CTL and BBP grew more than those fed MSL and MSH (p < 0.001). Feed intake was greatest for BBP (p < 0.001), and consequently, feed-to-gain ratio (F:G) was better for larvae fed CTL than BBP, and better for BBP than MSL and MSH (p < 0.001). Besides, total production of crude protein and ether extract were greater for CTL and BBP than for MSH and MSL (p < 0.001). The inclusion of bread by-product in the substrate did not affect growth performance, whereas diets including maize silage impaired larval growth, substrate intake, and F:G. Both by-products can be advantageously used for feeding T. molitor larvae, but the impairments in growth performance should be considered to optimize production costs. Full article

We aimed to test the associative effects among forages, and between forage and concentrates on the in vitro digestibility of dry matter and neutral detergent fibre using an artificial ruminal fermentation system. The study consisted of two assays, in which associative effects were evaluated among three forages, sugarcane, maize silage, and Tifton 85 hay under two incubation conditions (single feed or all feeds together in a jar), and the associative effects between sugarcane and soybean meal and/or ground maize. For the first assay, sugarcane digestibility increased (p < 0.02), whereas the maize silage digestibility decreased (p < 0.01) when forages were incubated together in the same jar. Tifton hay digestibility was not altered (p ≥ 0.57) by the incubation condition. In the second assay, the sugarcane digestibility was depressed (p < 0.05) when the forage was incubated along with maize grain. For both assays, the pattern of repeatability for digestibility estimates presented an influence of the incubation condition. We concluded that the incubation of different feeds together in the same jar using artificial fermenters causes associative effects among them. These effects can influence the estimates of in vitro dry matter and fibre digestibility and alter their repeatability. Full article

Soybean (Glycine max Merr.), with a high nutritional value, is an important oil crop and a good protein feed crop. Due to the shortage of high-protein feed and the high import pressure on soybean, scarce high-protein feed is the main research target for improving feed quality. High-quality soybean (Qihuang 34) and high-yield silage maize (Zea mays L.) (Jingling silage 386) varieties were used as the experimental materials in this study. The silage quality and the microbial community of the mixed silage of soybean and maize were analyzed, and the compatible intercropping ratios of maize–soybean mixed silage were evaluated. This experiment designed five strip intercropping systems (SIS) in a randomized block. The intercropping row ratios of maize and soybean were 0:1 (pure soybean, S), 1:0 (pure maize, M), 1:1 (MS1), 1:3 (MS2), and 1:5 (MS3). Dry matter yield and fresh matter yield were improved in the treatments of MS1 and MS2. In the mixed silage systems of maize and soybean, with an increase in soybean proportion, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents gradually increased, but the contents of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and dry matter (DM) reduced to different degrees (p < 0.05). Moreover, the soybean silage alone had a poor fermentation performance, as indicated by high pH, high acetic acid (AA), propionic acid (PA), butyric acid (BA), and ammonia-N (NH₃-N) concentrations, and low lactic acid (LA) concentration. By contrast, the mixed silage materials were conducive to reducing the pH, PA, BA, and NH₃-N, and increasing the LA content. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Weissella in the MS were higher, and the abundance of undesirable bacteria were lower than in the S. The MS2 materials had the lowest pH, the highest LA concentration, and the highest relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Weissella among the three mixed silage groups. Therefore, the mixed silage in the SIS modified the microbial communities and improved the feed fermentation quality while increasing yields. The better intercropping ratio of maize–soybean mixed silage was 1:3. These results could provide a theoretical basis for the wide application and popularization of soybean as a high-protein silage forage source. Full article

Forage deficiency is the bottleneck that restricts the development of plateau animal husbandry. Maize (Zea mays L.)–soybean (Glycine max L.) intercropping can improve the forage biomass yield and silage quality. This experiment was conducted in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture to explore the effects of four maize varieties (M1, Rongyu Silage No. 1; M2, Yayu 04889; M3, Demeiya No. 1; M4, Zhenghong 505) on biomass yield, nutritional composition, and silage quality in maize–soybean intercropping. The results showed that M1S had the highest total dry matter yield (18.03 t ha⁻¹), M3S had the highest crude protein (CP) content (8.46% DM), and soybeans had the highest water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content (8.55% DM). After silage, the CP content (13.44% DM) of mixed silage in M3S was higher, and the contents of neutral detergent fiber (39.42% DM) and acid detergent fiber (25.42% DM) were lower than those in maize silage alone. The WSC content (4.45% DM) of mixed silage in M3S was higher and the pH value (4.46) and ammonia–nitrogen to total nitrogen (3.97%) were lower than those of soybean silage alone. The results of membership function analysis showed that M3S was the best in fresh feeding and silage utilization, followed by M1S. Therefore, M3S (Demeiya No 1. intercropped with soybeans) is recommended in high-altitude areas. Full article

Commercially produced black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) represent a promising fish meal substitute, particularly in the context of using agricultural by-products and waste. Here, the culture of Hermetia maggots on five selected substrates (potato protein (P) as a by-product of starch production, rapeseed oil cake (R) from rape oil production, maize silage (M), soybean (S) meal and, as a control, concentrated chicken feed (C)) were evaluated, assessing the growth performance of Hermetia maggots related to the overall production and the nutritional composition of the respective meal. Subsequently, their use as ingredients in aquafeed formulations was evaluated in a feeding trial with juvenile Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, assessing the growth performance of the fish. Substrates used for Hermetia culture significantly affected the growth and development of the maggots, revealing substantial differences in the meal quality. Still, if incorporated in isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets (33% crude protein, 21–22 MJ/kg) replacing 75% of the fishmeal protein in the formulated diets, no significant differences in growth performance of the fish were observed compared to the fishmeal control. As a conclusion, substrates clearly affect the production yield and the composition of maggots. Nevertheless, this can be compensated by feed formulation as demonstrated by the feeding trial. Full article

Introducing summer staple crops to diversify conventional summer paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) and onion (Allium cepa L.) rotation is important for sustainable agriculture. Herein, we evaluate the effects of planting date (early June to late July) and tillage practice (deep cultivation, DC; conventional tillage, CT) on two maize and soybean cultivars over 4 years (2018–2021) in converted paddy soil in Korea. Due to the growing degree-day differences, the yields of June and July planted crops were 7050 and 5554 total digestible nutrient kg ha⁻¹, respectively, for silage corn, and 7410 and 6473 marketable fresh ear kg ha⁻¹, respectively, for waxy corn. Delaying soybean planting from June to July significantly reduced crops’ yield and interfered with field preparation for the following winter cash crops. The June and July planting yields were 2672 and 2090 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, for large-grain soybean, and 2416 and 1861 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, for small-grain soybean. Deep tillage had no effect on summer crops yield. Additionally, the summer crop growing practice had no residual effect on onion yield. Our study recommends mid to late June planting for growers who wish to introduce maize and soybean in rotation with winter onion in the region. Full article

Legume/maize intercropping has been practiced in many countries as a sustainable cropping system, but the effects of intercropping legumes with maize together with N application rates on biomass yield, quality, water-use efficiency (WUE), and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) are limited under arid conditions in Northwest China. Field experiments were carried out in arid areas of Northwest China from 2019 to 2020 with three planting patterns (LM: Dolichos lablab (Lablab purpureus L.)/silage maize (Zea mays L.) intercropping; FM: Fodder soybean (Glycine max L.)/silage maize intercropping; M: silage maize monoculture) and four N application levels (N1: 0 kg N ha⁻¹; N2: 120 kg N ha⁻¹; N3: 240 N kg ha⁻¹; N4: 360 N kg ha⁻¹). The results showed that nitrogen fertilizer had a significant (p < 0.01) effect on total yield, WUE, and various nutrient parameters and the interaction between planting mode and nitrogen fertilizer had no significant effect on the above indicators, but had a significant (p < 0.01) effect on NUE. Compared with N1, the N3 and N4 treatments significantly increased fresh and hay yield, crude protein yield, crude protein concentration, and crude fat concentration of maize, legumes, and the whole silage system, and decreased the concentration of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). In comparison with N1, the 2-year average total biomass yield of N3 and N4 increased by 60.38% and 56.45%, respectively, and the total crude protein yield increased by 106.71% and 100.00%, respectively. High N input treatments (N3 and N4) significantly increased WUE_B (the WUE of legume and maize biomass), N concentration, N uptake, and NUE than N1, and the 2-year average NUE of N3 was 59.52% greater than that of N4. The results also show that LM and FM increased crude protein concentration and decreased NDF and ADF concentration compared with M, and the forage quality of LM was greater than that of FM. In contrast with M, LM and FM increased biomass yield by 3.70% and 1.72%, crude protein yield by 32.05% and 22.82%, and WUE_B by 10.49% and 6.02%, respectively. Application of 240 kg N ha⁻¹ in the Dolichos lablab–maize intercropping systems produced better dry biomass yield with increased forage qualities than other treatments, but the economic analysis is needed before making a recommendation. Full article

Maize silage has a significant environmental impact on livestock due to its high requirement for fertilizer and water. Mulberry has the potential to replace much of the large amount of maize silage grown in China, but its feeding value in the conserved form needs to be evaluated. We fed Hu lambs diets with 20–60% of the maize silage replaced by mulberry silage, adjusting the soybean meal content when increasing the mulberry silage inclusion rate in an attempt to balance the crude protein content of the diets. Mulberry silage had higher crude protein and lower acidic and neutral detergent fiber contents compared to maize silage. Replacing maize silage and soyabean meal with mulberry silage had no effect on the feed intake and growth rate of Hu lambs. However, the rumen pH increased, the acetate to propionate in rumen fluid increased, and the rumen ammonia concentration decreased as mulberry replaced maize silage and soyabean meal. This was associated with an increase in norank_f__F082 bacteria in the rumen. Rumen papillae were shorter when mulberry silage replaced maize silage, which may reflect the reduced neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of the original silage. In conclusion, mulberry silage can successfully replace maize silage and soyabeans in the diet of Hu lambs without loss of production potential, which could have significant environmental benefits. Full article

Intercropping improves land-use efficiency under conditions of limited land and resources, but no information is currently available pertaining to land-use efficiency and silage quality based on whole-plant utilization. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was conducted with the following conditions: three maize–soybean strip intercropping patterns (SIPs), comprising two maize rows along with two, three, or four soybean rows (2M2S, 2M3S, and 2M4S, respectively); and two sole cropping patterns of maize (SM) and soybean (SS). The aim was to evaluate the biomass yield and silage quality under each condition. Our results showed that all SIPs had a land equivalent ratio (LER) of over 1.6 based on both fresh and dry matter yield, and a higher whole plant yield, compared to sole cropping. Specifically, 2M3S exhibited the highest whole crop dry matter LER (1.8–1.9) and yield (24.6–27.2 t ha⁻¹) compared to SM and SS (20.88–21.49 and 3.48–4.79 t ha⁻¹, respectively). Maize–soybean mixed silages also showed better fermentation quality with higher lactic acid content (1–3%) and lower ammonia-N content (2–8%) compared to SS silages, and higher crude protein content (1–1.5%) with lower ammonia-N content (1–2%) compared to SM silage. Among the intercropping patterns, 2M3S had the highest fermentation quality index V-score (92–95). Consequently, maize–soybean strip intercropping improved silage quality and biomass yield, with 2M3S being recommended, due to its highest LER and biomass yield, and most optimal silage quality. Full article

The aim of the study was to investigate the complete substitution of imported soybean meal in beef cattle diets and the consequences on performance, meat, and adipose tissue quality. Thirty growing crossbred Limousin bulls, with an initial bodyweight of 164 ± 13 kg and 4.3 ± 0.3 months of age, were fed a grass/maize-silage based diet with little additional concentrate (0.5:0.3:0.2). Concentrates contained either soybean meal (positive control), faba beans, pumpkin seed cake, or spirulina (Arthrospira platensis), resulting in about 226 g crude protein (CP)/kg concentrate dry matter (DM) and 158 g CP/kg total diet DM. A grain-based concentrate providing just 135 g CP/kg concentrate DM and 139 g CP/total diet DM served as a negative control. Bulls of all groups had comparable average daily gains (1.43 ± 0.1 kg) and feed intakes (6.92 ± 0.37 kg). Carcass and meat quality did not differ among groups. The fatty acid profile of meat lipids was hardly affected. These results indicate that soybean meal can be replaced by any of the tested protein sources without impairing performance or meat quality. Importantly, bulls fed the negative control achieved a fattening and slaughter performance comparable to that of the protein-supplemented groups without affecting meat and adipose tissue quality. Thus, the present findings suggest that feeding crossbred bulls a grass/maize-silage based diet does not require additional protein supplementation. Full article

Maize and soybean intercropping is a cereal-legume intercropping pattern that not only increases grain yield but also improves the nutritional value of silage. Experiments were conducted in the summer season to compare the yield and nutritional composition of the forage and silage quality of mono-cropped maize and intercropped maize-soybean harvested at two stages of maturity. The main treatments were one sole crop maize (SM) and four maize-soybean intercropping patterns (one-row maize to one-row soybean (1M1S), one-row maize to two-row soybean (1M2S), one-row maize to three-row soybean (1M3S), and two-row maize to one-row soybean (2M1S). The crops were harvested when the maize reached the milk (R3) and maturity (R6) stages. Results indicated a significant increase in the fresh biomass and dry-matter production of maize fodder alone compared with those of maize intercropped with soybean fodder. After 60 days of ensiling period, silage samples were analyzed for pH, organic acids, dry matter, crude protein (CP), ether extract, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and other mineral compositions. All intercropped silages showed higher CP values (1M1S, 12.1%; 1M2S, 12.2%; 1M3S, 12.4%; and 2M1S, 12.1%) than the SM silage (8.7%). Higher organic acids were produced in 1M3S than in the other silages. Correlation data showed that CP was highly correlated with lactic acid but negatively associated with crude fiber, nitrogen-free extract, and NDF. Thus, the intercropping of maize and soybean silage is recommended due its enhanced crop production, nutritional values in dairy animals, and prolific animal feedings and because it was scientifically evaluated as a feed stuff. This study indicated that 1M3S was the most preferable among intercropped silages in terms of nutrient composition. Full article

To develop an alternative high-protein forage resource to alleviate ruminant feed shortages, we investigated the effects of replacing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) with different ratios of paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera L., RY) on fermentation quality, protein degradation, and in vitro digestibility of total mixed ration (TMR) silage. The TMR were made with alfalfa and RY mixtures (36.0%), maize meal (35.0%), oat grass (10.0%), soybean meal (7.5%), brewers’ grain (5.0%), wheat bran (5.0%), premix (1.0%), and salt (0.5%) on a dry matter basis, respectively. The alfalfa and RY mixtures were made in the following ratios of dry matter: 36:0 (RY0), 27:9 (RY9), 18:18 (RY18), 9:27 (RY27), and 0:36 (RY36). After ensiling for 7, 14, 28, and 56 days, fermentation quality, protein degradation, and microbial counts were examined, and chemical composition and in vitro digestibility were analyzed after 56 days of ensiling. All TMR silages, irrespective of the substitution level of RY, were well preserved with low pH and ammonia nitrogen content, high lactic acid content, and undetectable butyric acid. After ensiling, the condensed tannin content for RY18 silages was higher than the control, but non-protein nitrogen, peptide nitrogen, and free amino acid nitrogen contents was lower, while the fraction B1 (buffer-soluble protein) was not different among all the silages. Dry matter and crude protein digestibility for RY27 and RY36 silages was lower than the control, but there was no difference between control and RY18 silages. This study suggested that ensiling RY with alfalfa inhibited true protein degradation, but decreased in vitro dry matter and crude protein digestibility of TMR silages, and that 18:18 is the optimal ratio. Full article

The incorporation of both food and forage crops in an intercropping system is receiving increasing attention, especially in developing countries with increasing populations and limited resources. In a two-year (2019–2020) field trial, conducted in Northern Egypt, productivity of soybean and fodder maize, as well as the quality of maize herbage, were investigated under three sowing schedules; soybean and maize sown together, and maize sown 15 and 30 days after soybean, in addition to soybean and fodder maize sown in pure stands, with maize harvested at green fodder maturity (GFM), and silage maturity (SM). Harvesting fodder maize at SM resulted in higher herbage yield than harvesting it at GFM, yet it negatively affected the soybean productivity. However, this negative impact was offset when fodder maize sowing was delayed 30 days after soybean sowing. Maize harvested at GFM was characterized by a higher leaf component, which was reflected in its higher crude protein content, yet the decline in quality with advanced maturity was to a great extent, counterbalanced by the presence of high-quality ears in maize harvested at SM. This was clear in its lower fiber and higher non-fiber carbohydrate contents. Land equivalent ratio (LER) demonstrated yield advantage with the delayed sowing of fodder maize (LER > 1), while the dry matter equivalent ratio (DMER) associated the yield advantage with the late harvesting of fodder maize at SM (DMER > 1), across all sowing schedules, which was more realistic for an additive intercropping model where the dry matter is the economic component. In a soybean-fodder maize intercropping system, whether fodder maize will be cultivated for green feeding or for silage production, it is recommended that sowing is delayed until 30 days after the soybean, in order to maximize yield advantage and land use efficiency. Full article