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The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of replacement of whole-plant corn with oat and common vetch on the fermentation quality, chemical composition and aerobic stability of total mixed ration (TMR) silage in Tibet. Four TMR that varied in the forage sources on dry matter basis were used: (i) 52% whole-plant corn (Control); (ii) 43% oat + 12% common vetch (OC3.6); (iii) 38% oat + 18% common vetch (OC2.2); and (iv) 33% oat + 23% common vetch (OC1.5). Silos were opened on day 45 and then subjected to an aerobic stability test for 12 days. The results showed that all silages were well preserved with low pH and NH3-N, and high lactic acid and V-scores. With the increasing proportion of common vetch, crude protein, ether extract increased (P < 0.05), and neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber decreased (P < 0.05). Under aerobic conditions, treated silages were more stable than the control silage as indicated by lower (P < 0.05) pH and yeast population. It was concluded that replacement of whole-plant corn with oat and common vetch had no unfavorable effects on the fermentation quality and improved crude protein content and aerobic stability of TMR silage. OC2.2 silage was the best among three treated TMR silages.

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The objective of this experiment was to investigate the silage quality and in vitro degradation of Leymus chinensis treated with different additives. The treatments were lactic acid bacteria inoculants (LB), lignocellulose degradation enzymes (E), a mixture of the two additives (LB + E) or no additive treatment as control. Forages were separately ensiled for 1, 3, 5, 15 and 45 days and three replications were opened at each sampling time. Silages treated with additives (i.e. LB, E and LB + E) were characterized by lower pH value, higher lactic acid content and lower levels of acetic acid, butyric acid, ammonia-N and water soluble carbohydrate throughout the ensiling period compared with the control (P < 0.05). Silages treated by LB + E had the lowest pH value and highest lactic acid concentration among the four treatments (P < 0.05). The levels of neutral detergent fiber (after heat stable amylase treatment, aNDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and non-protein nitrogen were lower in additive treated silages than in the control silage (P < 0.05). The LB treatment improved in vitro digestibility of dry matter and protein, while the E treatment improved in vitro aNDF digestibility compared with untreated silage. In comparison with the E treated silage, silage treated with LB + E had higher levels of ADF and acid detergent lignin concentrations (P < 0.05). These results indicated that the application of lactic acid bacteria combined with cellulase could be an efficient strategy to improve both fermentation quality and in vitro digestibility of the wild grass silage of L. chinensis.

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