title: Effects of applying molasses, lactic acid bacteria and propionic acid on fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro gas production of total mixed ration silage prepared with oat-common vetch intercrop on the Tibetan Plateau.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of molasses, lactic acid bacteria and propionic acid on the fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro gas production of total mixed ration (TMR) silage prepared with oat-common vetch intercrop on the Tibetan plateau. TMR (436 g kg(-1) dry matter (DM)) was ensiled with six experimental treatments: (1) no additives (control); (2) molasses (M); (3) an inoculant (Lactobacillus plantarum) (L); (4) propionic acid (P); (5) molasses + propionic acid (MP); (6) inoculant + propionic acid (LP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All silages were well preserved with low pH (< 4.19) and NH3-N contents, and high lactic acid contents after ensiling for 45 days. L and PL silages underwent a more efficient fermentation than silages without L. P and MP silages inhibited lactic acid production. Under aerobic conditions, M and L silage reduced aerobic stability for 15 and 74 h, respectively. All silages that had propionic acid in their treatments markedly (P < 0.05) improved the aerobic stability. After 72 h incubation, all additives treatments increased (P < 0.05) the 72 h cumulative gas production and in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) as compared with the control. L treatment decreased (P < 0.05) in vitro neutral detergent fibre degradability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show that TMR prepared with oat-common vetch intercrop can be well preserved. Although propionic acid is compatible with lactic acid bacteria, and when used together, they had minor effects on fermentation, aerobic stability and in vitro digestibility of TMR silage prepared with oat-common vetch intercrop.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ensiling and Processing of Grass, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, 030801, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ensiling and Processing of Grass, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Xianjun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ensiling and Processing of Grass, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ensiling and Processing of Grass, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Junfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ensiling and Processing of Grass, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shao
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D018554:Avena / Q000737:chemistry*; D005285:Fermentation; D005504:Food Analysis; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008965:Molasses / Q000032:analysis*; D011422:Propionates / Q000378:metabolism*; D012820:Silage / Q000032:analysis*; D018609:Tibet; D033022:Vicia sativa / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011422:Propionates; C029658:propionic acid
keywords: additives; aerobic stability; fermentation quality; in vitro gas production; oat-common vetch intercrop; total mixed ration silage