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Medium chain fatty acid (MCFA) treatment (0.75% C6, hexanoic; C8, octanoic; C10, decanoic; or equal proportion mixtures of C6:C8:C10:C12 or C8:C10/g; C12 = dodecanoic acid) of aerobically-exposed corn silage on spoilage and pathogenic microbes and rumen fermentation were evaluated in vitro . After 24 h aerobic incubation (37 °C), microbial enumeration revealed 3 log 10 colony-forming units (CFU)/g fewer ( P  = 0.03) wild-type yeast and molds in C8:C10-treated silage than controls. Compared with controls, wild-type enterococci decreased ( P  < 0.01) in all treatments except the C6:C8:C10:C12 mixture; lactic acid bacteria were decreased ( P  < 0.01) in all treatments except C6 and the C6:C8:C10:C12 mixture. Total aerobes and inoculated Staphylococcus aureus or Listeria monocytogenes were unaffected by treatment ( P  > 0.05). Anaerobic incubation (24 h at 39 °C) of ruminal fluid (10 mL) with 0.02 g overnight air-exposed MCFA-treated corn silage revealed higher hydrogen accumulations ( P  = 0.03) with the C8:C10 mixture than controls. Methane, acetate, propionate, butyrate, or estimates of fermented hexose were unaffected. Acetate:propionate ratios were higher ( P  < 0.01) and fermentation efficiencies were marginally lower ( P  < 0.01) with C8- or C8:C10-treated silage than controls. Further research is warranted to optimize treatments to target unwanted microbes without adversely affecting beneficial microbes.

Creating ensiled forage on a laboratory-scale is a tedious and cumbersome process. One must ensure an anaerobic environment for the success of the fermentation while also striving to replicate field-scale conditions. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of laboratory-scale silo type on nutritive value and fermentation profiles of grass-legume silage. This experiment was conducted as a generalized complete block design. There was one treatment factor (silo type) with 11 levels: field-scale baleage control (CON), miniature wrapped baleage (MINI), large fermentation bucket (6GAL), small fermentation bucket (2GAL), miniature silo (PVC), pint-sized Mason-type jar with "BurpLid" (BURP), pint-sized Mason-type jar with Ball-brand fermentation lid (BALL), pint-sized Mason-type jar with an airlock lid (LOCK), single-layered vacuum-sealed bag using a chamber-style sealer (CHMB), double-layered vacuum-sealed bag using a chamber-style sealer (HCHMB), single-layered vacuum-sealed bag using a suction-style sealer (FOOD), or double-layered vacuum-sealed bag using a suction-style sealer (HFOOD). Harvest served as the random blocking factor. Forage was harvested from a single alfalfa-bermudagrass pastures at the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center in Headland, AL. Forage was cut 24 h before collection and allowed to sun-cure. After allocation to treatment, samples were allowed to ferment for 56 d. Following fermentation, samples were assayed for NDF, ADF, ADL, CP, pH, mold, and yeast. Dunnett's test revealed a difference (P < 0.05) from CON for NDF, ADF, and pH. Samples from PVC had 26% greater NDF and 45% greater ADF than CON (58 and 37%, respectively). Samples from BALL were 3 units greater and samples from LOCK were 2 units greater in pH than CON (4.8). When comparing alternative treatments exclusive of CON, there were differences (P ≤ 0.01) in NDF, ADF, ADL, pH, and mold counts among treatments. Results are interpreted to mean that BALL and LOCK are not effective representatives of field-scale silage production due to lack of pH drop, while PVC alters the fiber profiles. All other methods showed promise as prospects for laboratory silage procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) is considered an invasive browse species in most of the American Southwest. Over the past several decades, mesquite has spread rapidly in Texas, leading to destruction of native grasslands. In addition to trying to manage its encroachment on grazinglands, producers have been known to use mesquite wood in times of drought as a feed source for livestock, specifically in cow/calf production. This also represents a potential sustainable solution to dealing with debris from brush control measures. Thus, our objective was to evaluate the inclusion of chipped mesquite wood as a partial grass replacement in silage production. This experiment used a factorial treatment structure of silage inoculant (yes, no), grass replacement (0, 25, 50, 75, 100%), and length of incubation (28, 56, 82 d). Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. cv. Coastal] was used as the grass base in the silage mixtures. Samples were incubated in a convection incubator at 29.4°C for their respective incubation lengths. Following incubation, each sample was assayed for NDF, ADF, ADL, CP, and IVTD, as well as a silage acid profile. There was no effect of inoculation, grass replacement, or incubation time (P ≥ 0.13) on CP (μ = 10%), nor was there an effect of inoculation or grass replacement (P ≥ 0.67) on NDF (μ = 70%). Both ADF and ADL increased (P < 0.05) with increasing inclusion of mesquite wood. In vitro true digestibility decreased (P < 0.05) with increasing inclusion of mesquite wood (50% from grass silage; 40% from mesquite silage). Results are interpreted to mean that mesquite wood may be used as a grass replacement in silage production at low inclusion levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the future of agricultural sciences, it is imperative that student scientists seek to investigate alternatives to help improve production by lowering costs while meeting dietary requirements, increasing output, and maintaining sustainability. Anthropogenic waste as potential feedstock, we are engaging in an innovative wave of agricultural research. While previous research in our laboratory has evaluated newspaper, waste popcorn, and crawfish shells as feedstock, their potential for ensiling represents an alternative avenue for upcycling and long-term storage. The objective of this experiment was to determine the optimum concentrations of newspaper, waste popcorn, and crawfish shells for ideal silage fermentation. This experiment was conducted as a Box-Wilson composite design with four replications. Prescribed amounts of shredded newspaper, ground crawfish shells and heads, and waster popcorn were thoroughly mixed, and water and inoculant were added to achieve 25% dry matter. Central points for popcorn were 35.5, 1.3, 35.5, and 1.3% dry matter, respectively, for grain silage, grass silage, high combination, and low combination. Central points for crawfish were 4.0, 6.4, 4.0, and 6.4% dry matter, respectively, for grain silage, grass silage, high combination, and low combination. Samples were sealed using a food-grade sealer and allowed to ferment for 35 d. A subsample was frozen for assay of pH and silage acids. The remaining sample was dried at 55°C, ground, and assayed for NDF, ADF, CP, and IVTD. Across block, there was no effect of crawfish or popcorn inclusion on NDF (P = 0.09; µ = 74%), ADF (P = 0.24; µ = 60%), or IVTD (P = 0.12; µ = 35%). Results are interpreted to mean that these feed ingredients may be used in non-feedstock silage production, but its usefulness to livestock production is questionable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Per unit energy, fiber is among the most expensive components of the ruminant diet. While the use of by- or co-products can help offset the costs of feeding cattle, these feeds often increase in price with increased adoption. Wastes from human enterprises may represent the next step in feedstuff investigation. Our objective was to evaluate the suitability of newspaper as a component of silage for ruminant feeding. Newspapers were obtained from the Dick Smith Library and JTAC News at Tarleton State University (Stephenville, TX). Samples were cut into strips (approximately 4.0 × 30.2 mm) using an office shredder. Sorghum-sudangrass [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet & Harlan] was harvested and cut by hand to lengths of approximately 10 cm. Samples were combined to achieved DM ratios of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100% newspaper and sorghum-sudangrass. Distilled water was added to achieve 45% DM. Samples were packed in a double layer of plastic sheeting and sealed in 19 L buckets. Laboratory silos were arranged in a Latin square design in a laboratory and allowed to ferment for 35 d. Ensiled samples were assayed for DM, particle size, and silage acids. There was no effect of newspaper percentage (P = 0.47) on silage pH. Ammonia (0.04 to 1.2% DM), total VFA (0.01 to 4.8% DM), lactic acid (0 to 46.6% VFA), and acetic acid (0.01 to 2.4% DM) increased linearly (P < 0.01) with increased concentration of sorghum-sudangrass. Results indicated that newspaper alone was not an effective feedstuff to ensile. However, addition of newspaper to grass silages could represent a viable means to decrease cost and extend resources for ruminant animal producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]