Cited by 425Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive PhysiologyAnimal Nutrition and PhysiologyMycotoxins in Agriculture and Food

Meta-analysis of effects of inoculation with homofermentative and facultative heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria on silage fermentation, aerobic stability, and the performance of dairy cows

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Oliveira, André S., Weinberg, Zwi G., Ogunade, Ibukun M., Cervantes, Andres A.P., Arriola, Kathy G., Jiang, Yun, Kim, Donghyeon, Li, Xujiao +3 more·2017·Journal of Dairy Science

Abstract

Forages are usually inoculated with homofermentative and facultative heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to enhance lactic acid fermentation of forages, but effects of such inoculants on silage quality and the performance of dairy cows are unclear. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to examine the effects of LAB inoculation on silage quality and preservation and the performance of dairy cows. A second objective was to examine the factors affecting the response to silage inoculation with LAB. The studies that met the selection criteria included 130 articles that examined the effects of LAB inoculation on silage quality and 31 articles that investigated dairy cow performance responses. The magnitude of the effect (effect size) was evaluated using raw mean differences (RMD) between inoculated and uninoculated treatments. Heterogeneity was explored by meta-regression and subgroup analysis using forage type, LAB species, LAB application rate, and silo scale (laboratory or farm-scale) as covariates for the silage quality response and forage type, LAB species, diet type [total mixed ration (TMR) or non-TMR], and the level of milk yield of the control cows as covariates for the performance responses. Inoculation with LAB (≥10 5 cfu/g as fed) markedly increased silage fermentation and dry matter recovery in temperate and tropical grasses, alfalfa, and other legumes. However, inoculation did not improve the fermentation of corn, sorghum, or sugarcane silages. Inoculation with LAB reduced clostridia and mold growth, butyric acid production, and ammonia-nitrogen in all silages, but it had no effect on aerobic stability. Silage inoculation (≥10 5 cfu/g as fed) increased milk yield and the response had low heterogeneity. However, inoculation had no effect on diet digestibility and feed efficiency. Inoculation with LAB improved the fermentation of grass and legume silages and the performance of dairy cows but did not affect the fermentation of corn, sorghum, and sugar cane silages or the aerobic stability of any silage. Further research is needed to elucidate how silage inoculated with homofermentative and facultative heterofermentative LAB improves the performance of dairy cows.

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Crossref · 10.3168/jds.2016-11815

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  • Compared with homofermentative lactic acid bacteria, heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria have half the lactate synthesis efficiency and produce more acetic acid and carbon dioxide, which leads to poor silage fermentation.

    “Compared with homofermentative lactic acid bacteria, heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria have half the lactate synthesis efficiency and produce more acetic acid and carbon dioxide, which leads to poor silage fermentation [23,25].”

    From Analysis on Fermentation Quality, Chemical Composition and Bacterial Communities of Corn Straw and Soybean Straw Mixed Silage (2023) · cites this paper as [23]

    The Conclusions (page unavailable) say that inoculation with homofermentative or facultative heterofermentative LAB markedly enhanced fermentation in grass and legume silages, rather than leading to poor fermentation. The paper does not establish the claimed half-efficiency comparison or greater carbon dioxide production; its findings concern facultative heterofermentative LAB, not all heterofermentative LAB. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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  • The addition of heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria can help to extend the storage and utilization time of silage.

    “The addition of heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria can help to extend the storage and utilization time of silage [23].”

    From Analysis on Fermentation Quality, Chemical Composition and Bacterial Communities of Corn Straw and Soybean Straw Mixed Silage (2023) · cites this paper as [23]

    The Silage Quality results (page unavailable) report that inoculation with the homofermentative and facultative heterofermentative bacteria studied did not affect aerobic stability (P = 0.27). The paper finds improved fermentation for some forages, but not the longer usable life attributed to it. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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  • After the aerobic fermentation period, silage enters an anaerobic state, and lactic acid bacteria rapidly reproduce and produce a large amount of lactic acid, which inhibits the activity of harmful microorganisms such as Clostridium.

    “After the aerobic fermentation period, silage enters an anaerobic state, and lactic acid bacteria rapidly reproduce and produce a large amount of lactic acid, which inhibits the activity of harmful microorganisms such as Clostridium [23].”

    From Analysis on Fermentation Quality, Chemical Composition and Bacterial Communities of Corn Straw and Soybean Straw Mixed Silage (2023) · cites this paper as [23]

    The Introduction (page unavailable) describes lactic-acid fermentation under anaerobic conditions and says the resulting low pH inhibits harmful microbes. Silage Quality (page unavailable) reports that LAB inoculation increased lactate and reduced clostridia in some forage types. The paper does not establish the claimed sequence in which an aerobic fermentation period ends before silage becomes anaerobic, and its inoculation findings do not apply to every forage type. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • Homofermentative LAB inoculants are successful in reducing pH and shifting fermentation toward lactate in the majority of studies.

    “Reviews (e.g., Muck and Kung, 1997; Oliveira et al., 2017) indicate homofermentative inoculants are successful in reducing pH and shifting fermentation toward lactate in the majority of studies.”

    From Silage review: Factors affecting dry matter and quality losses in silages (2018) · cites this paper as Oliveira et al., 2017

    The Silage Quality results (page unavailable) report that LAB inoculation reduced pH and increased lactate overall. The paper also says these fermentation improvements occurred in grasses and legumes but not in corn, sorghum, or sugarcane; it does not establish that they occurred in a majority of individual studies. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • A meta-analysis indicated no reduction in pH in corn, sorghum, and sugarcane silages relative to untreated silages.

    “although a meta-analysis indicated no reduction in pH in corn, sorghum, and sugarcane silages relative to untreated silages.”

    From Silage review: Recent advances and future uses of silage additives (2018) · cites this paper as Oliveira et al., 2017

    The Silage Quality results (page not supplied) report no pH effect for corn and sorghum silages, supporting that part of the claim. They also report that inoculation significantly reduced pH in sugarcane silage, contrary to the claim for sugarcane. (LLM, conf=0.91)

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Cites

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2 of the 45 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [28]28. Kung, L., Jr., and R. E. Muck. 1997. Animal Response to Silage Ad- ditives. Pages 200-210 in Proc. Silage: Field to Feedbunk North American Conference. NRAES-99. Northeast Regional Agricul- tural Engineering Service, Ithaca, NY.
  2. [33]33. Muck, R. E., and L. Kung Jr. 1997. Effects of silage additives on ensiling. Pages 187-199 in Proc. Silage: Field to Feedbunk North American Conference. NRAES-99. Northeast Regional Agricul- tural Engineering Service, Ithaca, NY.

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Authors
Oliveira, A. S., Weinberg, Z. G., Ogunade, I. M., Cervantes, A. A. P., Arriola, K. G., Jiang, Y., Kim, D., Li, X., Gonçalves, M. C. M., Vyas, D., & Adesogan, A. T.
Affiliations
  • Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (BR)
  • University of Florida (US)
  • Instituto Federal Goiano (BR)
Corresponding author
Adesogan, Adegbola T.
Venue
Journal of Dairy Science
Published
2017-06
Volume
100
Issue
6
Pages
4587-4603
ISSN
0022-0302 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2600083889
Cited by
409
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 36 · 2025: 46 · 2024: 47 · 2023: 69 · 2022: 56 · 2021: 52 · 2020: 48 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 2
FWCI
4.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Dairy Science (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • United States - Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (IS-4704-14)
  • University of Florida
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (2013-1)
  • Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Mato Grosso (483724/2011)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Nutrition and Physiology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Mycotoxins in Agriculture and Food
Keywords
lactic acid bacteria inoculation, homofermentative lactic acid bacteria, silage fermentation, silage quality, aerobic stability, dairy cow performance, milk yield, dry matter recovery, mold growth, butyrate, ammonia nitrogen, grass silage, legume silage, corn silage, sorghum silage, sugarcane silage, total mixed ration, feed efficiency
MeSH terms
Aerobiosis, Medicago sativa, Animals, Cattle, Zea mays, Digestion, Female, Fermentation, Poaceae, Lactation, Lactobacillus, Fabaceae, Silage, Lactic Acid, Saccharum, Sorghum

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