The influence of ensiling potato hash waste with enzyme/bacterial inoculant mixtures on the fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability and nutrient digestion of the resultant silages by rams

Abstract The present study aimed to evaluate effects of ensiling potato hash (PHW) with enzyme either alone or in combination with bacterial inoculants on the fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability and nutrient digestion using rams. The PHW was mixed with wheat–bran (B) at 80:20 (% fresh matter) and ensiled in 210 L drums for 90 days. The PHWB mixture was treated as: control (untreated), viscozyme, an enzyme containing hemicellulase and pectinase from Aspergillus spp (denoted as Visco), Viscozyme + Lalsil fresh LB ( Lactobacillus buchneri NCIMB 40788 ) (denoted as E + LAB 1 ), and viscozyme + silosolve (containing strains of Lactobacillus plantarum (DSM 16568), Enterococcus faecium (DSM 22502) and Lactobacillus buchneri (DSM 22501) (denoted as E + LAB 2 ). After 90 days of ensiling, PHWB silage samples were collected per treatment and analysed for fermentation characteristics and nutritive values. The PHWB silage was then mixed with ground alfalfa hay at 68:32 (% DM basis) and fed ad libitum to 24 (6 rams/treatment) matured South African Dorper rams (39.7 ± 2.21 kg live weight) in a digestibility study. The fibre fractions (aNDF and ADF) and ADL content of PHWB silage were significantly reduced ( P P 1 treated PHWB silage had lowest ( P P 5.3 NH 3 -N g/kg TN) compared to other treatments. Acetic acid content was lowest (3.4 g AA/kg DM; P P 2 production (41 g CO 2 /kg DM) in the Visco treated silage compared to other treatments when exposed to air. However, the addition lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to viscozyme (E + LAB 1 and E + LAB 2 ) increased ( P P P 1 and E + LAB 2 treatments improved ( P