Five trials were conducted to assess the nutritive value of high fiber canola meal (HFCM) as a protein supplement for ruminants. Trial one determined the chemical composition of HFCM relative to low fiber canola meal (LFCM) and canola meal in a completely randomized design using samples obtained from five different crushers. In the second trial, the in situ nylon bag technique was used to determine disappearance of dry matter (DMD), crude protein (CPD), neutral (NDFD) and acid (ADFD) detergent fiber from canola meal, LFCM and HFCM samples derived from five different crushers following 24 h of nunen incubation. The effect of crushing plant of origin on in situ nutrient disappearance in the three meals was also determined. In the third trial, rumen nutrient kinetic parameters and effective degradabilities were determined for the blended canola meal, LFCM and HFCM. In situ disappearance of different amino acids canola meal, LFCM and HFCM following 12 h of rumen incubation was determined in the fourth study. The fifth trial was designed to determine nutrient digestibility coefficients by growing lambs of seven diets containing dehydrated alfalfa and 0, 25, 50 and 75% HFCM or canola meal in a randomized complete block design. Milk yield and composition responses of early to mid lactation dairy cows to diets supplemented with HFCM, canola meal or soybean meal were also determined. Results of the first trial indicated that tail-end dehulling of canola meal resulted in more fractionation of fiber than protein between HFCM and LFCM. Results of the second trial showed differences in CPD and DMD within LFCM and HFCM but not within canola meal samples. However, no meal by crusher interaction was observed indicating that in situ nutrient disappearances in the three meals were consistent across crushers. At 5% h^-1 rumen flow rate, effective DM degradability (trial three) was higher (P $<$ 0.05) in LFCM than in canola meal and was higher in canola meal than in HFCM while effective CP degradability was higher in LFCM and canola meal than in HFCM. Effective NDF degradability was higher (P $<$ 0.05) in LFCM than in canola meal and MFCM. However, effective ADF degradability was higher in LFCM than in canola meal and was higher in canola meal than in HFCM. Tail-end dehulling had little effect on in situ disappearance of amino acids from canola meal, LFCM and HFCM following 12 h of rumen incubation. Results from the fifth trial indicated that at 75% inclusion rate, the diet containing HFCM had lower (P $<$ 0.05) DM, CP and gross energy digestibility coefficients relative to canala meal diet. Results of the dairy trial showed no treatment effect on feed intake. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Incorporation of full-fat flaxseed, and to a lesser extent, canola seed in diets to produce n-3-enriched products has attracted interest in the poultry industry. However, high amounts of nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) in oilseeds compromise their nutritive value. The objectives of the current research were to develop enzyme supplements effective in cell wall depolymerization and viscosity reduction, particularly in flaxseed; to evaluate the effects of enzyme addition and feed processing on oil utilization and egg n-3 fatty acid deposition in broiler chickens and laying hens fed oilseed-containing diets; to characterize the NSP hydrolysis products and to investigate the effects of diet type and enzyme addition on growth performance and the incidence of necrotic enteritis (NE) in broiler chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens. Results showed that diets containing high levels of flaxseed reduced egg production and shell quality in laying hens, and impaired final body weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in broiler chickens. Reducing flaxseed particle size via grinding did not improve the growth performance of broiler chickens, whereas diet pelleting showed more pronounced and beneficial effects in improving the nutritive value of flaxseed, particularly when intact seeds were used. Multicarbohydrase supplementation resulted in a significant depolymerization of cell wall polysaccharides in soybean, canola and flaxseed meals, which was followed by the production of water-soluble NSP hydrolysis products, and the reduction of flax mucilage viscosity in vitro was also evident. Enzyme addition to flaxseed-containing diets improved FCR of broiler chickens and egg production performance of laying hens, and facilitated egg n-3 fatty acid deposition. The C. perfringens challenge caused intestinal NE lesions and increased the mortality of broiler chickens with the highest NE mortality and intestinal C. perfringens counts observed in those fed flaxseed-containing diets. Enzyme supplementation to diets containing high levels of water-soluble NSP (wheat/barley- or wheat/barley/flaxseed-based) facilitated post-disease compensatory growth in pathogen challenged birds. This was accompanied by a numerical reduction of intestinal C. perfringens by 1.4 log10 cfu/g in birds fed the flaxseed-containing diets. Such findings indicated that enzyme addition may be used as a nutritional strategy to reduce the risk of NE development in broiler chickens.

Incorporation of full-fat flaxseed, and to a lesser extent, canola seed in diets to produce n-3-enriched products has attracted interest in the poultry industry. However, high amounts of nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) in oilseeds compromise their nutritive value. The objectives of the current research were to develop enzyme supplements effective in cell wall depolymerization and viscosity reduction, particularly in flaxseed; to evaluate the effects of enzyme addition and feed processing on oil utilization and egg n-3 fatty acid deposition in broiler chickens and laying hens fed oilseed-containing diets; to characterize the NSP hydrolysis products and to investigate the effects of diet type and enzyme addition on growth performance and the incidence of necrotic enteritis (NE) in broiler chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens. Results showed that diets containing high levels of flaxseed reduced egg production and shell quality in laying hens, and impaired final body weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in broiler chickens. Reducing flaxseed particle size via grinding did not improve the growth performance of broiler chickens, whereas diet pelleting showed more pronounced and beneficial effects in improving the nutritive value of flaxseed, particularly when intact seeds were used. Multicarbohydrase supplementation resulted in a significant depolymerization of cell wall polysaccharides in soybean, canola and flaxseed meals, which was followed by the production of water-soluble NSP hydrolysis products, and the reduction of flax mucilage viscosity in vitro was also evident. Enzyme addition to flaxseed-containing diets improved FCR of broiler chickens and egg production performance of laying hens, and facilitated egg n-3 fatty acid deposition. The C. perfringens challenge caused intestinal NE lesions and increased the mortality of broiler chickens with the highest NE mortality and intestinal C. perfringens counts observed in those fed flaxseed-containing diets. Enzyme supplementation to diets containing high levels of water-soluble NSP (wheat/barley- or wheat/barley/flaxseed-based) facilitated post-disease compensatory growth in pathogen challenged birds. This was accompanied by a numerical reduction of intestinal C. perfringens by 1.4 log10 cfu/g in birds fed the flaxseed-containing diets. Such findings indicated that enzyme addition may be used as a nutritional strategy to reduce the risk of NE development in broiler chickens.

Graduation date: 1993

Submitted by Marilene Donadel (marilene.donadel@unioeste.br) on 2018-12-07T13:00:59Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Pedro_Moreira_2014.pdf: 541902 bytes, checksum: 809df778c0bbdd6f3b6bdd42d18c1516 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-07T13:00:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pedro_Moreira_2014.pdf: 541902 bytes, checksum: 809df778c0bbdd6f3b6bdd42d18c1516 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-25 / The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different application forms of soybean oil in diets for Nile tilapia. We used 192 fish with average weight of 15,34 ± 0,6 g and total length of 8,61 ± 2,11 cm in a completely randomized design with four treatments and four replicates. The animals were fed for a period of 61 days with diets containing the same inclusion level of soybean oil (3%) in three application forms: oil after extrusion, oil before extrusion, oil before (50%) and after (50%) extrusion and one control diet without soybean oil. We evaluated the performance parameters, filet chemical composition and blood biochemistry. The data were submitted to homogeneity and normality test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s test at 5% of significance. There were no significant difference (P>0.05) for the parameters of performance, chemical composition and blood biochemistry among the three different forms of soybean oil application. However, the control diet showed the lowest values (P<0.05) of performance and triglycerides in relation to the diets with soybean oil regardless of its aplication. The use of soybean oil concomitant to a source of carbohydrate provided better performance of the animals. The different application forms of soybean oil, for Nile tilapia juveniles, not interfere in the analyzed variables. / O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de diferentes formas de aplicação do óleo de soja em rações para tilápia do Nilo. Foram utilizados 192 peixes com peso médio de 15,34 ± 0,6 g e comprimento total de 8,61 ± 2,11 cm em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os animais foram alimentados, por 61 dias, com rações isoenergéticas contendo o mesmo nível de inclusão de óleo de soja (3%) em três formas de aplicação: óleo pós-extrusão, óleo anterior à extrusão, óleo anterior (50%) e posterior (50%) à extrusão, além de uma ração controle isenta de óleo de soja. Foram avaliados parâmetros de desempenho produtivo, composição centesimal do filé e aspectos bioquímicos do sangue. Os dados foram submetidos a teste de homogeneidade e normalidade, análise de variância (ANOVA) e teste de média de Tukey a 5% de significância. Não houve diferença significativa (P>0,05) entre as diferentes formas de aplicação do óleo de soja. No entanto, a ração controle apresentou os menores resultados (P<0,05) de desempenho produtivo e de triglicerídeos em relação às rações que continham óleo de soja, independente da sua forma de aplicação. As diferentes formas de aplicação do óleo de soja, para juvenis de tilápia do Nilo, não influenciaram as variáveis analisadas, embora o uso do óleo de soja concomitante a uma fonte de carboidrato tenha proporcionado melhor desempenho produtivo dos juvenis de tilápia do Nilo.

Fiber separation from these animal feeds could increase the protein and hence increase the value of the animal feed. The objective of the study was to evaluate the combination of sieving and air classification for fiber separation from soybean meal (SBM), cottonseed meal (CSM) and wheat middlings (WM). The effect of yields of lighter fractions on fiber separation from size fractions was also investigated. At low yields of lighter fraction (5%), the quantity of fiber product separated was 3.7, 1.3 and 4.8% by weight of SBM, CSM and WM respectively. At high yields of lighter fractions (15%), the quantity of fiber product separated was 8.9, 3.5 and 11% by weight of SBM, CSM and WM respectively. For CSM and SBM, the enhanced product contained 0.6 to 2.0% higher protein content than unprocessed feed. For WM, the enhanced product contained 0.2 to 0.7% higher protein content than unprocessed feed.

Ph. D. / incomplete_metadata

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da idade de matriz, composição e forma física da dieta pré-inicial (fornecida à base de 200 g por ave) na performance de frangos de corte machos até os 42 dias de idade. Os tratamentos consistiram das combinações de 2 tipos de ração pré-inicial: formuladas com ingredientes de origem vegetal (milho, farelo de soja e soja integral) ou com subprodutos de origem animal (farinha de carne e ossos, farinha de sangue); 2 formas físicas: farelada ou desintegrada e 2 idades de matrizes: jovem (32 semanas) ou adulta (55 semanas), num arranjo fatorial 2x2x2. O experimento foi realizado com 4 repetições de 45 aves, em blocos casualizados. Seguindo-se os tratamentos dietéticos na fase pré-inicial, todas as aves passaram a receber uma ração comum nas fases inicial, crescimento e final. A ração desintegrada no período pré-inicial resultou em maior peso vivo, ganho de peso, consumo de ração e conversão alimentar aos 7 dias de idade em comparação à ração farelada. A inclusão de ingredientes de origem animal nas dietas pré-iniciais resultou em um decréscimo de peso vivo e ganho de peso aos 7 dias de idade, mas não afetou o consumo de ração e a conversão alimentar. Pintos provenientes de matrizes adultas apresentaram maior peso vivo, ganho de peso e consumo de ração quando comparados àqueles provenientes de matrizes jovens na primeira semana de vida, mas a conversão alimentar não foi afetada. A viabilidade dos pintos na primeira semana não foi afetada por nenhum fator. Na primeira semana não foi observada nenhuma interação significativa entre os fatores para as variáveis. A vantagem da dieta desintegrada durante a primeira semana foi evidente para peso vivo e ganho de peso até os 42 dias de idade e a interação entre forma física e idade da matriz indicou uma vantagem para os frangos provenientes de matrizes jovens (143g) em relação àqueles provenientes de matrizes adultas (64g) quando a ração desintegrada foi fornecida. A conversão alimentar aos 42 dias de idade foi melhor quando a dieta desintegrada foi oferecida para pintos provenientes de matrizes jovens (1,685 vs. 1,718), mas não para aqueles provenientes de matrizes adultas (1,693 vs. 1,694). O consumo de ração total foi maior quando as aves receberam ração pré-inicial vegetal do que contendo ingredientes de origem animal, mas o peso vivo, ganho de peso e conversão alimentar não foram afetados. Aves provenientes de matrizes adultas apresentaram maior consumo de ração durante todo o período. A conversão alimentar não foi afetada pelo tipo de ingrediente utilizado na dieta pré-inicial. Os fatores estudados não influenciaram a viabilidade dos frangos até os 42 dias de idade. Conclui-se que a dieta desintegrada no período pré-inicial melhorou a performance de frangos e esta vantagem foi maior para pintos leves. A dieta vegetal no período pré-inicial não causou prejuízo à performance dos frangos. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of breeder age, composition and physical form of the pre-starter diet (supplied at a rate of 200 g per bird) the male broilers performance up to 42 days of age. The treatments consisted of the combinations of 2 types of prestarter diets: formulated to contain vegetal ingredients (corn, soybean meal, full fat soybean) or including animal ingredients (meat and bone meal, blood meal); 2 physical forms: mashed or crumbled; 2 breeder ages: young breeders (32 weeks old) or mature breeders (55 weeks old) in a 2X2X2 factorial arrangement. The experiment was carried out on 4 replicates of 45 birds, in a completely randomized block design. After receiving the dietary treatments in the pre-starter period all birds were given a common starter, growing and finishing diet. Crumbled feed in the pre-starter period resulted in improved liveweight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion up to 7 days of age compared to mashed feed. The inclusion of animal ingredients into the prestarter diets decreased liveweight and weight gain up to the age of 7 days but did not affect feed intake and feed conversion. Chicks from mature breeders had higher liveweight, weight gain and feed intake than those from young breeders in the first week, but feed conversion was not affected. Viability of chicks during the first week was not affected by any factor. No significant interaction among factors was observed for all variables. The advantage of feeding crumbled diets during the first week was evident for liveweight and weight gain at 42 days of age and the interaction of physical form and breeder age indicated that the advantage was greater for broilers from young breeders (143g) than from mature breeders (64g) when chicks were fed crumbled diet. Feed conversion to 42 days of age was improved when crumbled diets were supplied to chicks from young breeders (1.685 vs.1.718), but not do those from mature breeders (1.693 vs. 1.694). Total feed intake was higher when chicks received the vegetal pre-starter diet compared to that containing animal origin ingredients, but liveweight, weight gain and feed conversion were not affected. Birds from mature breeders had greater feed intake in the overall period. Feed conversion was not affected by type of ingredients of pre-starter diet. The factors studied did not influence the viability of the broilers to 42 days of age. It was concluded that crumbled feed in the pre-starter period improves the overall performance of chickens and the advantage is greater when fed to small chicks. All-vegetal diet in the pre-starter period is not detrimental to chicken performance.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da idade de matriz, composição e forma física da dieta pré-inicial (fornecida à base de 200 g por ave) na performance de frangos de corte machos até os 42 dias de idade. Os tratamentos consistiram das combinações de 2 tipos de ração pré-inicial: formuladas com ingredientes de origem vegetal (milho, farelo de soja e soja integral) ou com subprodutos de origem animal (farinha de carne e ossos, farinha de sangue); 2 formas físicas: farelada ou desintegrada e 2 idades de matrizes: jovem (32 semanas) ou adulta (55 semanas), num arranjo fatorial 2x2x2. O experimento foi realizado com 4 repetições de 45 aves, em blocos casualizados. Seguindo-se os tratamentos dietéticos na fase pré-inicial, todas as aves passaram a receber uma ração comum nas fases inicial, crescimento e final. A ração desintegrada no período pré-inicial resultou em maior peso vivo, ganho de peso, consumo de ração e conversão alimentar aos 7 dias de idade em comparação à ração farelada. A inclusão de ingredientes de origem animal nas dietas pré-iniciais resultou em um decréscimo de peso vivo e ganho de peso aos 7 dias de idade, mas não afetou o consumo de ração e a conversão alimentar. Pintos provenientes de matrizes adultas apresentaram maior peso vivo, ganho de peso e consumo de ração quando comparados àqueles provenientes de matrizes jovens na primeira semana de vida, mas a conversão alimentar não foi afetada. A viabilidade dos pintos na primeira semana não foi afetada por nenhum fator. Na primeira semana não foi observada nenhuma interação significativa entre os fatores para as variáveis. A vantagem da dieta desintegrada durante a primeira semana foi evidente para peso vivo e ganho de peso até os 42 dias de idade e a interação entre forma física e idade da matriz indicou uma vantagem para os frangos provenientes de matrizes jovens (143g) em relação àqueles provenientes de matrizes adultas (64g) quando a ração desintegrada foi fornecida. A conversão alimentar aos 42 dias de idade foi melhor quando a dieta desintegrada foi oferecida para pintos provenientes de matrizes jovens (1,685 vs. 1,718), mas não para aqueles provenientes de matrizes adultas (1,693 vs. 1,694). O consumo de ração total foi maior quando as aves receberam ração pré-inicial vegetal do que contendo ingredientes de origem animal, mas o peso vivo, ganho de peso e conversão alimentar não foram afetados. Aves provenientes de matrizes adultas apresentaram maior consumo de ração durante todo o período. A conversão alimentar não foi afetada pelo tipo de ingrediente utilizado na dieta pré-inicial. Os fatores estudados não influenciaram a viabilidade dos frangos até os 42 dias de idade. Conclui-se que a dieta desintegrada no período pré-inicial melhorou a performance de frangos e esta vantagem foi maior para pintos leves. A dieta vegetal no período pré-inicial não causou prejuízo à performance dos frangos. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of breeder age, composition and physical form of the pre-starter diet (supplied at a rate of 200 g per bird) the male broilers performance up to 42 days of age. The treatments consisted of the combinations of 2 types of prestarter diets: formulated to contain vegetal ingredients (corn, soybean meal, full fat soybean) or including animal ingredients (meat and bone meal, blood meal); 2 physical forms: mashed or crumbled; 2 breeder ages: young breeders (32 weeks old) or mature breeders (55 weeks old) in a 2X2X2 factorial arrangement. The experiment was carried out on 4 replicates of 45 birds, in a completely randomized block design. After receiving the dietary treatments in the pre-starter period all birds were given a common starter, growing and finishing diet. Crumbled feed in the pre-starter period resulted in improved liveweight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion up to 7 days of age compared to mashed feed. The inclusion of animal ingredients into the prestarter diets decreased liveweight and weight gain up to the age of 7 days but did not affect feed intake and feed conversion. Chicks from mature breeders had higher liveweight, weight gain and feed intake than those from young breeders in the first week, but feed conversion was not affected. Viability of chicks during the first week was not affected by any factor. No significant interaction among factors was observed for all variables. The advantage of feeding crumbled diets during the first week was evident for liveweight and weight gain at 42 days of age and the interaction of physical form and breeder age indicated that the advantage was greater for broilers from young breeders (143g) than from mature breeders (64g) when chicks were fed crumbled diet. Feed conversion to 42 days of age was improved when crumbled diets were supplied to chicks from young breeders (1.685 vs.1.718), but not do those from mature breeders (1.693 vs. 1.694). Total feed intake was higher when chicks received the vegetal pre-starter diet compared to that containing animal origin ingredients, but liveweight, weight gain and feed conversion were not affected. Birds from mature breeders had greater feed intake in the overall period. Feed conversion was not affected by type of ingredients of pre-starter diet. The factors studied did not influence the viability of the broilers to 42 days of age. It was concluded that crumbled feed in the pre-starter period improves the overall performance of chickens and the advantage is greater when fed to small chicks. All-vegetal diet in the pre-starter period is not detrimental to chicken performance.

162 leaves printed on single pages, preliminary pages i- vii and numbered pages 1-152. Includes bibliography and abbreviations. / Digitized at 600 dpi grayscale to pdf format (OCR), using a Bizhub 250 Konica Minolta Scanner. / Thesis (PhD(Agric))--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Maize, forage sorghum, lucerne, oats, barley and triticale are the most common silage crops in South Africa, while tropical grasses like Eragrostis curvula and Digitaria eriantha are ensiled to a lesser extent. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of adding a lactic acid bacterial inoculant to E. curvula, D. eriantha, lucerne, forage sorghum, maize and oat silage. The effect of the addition of a lactic acid bacterial inoculant when ensiling E. curvula on the fermentation dynamics during ensiling and the aerobic stability of the silage was determined. The addition of the lactic acid bacterial inoculant to E. curvula at ensiling resulted in a more rapid lowering in pH and improved preservation. Inoculated silage had a higher lactic acid content, less protein breakdown and a lower butyric acid content compared to that of the control silage. Both silages were stable when exposed to air for five days. Digitaria eriantha was ensiled, with or without the addition of a lactic acid bacterial inoculant containing Lactobacillus plantarum. Streptococcus faecium and Pediococcus acidilactici together with the enzymes, cellulase, hemicellulase and amylase. The addition of the inoculant resulted in a more rapid drop in pH, a higher level of lactic acid, an increase in the number of lactic acid bacteria, less protein breakdown and lower numbers of enterobacteria, clostridial spores, yeast and mould compared to the control silage. Digitaria eriantha hay, control and inoculated silage diets were fed to 24 Merino rams (n = 8 per treatment) to determine intake and digestibility. The intake of diets consisting of 90.9% D. eriantha hay, control silage or inoculated silage, differed significantly (p<0.05) at 1395, 1540 and 1848 g DM/day, respectively. The in vivo organic matter digestibility (glkg) of D. eriantha hay, untreated silage and inoculated silage diets was 561, 546, 574, respectively. The addition of the bacterial inoculant when ensiling D.eriantha resulted in better preservation, improved aerobic stability, as well as a higher in vivo organic matter digestibility and intake of D. eriantha silage. The addition of an inoculant or molasses to lucerne (Medicago sativa), ensiled in laboratory silos was investigated. The addition of the additives resulted in an increased preservation rate as indicated by a more rapid lowering of pH, a faster rate of lactic acid production and less protein breakdown compared to control silage. The inoculant was more effective than the molasses in improving the rate of preservation. The aerobic stability of lucerne silage was not affected by inoculation or the addition of molasses. The addition of an inoculant to wilted big bale lucerne silage was studied. The inoculant improved silage quality as indicated by a lower pH, higher lactic acid content, lower ammonia nitrogen content and lower level of butyric acid in inoculated silage compared to the control lucerne silage. The composition of big round bale lucerne silage differed markedly from that of lucerne ensiled in laboratory silos as the former had a higher pH, ammonia nitrogen, butyric acid and acetic acid content and a lower lactic content. Whole crop forage sorghum cultivar FS2 was harvested at the late bloom (20.7% DM) and soft dough (28.9% DM) stages of maturity and ensiled in laboratory silos with the addition of commercial silage inoculants. At both stages of maturity the inoculants caused a more rapid rate of pH decline and a higher amount of lactic acid production. All the silages were well preserved. Silages of the sorghum ensiled at the late bloom stage with all treatments were stable after 5 days of aerobic exposure, whereas sorghum ensiled at the soft dough stage with the addition of the inoculants deteriorated upon aerobic exposure. It is concluded that addition of lactic acid bacterial inoculants to mature sorghum at ensiling might impair the aerobic stability of the silage. The yield, nutritional value and production potential of silage made from twenty one maize hybrids was compared. It was concluded that maize hybrids did differ in metabolizable energy content, rate of digestion, predicted intake and predicted milk production potential. The content of NDF and ADF did not differ between the maize hybrids used in this study and could therefore not be used to predict nutritional value or production potential. Maize was harvested at the hard dough stage and ensiled with or without the addition of a lactic acid bacterial inoculant in laboratory silos and in 210 litre drums. The adding of the inoculant to maize at ensiling did not result in a more rapid drop in pH and higher levels of lactic acid. The intake and growth of South African Mutton Merino lambs fed inoculated and untreated maize silage diets was determined. The average daily gain of lambs fed a diet consisting of either 60% control or inoculated maize silage over a growth period of 60 days was 239 ± 26 and 255 ± 44 g/day, respectively. Although the laboratory study showed very little effect of adding a lactic acid bacterial inoculant to maize at ensiling, lambs tended to consume more of the inoculated silage. In the second study the effect of the addition of a lactic acid bacterial inoculant with an enzyme to maize at ensiling on the fermentation dynamics during ensiling, aerobic stability of the silage, the intake, milk production and milk composition of Jersey cows fed maize silage diets was determined. The inoculant did not result in a more rapid lowering of the pH or a more rapid lactic acid production compared to untreated maize silage made in laboratory silos. Both the control and inoculated maize silages were well preserved. The addition of the inoculant to maize at ensiling improved the palatability, intake and the aerobic stability of maize silage compared to the untreated control maize silage. Milk production, milk composition, live weight and condition score of Jersey cows was not significantly affected by the addition of the inoculant to maize silage. The effect of the addition of an enzyme containing lactic acid bacterial inoculant to big bale oat (Avena sativa, cv Cederberg) silage on silage composition, silage intake, milk production and milk composition of Jersey cows was determined. The crop was cut at the bloom stage, wilted and ensiled in big round bales. The inoculant, Sil-All, was applied during the baling process on half of the bales. Silages were fed to Jersey cows in an intake and milk production study. Both the control and inoculated oat silages were well preserved. The inoculated oat silage had a lower level of butyric acid than the control oat silage. Cows fed the inoculated oat silage produced more (P=O.05) milk (17.7 kg/day) than cows fed the control oat silage (16.7 kg/day). The addition of a lactic acid bacterial inoculant to big bale oat silage improved silage composition and animal performance. This study clearly showed that the composition of silages made in bunker silos under commercial farm conditions differ largely from that of silages made in small scale laboratory silos. When the effect of silage additives on aerobic stability of silage is determined the evaluation should include studies on large scale bunker silages. Evaluation of silage additives should include intake and animal production studies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mielies, voersorghum, lusem, hawer, gars en korog word algemeen as kuilvoer gewasse benut terwyl tropiese grasse soos Eragrostis curvula en Digitaria eriantha tot 'n mindere mate ingekuil word. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die invloed van 'n melksuurbakterieseinokulant op E. curvula-, D. eriantha-, lusem-, voersorghum-, mielie- en hawerkuilvoer te bepaal. Die invloed van 'n melksuurbakteriese-inokulant op die fermentasiedinamika en die aerobiese stabiliteit van E. curvula-kuilvoer is bepaal. Die toediening van die melksuurbakterieseinokulant tot E. curvula tydens inkuiling het 'n vinniger tempo van pH daling en beter preservering tot gevolg gehad in vergelyking met kontrole kuilvoer. Inokulant behandelde kuilvoer het 'n hoer melksuurinhoud, minder protei'en afbraak en 'n laer bottersuurinhoud as kontrole kuilvoer gehad. Beide kuilvoere was stabiel tydens blootstelling aan lug vir vyf dae. Digitaria eriantha is ingekuil met ofsonder die toediening van 'n melksuurbakteriese-inokulant wat Lactobacillus plantarum. Streptococcus faecium en Pediococcus acidilactici sowel as die ensieme, sellulase, hemisellulase and amilase bevat het. Die inokulant het 'n vinniger tempo van pH-daling, hoer vlakke van melksuur en melksuurbakterie, minder protei'en afbraak en laer getalle van enterobakterie, klostridiale spore, giste and swamme in vergelyking met die kontrole tot gevolg gehad. Digitaria eriantha hooi, kontrole kuilvoer en gei'nokuleerde kuilvoer diete is aan 24 Merino ramme (n = 8 per behandeling) gevoer vir bepaling van inname en verteerbaarheid. Die inname van diete wat uit 90.9% D. eriantha hooi, kontrole kuilvoer of gei'nokuleerde kuilvoer bestaan het, het betekenisvol (p<0.05) verskil en was 1395, 1540 en 1848 gDM/dag, respektiewelik. Die in vivo organiesemateriaal verteerbaarheid (gIkg) vanD. eriantha hooi, kontrole kuilvoer en geYnokuleerde kuilvoer was 561, 546, 574, respektiewelik. Die toediening van die bakteriese-inokulant tydens inkuiling vanD. eriantha het beter preservering, verbeterde aerobiese stabiliteit asook 'n hoer in vivo organiesemateriaal verteerbaarheid van D. eriantha kuilvoer tot gevolg gehad. Die effek van toediening van 'n melksuurbakteriese-inokulant en van molasse tot lusem (Medicago sativa) ingekuil in laboratoriumsilos is ondersoek. Die inokulant toediening en molasse toediening het die tempo van preservering versnel, die pH het vinniger gedaal, melksuur is teen 'n hoer tempo geproduseer en minder proteYen afbraak het plaasgevind in vergelyking met die kontrole kuilvoer. Die tempo van preservering is meer effektief deur toediening van die inokulant verhoog as deur die toediening van molasse. Die aerobiese stabiliteit van lusernkuilvoer is nie beYnvloed deur die toediening van inokulant ofmolasse nie. Die effek van die toediening van 'n melksuurbakteriese-inokulant tot groot rondebaal lusernkuilvoer is ondersoek. Die inokulant het die kwaliteit van die kuilvoer verbeter en het 'n laer pH, hoer melksuur, laer ammoniak stikstofen laer bottersuurinhoud in rondebaallusernkuilvoer tot gevolg gehad in vergelyking met kontrole kuilvoer. Groot rondebaallusernkuilvoer het grootliks verskil van lusernkuilvoer wat in laboratoriumsilos ingekuil is. Die rondebaal kuilvoer het 'n hoer pH, hoer ammoniak-stikstof-, bottersuur- en asynsuurinhoud en 'n laer melksuurinhoud gehad as laboratorium lusernkuilvoer. Voersorghum kultivar FS2 is op die laat blom (20.7% DM) en op die sagte deeg (28.9% DM) stadium met die byvoeging van melksuurbakteriese-inokulante ingekuil in laboratoriumsilos. Toediening van beide inokulante tot sorghum hetop beide die inkuilstadiums gelei tot 'n vinniger tempo van pHdaling en meer melksuurproduksie. Aile kuilvoere insluitend die kontrole kuilvoer was goed gepreserveer. Kontrole sowel geYnokuleerde sorghumkuilvoer ingekuil op die laat blomstadium was stabiel tydens aerobiese blootstelling vir 5 dae. Sorghumkuilvoer ingekuil op die sagtedeegstadium met die byvoeging van inokulante was onstabiel tydens aerobiese blootstelling. Die toediening van melksuurbakteriese-inokulante tot sorghum wat op die sagtedeegstadium ingekuil word kan aerobiese stabiliteit van die kuilvoer grootliks benadeel. Die opbrengs, voedingswaarde en produksiepotensiaal van kuilvoer gemaak van 21 mielie hibriede is vergelyk. Verskille in metaboliseerbare energie inhoud, tempo van vertering, voorspelde inname en voorspelde melkproduksie het tussen mielie hibriede voorgekom. Die neutraalbestandevesel- en suurbestandeveselinhoud het nie verskil tussen hibriede nie en derhalwe kon dit nie gebruik word om voedingswaarde ofproduksiepotensiaal te beraam rue. Mielies is op die hardedeegstadium met of sonder die toediening van 'n melksuurbakterieseinokulant in laboratoriumsilos en 210 liter dromme ingekui!. Die toediening van die inokulant het geen invloed op tempo van pH-daling ofproduksie van melksuur gehad nie. Die inname en groei van SA Vleismerino lammers wat 'n dieet bestaande uit 60% kontrole of inokulant behandelde mieliekuilvoer ontvang het, is bepaa!. Die gemiddelde daaglikse toename van lammers was 239 ± 26 and 255 ± 44 g/dag vir die kontrole en inokulant mieliekuilvoer dieet respektiewelik. Alhoewel die laboratoriumstudie weinig verskille tussen die kontrole en die geYnokuleerde mieliekuilvoer getoon het, het lammers geneig om meer van die geYnokuleerde mieliekuilvoer in te neem. In die tweede studie met mieliekuilvoer is die effek van toediening van 'n melksuurbakteriese-inokulant met ensieme, op die ferrnentasiedinamika tydens inkuiling, die aerobiese stabiliteit van mieliekuilvoer asook die inname, melkproduksie en melksamestelling van Jersey koeie bepaa!. Die inokulant het nie die tempo van pH daling en produksie van melksuurverhoog nie en beide kontrole en geYnokuleerde mieliekuilvoerwas goed gepreserveer. Die toediening van die inokulant tot mieliekuilvoer het die smaaklikheid, inname en die aerobiese stabiliteit van mieliekuilvoer verhoog in vergeiyking met kontrole mieliekuilvoer. Melkproduksie, melksamestelling, liggaamsmassa en kondisiepunt van Jersey koeie is nie betekenisvol beYnvloed deur die toediening van die inokulant tot mieliekuilvoer nie. Die effek van die toediening van 'n ensiem bevattende melksuurbakteriese-inokulant tot groot rondebaal hawer (Avena sativa, cv Cederberg) kuilvoer op die samestelling van kuilvoer, kuilvoerinname, melkproduksie en melksamestelling van Jersey koeie is bepaa!. Die gewas is gesny op die blomstadium, verwelk en as rondebaalkuilvoer gepreserveer. Die inokulant, Sil-All, is tydens die baalproses toegedien op die helfte van die bale. Kuilvoere is aan Jersey koeie gevoer in 'n inname en melkproduksiestudie. Beide die kontrole en geYnokuleerde hawerkuilvoer was goed gepreserveer. Die bottersuurinhoud van geYnokuleerde hawerkuilvoer was laer as die van die kontrole hawerkuilvoer. Koeie wat geYnokuleerde hawerkuilvoer gevoer is het meer (P=0.05) melk (17.7 kg/dag) geproduseer as koeie wat kontrole hawerkuilvoer ontvang het (16.7 kg/dag). Die toediening van 'n melksuurbakteriese-inokulant het kuilvoer kwaliteit en diereproduksie verbeter. Hierdie studie wys duidelike verskille uit tussen kuilvoer wat in bunkersilos onder kommersiele toestande ingekuil is, en kuilvoer wat in laboratoriumsilos gemaak is. Wanneer die effek van kuilvoerbymiddels op die aerobiese stabiliteit van kuilvoer bepaal word behoort finale evaluasie gedoen te word op kuilvoer gemaak in bunkersilos soos onder plaastoestande plaasvind. Evaluasie van kuilvoerbymiddels behoort inname en diereproduksiestudies in te sluit.