Search

In this investigation, the aim was to examine the impact of freeze-dried kefir culture (KC) on fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability, nutritive value, in vitro digestibility, some micro- and macronutrient concentration, and fatty acid (FA) composition of white clover (WC) silages. White clover silages were either uninoculated (Con) or inoculated with KC at the following application rates: 10 mg/kg (K10), 50 mg/kg (K50), 100 mg/kg (K100) on a fresh basis, and ensiled in laboratory-scale silos for 270 days, followed by 5 days of aerobic exposure. Changes in fermentation characteristics and nutritive value, in vitro digestibility and gas production (GP), mineral concentrations, and FA composition were assessed in terminal silages. The results showed that KC could effectively reduce neutral detergent fiber, hemicellulose, and ammonia-N contents. The increased acetic acid content of KC-treated silages improved aerobic stability. Freeze-dried kefir culture made no significant difference in cumulative GP and estimated parameters except for 48 and 72 h. It is evidently clear from the findings that KC reduced the K, Na, Se, and B concentrations of WC silages, whereas Ca, Zn, and Fe concentrations increased. In addition, KC significantly increased the proportion of saturated FA (SFA) in WC silages, whereas the proportion of polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) decreased. However, KC did not significantly affect the monounsaturated FA proportion of WC silages. Overall, it is concluded that adding 50–100 mg/kg of KC on a fresh basis is appropriate to improve the nutritional value of WC silages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cottonseed meal (CSM) has emerged as an alternative source of protein-based poultry feed because of the increasing cost and scarcity of soybean meal. However, it contains toxic gossypol, which restricts its use. This systematic review examines solid-state fermented CSM's impact on broiler chickens, focusing on growth performance, carcass traits, and blood parameters. To identify relevant papers, a comprehensive search of Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed was conducted. In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, peer-reviewed experimental articles published in English up to September 2023 were screened. A total of 60 articles were evaluated over four stages, resulting in 9 articles that met the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The reduction in gossypol content was effective with bacteria like Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus oryzae, and Aspergillus niger. The content of free gossypol in CSM is significantly reduced after solid-state fermentation using various microorganisms. Fermented CSM increased the body weight gain and feed intake of broilers, while maintaining feed efficiency, and improved growth performance. Fermented CSM included in diets positively affected carcass traits, including increased carcass weight and breast muscle development. It also resulted in decreased fat content and enhanced immune organ development. An improvement in total protein, albumin, and immunoglobulin levels was observed in blood biochemical parameters, suggesting an improved humoral immune response. Depending on the microorganisms used and their concentrations, fermented CSM also had positive effects on cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL levels. Solid-state fermented CSM can be an effective and sustainable source of protein for broiler chickens. A future research focus should be on long-term effects, underlying mechanisms, economic feasibility, and scalability. In addition, it could be used in novel feed formulations and other livestock species to further enhance animal agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study assessed the effects of covering corn silage with tomato or apple pomace on fermentability and feed quality. The in vitro gas production test was performed using graded 100 mL syringes. Incubation times were 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. In vitro gas generation characteristics were significantly altered by TP (tomato pomace) and AP (apple pomace), both alone and in conjunction with PE (polyethylene) films, regardless of their presence. As a result of the effects found on NH3-N concentration, aerobic stability, and yeast activity, TP and AP have the potential to become an eco-friendly alternative to PE films. The gas production from the immediately soluble fraction (a) of corn silage was only affected when the corn silage was covered with a combination of AP and PE compared to the CPE group (p < 0.001). The largest cluster includes correlations of the DOM-TDDM (r = 0.90), DOM-AA (r = 0.88), and Ash-TDDM (r = 0.86) correlations. The most substantial negative correlations were identified between DM-CO2 (r = −82), DM-Yeast (r = −0.79), and CF-DOM (r = −0.79). Nonetheless, the use of pomace as a silage cover presents an inexpensive alternative to plastic films for silage that does not have the environmental problems associated with persistent micro- and nanoplastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve sustainable lamb production, it is crucial to determine the optimal slaughter age for maximum economic efficiency and have a comprehensive understanding of breed characteristics. This study focuses on evaluating different nonlinear models to determine the optimal slaughter age for Karacabey Merino and Kıvırcık lambs, renowned for their early development and superior meat quality, respectively. The dataset comprised age-related live weight data from 98 lambs, including 36 female and 15 male Kıvırcık lambs, as well as 33 female and 14 male Karacabey Merino lambs. Six models, namely, negative exponential, Brody, Gompertz, logistic, Bertalanffy, and Richards were utilized to analyze the data. The model parameters were estimated through an iterative process, and their goodness of fit was evaluated using various metrics. The adjusted coefficient of determination for male Kıvırcık lambs was 0.9755, while female Kıvırcık lambs exhibited a lower value of 0.8912. For Karacabey Merino lambs, males had an adjusted coefficient of determination of 0.9534, while females had a slightly lower value of 0.9044. The study concluded that the Brody model provided more accurate predictions for the growth curve of these sheep breeds compared to the other models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a vital source of forage protein for ruminants, yet its ensiling poses challenges due to high buffering capacity and low water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC). This study investigated the impact of sodium diacetate (SDA) on alfalfa silage quality and aerobic stability. SDA was applied at four different rates to wilted alfalfa on a fresh basis: 0 g/kg, 3 g/kg, 5 g/kg, and 7 g/kg, and silages were ensiled in laboratory-scale silos for 45 days, followed by 7 days of aerobic exposure. A 16S rRNA gene sequencing assay using GenomeLab™ GeXP was performed to determine the relationship between dominant isolated lactic acid bacteria species and fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability on silage. The results showed that Lentilolactobacillus brevis, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Enterococcus faecium were the most prevalent bacteria when silos were opened, whereas Weissella paramesenteroides, Bacillus cereus, B. megaterium and Bacillus spp. were most prevalent bacteria after 7 days of aerobic exposure. Dry matter, pH, and WSC content were not affected by SDA, but doses above 5 g/kg induced a homofermentative process, which increased lactic acid concentration and lactic acid to acetic acid ratio, decreased yeast count during aerobic exposure, and improved aerobic stability. These findings offer useful information for optimizing SDA usage in silage, assuring improved quality and longer storage, and thereby improving animal husbandry and sustainable feed practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: An investigation of poor aerobic stability in high-moisture total mixed rations (TMRs) for livestock feed was conducted in this study. TMR quality factors were discovered, and prospective approaches to increase its fermentation properties and overall stability were investigated. Using infrared thermography (IRT) measurements, it was suggested that dairy cow feeding methods can be optimized in the field by identifying portions with a higher center temperature and maximum temperature difference values. According to the findings, there is a significant potential for IRT to be used in feed management and preservation processes in the future, resulting in higher levels of productivity for livestock. A major objective of this study is to identify factors influencing the quality of high-moisture total mixed rations (TMRs) for livestock feed and explore possible manipulations that can enhance their fermentation characteristics and stability in order to address the problem of poor aerobic stability. Therefore, the current study utilized infrared thermography (IRT) to assess the aerobic stability of water-added TMRs in the feed bunker. By manipulating the moisture content of freshly prepared TMRs at four different levels through water addition and subjecting it to storage at two consistent temperatures, significant correlations between IRT values (center temperature (CT) and maximum temperature difference (MTD)) and key parameters such as lactic acid bacteria, water-soluble carbohydrates, and TMR pH were established. The first and second principal components together accounted for 44.3% of the variation, with the first component's load influenced by IRT parameters, fermentation characteristics, and air exposure times, while the second component's load was influenced by dry matter content and lactic acid concentration. The results of these studies indicate the possibility that feeding methods can be optimized by identifying portions with higher CT or MTD data using IRT measurements just before feeding dairy cows in the field. As a result, increasing the use of IRT in feed management and preservation processes is projected to have a positive impact on animal productivity in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the impact of essential oils (EOs) on in vitro gas formation and the degradability of dairy and beef cattle diets. This study also aimed to investigate the effects of different types of EOs on nutrient utilization and rumen microbial activity. The current study was conducted using a fully randomized design consisting of eight experimental treatments, including two control treatments without any additives, and treatments with cinnamon essential oil (CEO), flaxseed essential oil (FEO), and lemon seed essential oil (LEO) at a concentration of 60 mg/kg fresh mass. Two control treatments were used, one with alfalfa silage and dairy concentrate (DC, CON-DC) and the other with alfalfa silage and fattening concentrate (FC, CON-FC). Gas formation, dry matter (DM) digestibility, crude protein (CP) digestibility, effective degradability (ED), and soluble fractions of DM and organic matter (OM) were evaluated. CEO had a substantial effect on gas formation (p < 0.05). When EOs were added to the diets, they increased dry matter digestibility after 24 h of incubation as compared to control treatments. After 24 h of incubation, FCCEO and FCFEO had the highest CP digestibility among the diets. FCLEO considerably enhanced ED, as well as the soluble fraction of DM (a) at a passage rate of 2% per hour. Treatment with FCCEO resulted in a significant increase in soluble fractions compared to the control diets. At a passage rate of 2% h, DCCEO had the maximum ED value. When EOs were introduced to the diet, they dramatically decreased the insoluble portion of CP (b). Compared to the control treatments, gas production was significantly lower in the presence of LEO (FCLEO; p < 0.05). The addition of EOs to cattle diets may increase nutrient utilization and enhance rumen microbial activity. EOs extracted from lemon seeds (at a dose of 60 mg/kg of diet) lowered gas production in both dairy cattle and fattening diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Molecular genetic approaches have been developed over the last half-century to identify genetic variation associated with economically important growth performance and carcass characteristics. In the livestock sector, identifying and localizing the genes responsible for each trait, as well as selecting beneficial alleles based on live animal experiments, meat production, and nutritional quality, have played an essential role in improving productivity. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between IGF1 5′UTR polymorphisms and various growth and carcass parameters of meat-type sheep breeds raised in Turkey. A total of eight nucleotide changes were identified that were able to characterize three IGF1 5′UTR variants, and certain variants were associated with variations in chest width and leg circumference. The P1 variants had a leaner profile and the P2 variants had a higher percentage of rack and loin. Nucleotide sequence variations in IGF1 5′UTR could, thus, be exploited for marker-assisted selection in order to enhance growth and production attributes and carcass quality. This investigation was conducted to determine how the growth and carcass traits of meat-type sheep breeds raised in Turkey are associated with IGF1 5′UTR polymorphisms. Overall, 202 lambs from five breeds were evaluated. We identified eight nucleotide changes (seven substitutions and one deletion) in three variants of IGF1 5′UTR by SSCP analysis and nucleotide sequencing. It was found that the P1 variants had a unique deletion (g.171328230 delT), while the P2 variants were identified by SNPs rs401028781, rs422604851, and g.171328404C > Y. The P3 variants possessed one heterozygous substitution (g.171328260G > R) and three homozygous substitutions (g.171328246T > A, g.171328257T > G, g.171328265T > C) not observed in P1 or P2. Based on the growth and production traits, a statistically significant difference was found only in chest width at weaning (p < 0.01) and leg circumferences at yearling (p < 0.05). The P1 variants showed a leaner profile with a higher Musculus longissimus dorsi, but the differences were not significant (p > 0.05). The P2 variants had a higher percentage of rack (p < 0.01) and loin (p > 0.05). Moreover, there was no discernible difference between variants, even though the P3 variants had a higher percentage of neck and leg and the P1 variants had a higher percentage of the shoulder. It is concluded that nucleotide changes in IGF1 5′UTR could be exploited utilizing a marker-assisted selection technique to increase growth and production attributes, as well as carcass quality traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to evaluate the potential of lavender meal (LM) and lavender essential oil (LEO) to mitigate methane emissions by dairy cows. Locally grown lavender was collected fresh for this purpose, and its oil was extracted using the cold-press method. The resultant LEO and LM and whole lavender (WL) were added to dairy cow concentrate feed at 0%, 0.05%, and 0.10%, and their effects on vitro gas production values and gas concentrations were subsequently assessed. Out of the 30 bioactive compounds isolated from LEO, linalool and linalyl acetate were the most common—accounting for 70.4% of the total. The lavender dose had a significant influence on gas production for up to 12 h. No significant variations were found across the lavender forms when gas kinetics, in vitro degradability, and predicted energy values were compared. The addition of WL to the concentrate feed of dairy cows produced the greatest quantities of methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide, whereas LEO resulted in the lowest values. In contrast, no significant difference in ammonia content was found across the various lavender forms added into dairy cow concentrate feed. The results of this research suggest that adding 0.05–0.10% LM and LEO to concentrate feed may decrease greenhouse gas emissions from dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese quails reared under high stocking density (SD) were evaluated for the effects of grape seed powder (GSP) and meal (GSM) supplementation on performance, blood biochemistry, thigh and breast muscle fatty acids, antioxidant status, and HSP70 gene expression. We randomly assigned 288 (15-day-old) quail chicks to six treatment groups in a factorial design (2 × 3) with four replicates, involving two density levels [160 cm2/bird (LD) and 80 cm2/bird (HD)] and three feed forms (FFs) [no supplementation, grape seed powder (3% GSP), grape seed meal (3% GSM)]. SD had a significant effect on live weight, but not on weekly feed intake, daily weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. Serum creatinine and aspartate aminotransferase levels were significantly affected by FF and SD × FF (p < 0.05). A high SD reduced the n-3/n-6 ratio of breast muscle and a significant interaction was found between FF (p < 0.001). The SD × FF interaction reduced the Σn-6 ratio in HDM’s thigh muscle, whereas in LDM, the ratio increased (p < 0.01). At high SD, neither GSP nor GSM reduced biological markers of oxidative stress (p > 0.05). Compared to GSP, GSM had higher efficacy at reducing HSP70 levels related to high SD levels. Despite this, at high SD, a diet containing 3% of GSP and GSM was not effective in overcoming oxidative stress. Therefore, more studies using different doses of GSM and GSP in quail diets would be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions is attributed to methane (CH4), the primary greenhouse gas released by dairy animals. Thus, livestock farming has a new challenge in reducing enteric CH4 for sustainability. In anaerobic microbial ecosystems such as the rumen, carbohydrates are converted into short-chain, volatile fatty acids that animals use for energy and protein synthesis. It is, therefore, essential to understand rumen physiology, population dynamics, and diversity to target methanogens. Thus far, numerous CH4 mitigation strategies have been studied, including feeding management, nutrition, rumen modification, genetics, and other approaches for increasing animal production. As new molecular techniques are developed, scientists have more opportunities to select animals with higher genetic merit through next-generation sequencing. The amount of CH4 produced per unit of milk or meat can be permanently and cumulatively reduced through genetic selection. Developing eco-friendly and practical nutrigenomic approaches to mitigating CH4 and increasing ruminant productivity is possible using next-generation sequencing techniques. Therefore, this review summarizes current genetic and nutrigenomic approaches to reducing enteric CH4 production without posing any danger to animals or the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different forms of Lentilactobacillus buchneri on the in vitro methane production, fermentation characteristics, nutritional quality, and aerobic stability of corn silage treated with or without urea. The following treatments were applied prior to ensiling: (1) no urea treatment and LB; (2) no urea treatment+freeze dried LB; (3) no urea treatment+preactivated LB; (4) with urea treatment+no LB; (5) with urea treatment+freeze dried LB; (6) with urea treatment+preactivated. LB was applied at a rate of 3 × 108 cfu/kg on a fresh basis, while urea was applied at a rate of 1% on the basis of dry matter. Data measured at different time points were analyzed according to a completely randomized design, with a 2 × 3 × 5 factorial arrangement of treatments, while the others were analyzed with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Preactivated LB was more effective than freeze-dried LB in reducing silage pH, ammonia nitrogen, cell-wall components, yeast count, and carbon dioxide production, as well as increasing lactic acid and residual water-soluble carbohydrate and aerobic stability (p < 0.0001). A significant reduction in the methane ratio was observed after 24 h and 48 h incubation with preactivated forms of LB (p < 0.001). The results indicated that preactivated LB combined with urea improved fermentation characteristics, nutritional quality, and aerobic stability and reduced the methane ratio of corn silages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to determine Styrax officinalis L. (SO) leaf's nutritive value, collected at four phenological stages, pre-flowering (PF), flowering (FL), seed linkage (SL), and fruiting (FR) by in situ and in vitro experiments. The ruminal degradability of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) and in vitro gas production (GP) of SO leaves were measured using three rumen fistulated mature Saanen goats. Significant differences between chemical compositions of the SO leaves collected at different phenological stages were observed (P<0.001). The DM, CP, ether extract (EE), and ash values of SO leaves ranged between 29.16 to 45.63%, 10.11 to 19.79%, 3.40 to 5.85%, and 4.71 to 6.49% during the different phenological stages (PF, FL, SL and FR, respectively). Cell wall components of SO leaves showed a cubic trend due to their capability to form new shoots after grazing. The effective DM and CP degradability of SO leaves ranged between 66.91 to 77.93% and 64.92 to 84.57%, which means an average value for animals fed at approximately maintenance level when rumen outflow rate (r) is equal to 0.02 h-1. Significant differences between the SO leaves collected at different phenological stages were observed in GP at all incubation times (P<0.05 and P<0.001). After 96 h incubation, the gas produced ranged between 20.68 to 27.53 mL/200 mg DM of the substrate. The research findings clearly indicate that degradability of DM, CP, and ME content of SO leaves ranged between moderate to high and significantly affected by phenological stages, however, they could be utilized until the end of the FL stage as forage sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is set out to evaluate the effects of callipyge (CLPG) gene, attributed to sheep affecting growth and meat quality, on carcass and sensory trait of most preferred meat-type lamb (Kıvırcık, Karacabey Merino, Ramlıç, German Black-Head Mutton x Kıvırcık, Hampshire Down x Merino) in the western part of Turkey. Two datasets were used: (i) 177 lambs (66 males, 111 females) to determine genotype and allele frequencies; (ii) 48 genotypically identified male lambs for the assessment of carcass and meat sensory quality. It was found that homozygous (NN) and heterozygous (MN) conditions of the CLPG gene were observed in all sheep breeds, except Ramlıç which exhibits only NN. No significant differences were observed in CLPG genotypes for slaughter weight, cold carcass weight, and cold dressing percentage (p > 0.05). On the other hand, the effect of genotype on neck percentage was significant (p < 0.01), and lambs expressing CLPG genotype (MN) had a higher neck percentage. Not significantly, but numerically the MN genotype had a higher percentage of the shoulder, rack, and leg than the NN genotype, while the NN genotype had a higher percentage of loin (p > 0.05). Similarly, the effect of genotype on meat quality assessment was not significant (p > 0.05); however, shear force, water holding capacity, and cooking loss of the NN genotype were higher than the MN genotype. Indeed, no interaction between genotype and time was observed on the color parameter of the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle at various storage periods (p > 0.05). The findings suggest that all meat-type sheep breeds (except Ramlıç) were polymorphic, suggesting that heterozygous individuals who received the CLPG mutation from the sire should be adopted in selection programs to improve carcass traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Ürünleri Dergisi is the property of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Urunleri Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Whey, a by-product of the dairy industry, is primarily used for protein and energy sources in livestock diets due to its high nutritional value, which equivalent to grain corn and barley. In the current study, whey powder was added to lamb drink water to evaluate its effects on performance and in vivo carcass measurements. Twenty-four non-castrated healthy male Merino lambs with an average of 3 months weaning age and 23.44 ± 0.62 kg (mean ± SE) initial live weight (LW) used in this study. Lambs were randomly allocated into two trial groups according to their LW and adapted to concentrate and whey protein-enriched water. The total period of trial was 45 days, with 15 days adaptation and 30 days for data collection. Lambs were housed in a group and received ad libitum wheat straw, lamb-grower feed, and water (enriched with whey protein or not). There were no significant differences observed in treatment groups for total weight gain (TWG, P > 0.05). On the other hand, the whey-treated group's average TWG value is 8.60% higher than the control group. Besides, the differences between initial and final loin eye depth (LED) was 4.7 times higher in the whey group than the control group (0.28 cm vs. 0.06 cm). Also, no significant differences were observed between the trial group for fat thickness (P > 0.05). Obtained results from the present study indicated that using whey powder even in animal drinks improved TWG and LED in the fattening period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the slaughter and carcass characteristics of five different meat-type lambs reared under intensive husbandry conditions. For this purpose, a total of 202 lambs--Kıvırcık (K, n = 51), Karacabey Merino (KM, n = 47), Ramlıç (R, n = 28), German Black-Head Mutton × Kıvırcık (GBK, n = 49), and Hampshire Down × Merino crossbreed (HM, n = 27)--were used to evaluate rearing performance. At the end of the rearing period, 10 male lambs of each breed were randomly selected to investigate slaughter and carcass characteristics. All lambs were housed in a single flock until the slaughtering period. An average of 600 g/lamb of concentrate feed, 100 g/lamb of alfalfa hay, and 300 g/lamb of vetches-wheat mixtures hay per day were given with ad libitum fresh water. While the average daily gain (ADG) of female K, KM, R, GBK, and HM lambs was 94.4, 165.2, 142.2, 109.0, and 160.0 g (P < 0.001); the male lambs' ADG was 167.3, 240.4, 180.5, 176.0, and 246.6 g, respectively (P < 0.001). Cold carcass weights of lambs in breeds were 19.12, 21.76, 16.80, 20.71, and 20.80 kg (P < 0.001); cold dressing percentages (CDP) were 47.39%, 47.55%, 44.86%, 47.41%, and 45.61% in K, KM, R, GBK, and HM, respectively (P < 0.01). It is concluded that Merino crossbreeds (KM and HM) had significantly more ADG and total weight gain when compared to K, R, and GBK. On the other hand, KM and GBK had higher CDP value while HM came forward for the loin eye area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Minimizing silage additives cost while increasing silage quality is important for a sustainable livestock enterprise, especially in undeveloped and developing countries. In this study, therefore, commercially available kefir yeast (CK) and homemade kefir culture (HK), as a low-cost additive, was applied at untreated a common control (CON) and three different application doses (5.0, 5.7, and 6.0 log cfu g−1) on wilted alfalfa and evaluated with the fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability. The addition of HK with an application dose greater than 5.0 log cfu g−1 prevents mold formation and inhibits yeast counts in silages. Indeed, both CK and HK improve the silage quality and aerobic stability of alfalfa even with low water-soluble carbohydrate content. The present study has been one of the first attempts to thoroughly examine the effects of different kefir sources on fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability, and microbial communities of alfalfa silages. The effects of commercial kefir (CK) and homemade kefir culture (HK) applied with untreated a common control (CON) and three different application doses (5.0, 5.7, and 6.0 log cfu g−1) on wilted alfalfa and stored at an ambient temperature of 25–30 °C are studied. After 45 days of ensiling, fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability of silages were measured, and bacterial diversity was investigated by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing using the GenomeLab™ GeXP platform. Both CK and HK accelerate more lactic acid production and reduced ammonia nitrogen concentration. Factor analysis of kefir sources suggests that the addition of kefir improves the aerobic stability of silages, even the initial water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content is inadequate via its antimicrobial effect on yeast and mold formation. Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus pentosaceous and Lactobacillus brevis were dominant bacterial species among the treated groups at silo opening, while Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus brevis became dominant bacterial species after 7 days of aerobic exposure. In conclusion, the application of kefir on alfalfa silages improves fermentation quality and aerobic stability even with low WSC content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]