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Broussonetia papyrifera has a high lignocellulose content leading to poor palatability and low digestion rate of ruminants. Thus, dynamic profiles of fermentation lignocellulose characteristics, microbial community structure, potential function, and interspecific relationships of B. papyrifera mixing with wheat bran in different ratios: 100:0 (BP100), 90:10 (BP90), 80:20 (BP80), and 65:35 (BP65) were investigated on ensiling days 5, 15, 30, and 50. The results showed that adding bran increased the degradation rate of hemicellulose, neutral detergent fiber, and the activities of filter paper cellulase, endoglucanase, acid protease, and neutral protease, especially in the ratio of 65:35. Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Weissella genus bacteria were the dominant genera in silage fermentation, and Pediococcus and Weissella genus bacteria regulated the process of silage fermentation. Compared with monospecific B. papyrifera silage, adding bran significantly increased the abundance of Weissella sp., and improved bacterial fermentation potential in BP65 (p < 0.05). Distance-based redundancy analysis showed that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were significantly positive correlated with most lignocellulose content and degrading enzymes activities, while Monascus sp. and Syncephalastrum sp. were opposite (p < 0.05). Co-occurrence network analysis indicated that there were significant differences in microbial networks among different mixing ratios of B. papyrifera silage prepared with bran. There was a more complex, highly diverse and less competitive co-occurrence network in BP65, which was helpful to silage fermentation. In conclusion, B. papyrifera ensiled with bran improved the microbial community structure and the interspecific relationship and reduced the content of lignocellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broussonetia papyrifera has a high lignocellulose content leading to poor palatability and low digestion rate of ruminants. Thus, dynamic profiles of fermentation lignocellulose characteristics, microbial community structure, potential function, and interspecific relationships of B. papyrifera mixing with wheat bran in different ratios: 100:0 (BP100), 90:10 (BP90), 80:20 (BP80), and 65:35 (BP65) were investigated on ensiling days 5, 15, 30, and 50. The results showed that adding bran increased the degradation rate of hemicellulose, neutral detergent fiber, and the activities of filter paper cellulase, endoglucanase, acid protease, and neutral protease, especially in the ratio of 65:35. Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Weissella genus bacteria were the dominant genera in silage fermentation, and Pediococcus and Weissella genus bacteria regulated the process of silage fermentation. Compared with monospecific B. papyrifera silage, adding bran significantly increased the abundance of Weissella sp., and improved bacterial fermentation potential in BP65 (p < 0.05). Distance-based redundancy analysis showed that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were significantly positive correlated with most lignocellulose content and degrading enzymes activities, while Monascus sp. and Syncephalastrum sp. were opposite (p < 0.05). Co-occurrence network analysis indicated that there were significant differences in microbial networks among different mixing ratios of B. papyrifera silage prepared with bran. There was a more complex, highly diverse and less competitive co-occurrence network in BP65, which was helpful to silage fermentation. In conclusion, B. papyrifera ensiled with bran improved the microbial community structure and the interspecific relationship and reduced the content of lignocellulose.

The crude protein content of hybrid Broussonetia papyrifera silage (HBPS) is close to that of alfalfa hay. In the present study, we substituted alfalfa hay with HBPS in diets for Saanen dairy goats, and tested a possibility of using HBPS as a feedstuff to provide protein. Thirty male Saanen dairy goats (6-months old, body weight 18.85 ± 1.44 kg) were divided into three groups of 10, and randomly assigned to three diets: the control group (CN) fed the basal diet containing 600 g/kg (dry matter (DM) basis) of alfalfa hay, and the other two groups fed the diets with 33 % and 67 % of alfalfa hay being substituted with HBPS, so HBPS accounted for 198 g/kg (LB) and 402 g/kg (HB) of the diet respectively. The experiment lasted for 94 days. Compared with CN, feeding HBPS did not change feed intake, body weight gain, and the visceral organ coefficients (P > 0.05), but reduced the feed conversion ratio and the weight gain cost, particularly on the 198 g/kg HBPS diet (P < 0.05). Serum concentrations of total protein, albumin, and urea-nitrogen in both LB and HB groups and glucose in HB group decreased (P < 0.05), but their values remained within the normal range. Ammonia concentration in rumen fluid was reduced by feeding HBPS (P < 0.05). The serum activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was increased and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased (P < 0.05) in both LB and HB groups (P < 0.05), and the SOD activity in longissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) was increased only for LB treatment (P < 0.05). Feeding HBPS had no effect on the carcass traits and water holding capacity in LDM (P > 0.05). In conclusion, HBPS had similar effects to alfalfa hay on the growth performances, visceral organ development, and water holding capacity postmortem, but reduced the feed conversion ratio and the feed cost, and enhanced the antioxidant capacity of animals. Inclusion of 198 g/kg of HBPS in the diet would be a better choice for growing goats. Reduced ammonia concentration in the rumen, urea and protein concentrations in blood suggest dietary protein digestion in the gastrointestinal tract could be affected by feeding HBPS, which is worthy of further investigation. • Hybrid Broussonetia papyrifera silage (HBPS) can be used to substitute alfalfa hay. • Inclusion of 19.8 % HBPS in the diet reduced feed conversion ratio. • Inclusion of 19.8 % HBPS in the diet reduced the weight gain cost. • HBPS enhanced the antioxidant capacity of goats. • Inclusion of 19.8 % of HBPS in the diet would be a better choice for growing goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]