Effects of whole-plant quinoa and corn stover mixed silage on nutrient composition, silage quality, and mycotoxin content.

The experiment aimed to explore the impact of different ensiling times and methods on the nutritional components, silage quality, and mycotoxin content of whole-plant quinoa mixed with corn stover. The raw materials were 'Jinli 1' and corn stover harvested 20 cm above the ground at the milk stage, which were cut into 2~3 cm lengths. Two treatment groups was designed, including the control group (CK group), fed with whole-plant quinoa, and the test group (CS group) fed with a mixture of whole-plant quinoa to corn stover (fresh weight:dry weight ratio of 6:4). There were 12 replicates per group, and the silage for 60 days. Samples were taken at 15, 30, 45, and 60 days of ensiling to analyze fermentation parameters and nutritional components, and mycotoxin content was analyzed at 60 days. The results showed that in terms of ensiling time, compared with the 15th day of ensiling, the content of dry matter (DM), crude fat (EE), crude fiber (CF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and pH value of the CK group and CS group on the 60th day of ensiling were all significantly reduced (P<0.05), while the content of crude protein (CP), crude ash (Ash), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), lactic acid (LA), acetic acid (AA), propionic acid (PA), butyric acid (BA), and the ratio of ammonia nitrogen to total nitrogen (NH₃-N/TN) all significantly increased (P<0.05), the content of acid detergent lignin (ADL) in the CK group was significantly reduced (P<0.05). In terms of treatment methods, compared with the CK group, the content of DM, CF, NDF, ADL, LA, AA, and NH₃-N/TN in the CS group were all significantly increased (P<0.05), while the content of CP, EE, Ash, P, PA, and pH value were all significantly reduced (P<0.05). Compared with the CK group, the content of BA in the CS group on the 30th and 45th days of ensiling was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the content of BA on the 60th day of ensiling was significantly reduced (P<0.05). On the 60th day of ensiling, compared with the CK group, the content of aflatoxin (AFB1) in the CS group was reduced, while the content of zearalenone (ZEA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) was increased, and both groups were below the feed hygiene standards. The study indicates that whole-plant quinoa alone during the milky stage and mixed with corn straw (6:4) both meet the standards for high-quality silage, but whole-plant quinoa alone during the milky stage is better than mixed with corn straw (6:4), and both can obtain high-quality silage between 45 to 60 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]