PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus brevis, a heterofermentative bacterium, and Lactobacillus plantarum, a homofermentative bacterium, on reducing nutrient loss, extending aerobic stability, and improving the digestibility of sorghum silage under tropical conditions. Sorghum forage was harvested at 110 days and ensiled for 100 days with the following treatments: without inoculant (CON); Lactobacillus brevis FNCC0265 as a heterofermentative inoculant (LB); Lactobacillus plantarum FNCC0020 as a homofermentative inoculant (LP). Both LB and LP inoculants were applied at a concentration of 1 × 10⁵ cfu/g of fresh forage. Each treatment used five mini silos (5 kg each) as replicates. The mini silo consisted of a plastic bag placed inside a 20-L container. After opening the silos, both LB and LP silages resulted in lower DM (dry matter) loss than the CON silage (p<0.05). The concentration of acid detergent fibre, organic matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre was not impacted by inoculant application. According to the fermentation characteristics, both LB and LP silages showed a lower pH, along with increased lactate and LAB (lactic acid bacteria) count compared to CON silage (p<0.05). In addition, mould was not detected in LB and LP silages. Acetate concentration and aerobic stability were higher in LB silage than in LP and CON silages. In the rumen, LP and LB silage showed greater in vitro organic matter digestibility than CON silage (p<0.05). This study concluded that both Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus plantarum improved silage quality and in vitro ruminal digestibility, while Lactobacillus brevis additionally enhanced aerobic stability of sorghum silage under tropical conditions.