Abstract
In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of corn silage treated with Lactiplantibacillus paraplantarum ST1 (LPL) and Limosilactobacillus fermentum N4 (LFN4) on nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and rumen microbiota in goats. Fifteen cross-bred goats were randomly assigned to one of the 3 corn silages: untreated silage (control), LPL-silage, or LFN4-silage. It was found that LPL versus LFN4 treatment of corn silage, caused a greater (P 0.05) digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were found to be the two dominant phyla of the rumen microbiota in goats. The feeding of LPL treated corn silage tended to cause enrichment of rumen fluid with Prevotellaceae_UCG_001 and Fretibacterium (P 0.01). In conclusion, the inoculation of L. paraplantarum ST1 (LPL) during ensiling improved nutrient digestibility and changed the bacterial community in rumen. These changes are considered to be beneficial for animal performance.