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Lactic acid bacteria as microbial inoculant for Acacia mangium silage

Nasyatul-Ekma, M.H.¹*, Rosly, M.S.¹, Marini, A.M.², Nor-Idayusni, Y.² and Hazirah, A.¹

¹Animal Science Research Centre, MARDI Headquarters, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
²Animal Science Research Centre, MARDI Station Kemaman, 24000 Chukai, Terengganu, Malaysia

Malaysian J. Anim. Sci. 2018 21(2): 91-98

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Acacia mangium trees are widely distributed in Malaysia. It is a good protein source for animal feeding and contains about 14-17% dry matter of crude protein. However, this plant also has high amount of anti-nutritional factor, especially condensed tannins (more than 3% DM). This compound is able to bind to other macromolecules such as proteins and carbohydrates that lead to feed indigestibility in ruminants. The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the effects of lactic acid bacteria inoculation on the reduction of condensed tannins in Acacia mangium silage, and their effects on the proximate and fibre composition of the silage. In this study, several species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with tannin-tolerant characteristics were isolated from rumen of Kedah-Kelantan cattle and were identified by molecular analysis. The tannin-degrading activity of the isolated LAB was determined between silage method and untreated silage. The amount of condensed tannin, proximate composition and fibre content were measured in percentage of dry matter (% DM) basis. A highly significant reduction (p<0.05) of condensed tannin in A. mangium silage was shown after inoculation with LAB. Approximately about 40% DM of condensed tannin was reduced with no significant reduction in protein and fat contents. The amount of NDF, hemicellulose and cellulose reduced (P<0.05) with the inoculation of LAB in the silage about 10.64%, 11.80%, and 29.59%, respectively. In conclusion, results demonstrate that the LAB inoculation used in this study has CT-degradation activity as well as cellulytic activity that is preferable to be used as microbial inoculation for tanniferous plant silage like Acacia mangium.