Topic Editors

Division for Animal Sciences, Department of Animal Science, University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Institute of Nutrition and Genomics (FAaFR), Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Slovakia
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic

Challenges of Animal Science Diversity in Times of Climate and Technological Change

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closed (30 April 2023)
Manuscript submission deadline
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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The coexistence of humans and animals is deeply ingrained in today’s society because domestication was a hugely influential process that shaped the development and growth of human civilization. Today, the sustainability of modern animal production is strongly influenced by climatic and technological changes. This Special Issue is dedicated to diversity as an important biological and philosophical aspect of sustainable animal production, focusing on the importance of diversity in the face of climatic and technological change. Therefore, this issue calls for contributions that provide information on the genomic aspects of diversity in native livestock breeds, especially those that are threatened by extinction but have potential utility. Theoretical or/and empirical work addressing the estimation or management of genetic diversity, a key component in breeders' genetic improvement , is needed, as even the most productive breeds, such as Holstein cattle, have experienced a decline in diversity. Microorganism diversity is crucial in agriculture because our livestock (hosts) are holobionts, along with various symbiotic microbes and viruses. In addition, almost all animal products (cheese, butter, sausage, etc.) are highly dependent on the presence and growth of various microorganisms. Ultimately, animal production is deeply connected with the diversity of its plant components (pastures and forage crops). Thus, the diversity of the production environment, as an important component of sustainable animal production, cannot be ignored. Farming systems, including animal nutrition and feeding, contribute significantly to the interaction between genotype and phenotype; therefore, papers addressing such issues are encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Vlatka Cubric-Curik
Dr. Nina Moravčíková
Prof. Dr. Luboš Vostrý
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • animal breeding and diversity
  • native breeds
  • sustainable animal production
  • genotype and fenotype interactions
  • farming systems

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Animals
animals
2.7 4.9 2011 16.1 Days CHF 2400
Diversity
diversity
2.1 3.4 2009 15.4 Days CHF 2600
Genes
genes
2.8 5.2 2010 16.3 Days CHF 2600
Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens
jzbg
2.1 3.0 2020 21.4 Days CHF 1000
Life
life
3.2 4.3 2011 18 Days CHF 2600

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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8 pages, 296 KiB  
Communication
Scarce Evidence of Heterosis for Growth Traits in Peruvian Guinea Pigs
by José Isaí Cedano-Castro, Maria Wurzinger, Gustavo Gutiérrez, Ronald Jiménez, Amparo Elena Huamán Cristóbal and Johann Sölkner
Animals 2023, 13(17), 2738; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13172738 - 28 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 963
Abstract
This study aimed to estimate the heterosis for productive traits in a two-way crossbreeding scheme. Four guinea pig lines were originally selected for the following traits: line P1 for the growth rate, P2 for the partial feed conversion rate, M1 for the growth [...] Read more.
This study aimed to estimate the heterosis for productive traits in a two-way crossbreeding scheme. Four guinea pig lines were originally selected for the following traits: line P1 for the growth rate, P2 for the partial feed conversion rate, M1 for the growth rate of the litter at 10 days of age, and M2 for the litter size at birth. The comparison included 176 purebreds (P1: 46, P2: 43, M1: 54 and M2: 33) and 150 crosses (P1P2: 42, P2P1: 38, M1M2: 11 and M2M1: 59); body weights at birth, 10 days, weaning and 60 days of age were analyzed. A linear fixed-effect model was used, and heterosis was estimated as the difference between the average performance of the crossbred and pure-line animals. The pure line comparisons showed that P2 was lower than P1 for weight at 10 days and weaning weight, while all other comparisons between the paternal and maternal pure lines were not significant. The results indicated significant positive heterosis effects for both types of crosses, but only for birth weight: 3.7% for paternal crosses and 12.7% for maternal crosses. The heterosis estimates were mostly positive but not significant for all other traits. A reason for the low levels of heterosis could be that the lines are not very genetically differentiated. These results suggest that applying a two-way crossbreeding scheme within paternal and maternal guinea pig lines for meat production is not recommended due to the absence of heterosis for growth traits. Full article
12 pages, 2490 KiB  
Article
Morphometric Characterization of Local Goat Breeds in Two Agroecological Zones of Burkina Faso, West Africa
by Badjibassa Akounda, Dominique Ouédraogo, Albert Soudré, Pamela A. Burger, Benjamin D. Rosen, Curtis P. Van Tassell and Johann Sölkner
Animals 2023, 13(12), 1931; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13121931 - 9 Jun 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1739
Abstract
In Burkina Faso, goats are the second most numerous ruminant livestock population, with almost exclusively indigenous breeds being reared in extensive production systems in various agroecological zones. This study was carried out to understand the morphological variation of local goat breeds in the [...] Read more.
In Burkina Faso, goats are the second most numerous ruminant livestock population, with almost exclusively indigenous breeds being reared in extensive production systems in various agroecological zones. This study was carried out to understand the morphological variation of local goat breeds in the Sudano-Sahelian and Sudanian agroecological zones. A total of 511 adult female animals belonging to two presumed populations (Mossi breed in Sudano-Sahelian zone and Djallonké breed in Sudanian zone) were sampled and body weight as well as a range of linear body measurements, following FAO guidelines, were recorded. The least squares means of body measurements of indicated that Sudano-Sahelian goats have significantly (p < 0.001) larger body measurements than Sudanian goats. Furthermore, relative high variability of the two populations in morphometric traits was observed. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) suggested structure between Mossi breed on one side and Djallonké on the other side, but no strict separation was observed, suggesting that gene flow is occurring among the different populations. A dispersion map with four clusters was built based on the first two factors. The least square means of body measurements ranked the four groups from small to large body size, namely Djallonké, Mossi × Djallonké, Mossi, and Sahelian × Mossi. Gene flow from Sahelian goat into other populations of the country, based on migration of the Fulani ethnic group from the Sahel into areas with Mossi and Djallonké breeds, could explain this configuration and confirms the continuous erosion of genetic identity of these two local breeds. The sustainable use of these adapted local goat genetic resources calls for the promotion of sustainable genetic improvement using participatory breeding approaches. Full article
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16 pages, 3202 KiB  
Article
Genomic Diversity Analyses of Some Indigenous Montenegrin Sheep Populations
by Milena Djokic, Ivana Drzaic, Mario Shihabi, Bozidarka Markovic and Vlatka Cubric-Curik
Diversity 2023, 15(5), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15050640 - 9 May 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1766
Abstract
Montenegro has a great diversity of indigenous and locally developed sheep breeds, adapted to different regions and climates. However, the current trend of the steady decline in sheep populations means that some of them are threatened with extinction. The aim of this study [...] Read more.
Montenegro has a great diversity of indigenous and locally developed sheep breeds, adapted to different regions and climates. However, the current trend of the steady decline in sheep populations means that some of them are threatened with extinction. The aim of this study was the investigation of the genetic diversity and population structure of five Montenegrin sheep populations, using the OvineSNP50K BeadChip. Data from the studied sheep were supplemented with publicly available genotypes of worldwide breeds to determine admixture contributions and genetic relationships. Higher genetic diversity and low inbreeding were observed in Pivska Pramenka and Sjenicka sheep, with Ho = 0.411, He = 0.423, and FROH>2Mb = 0.056 and Ho = 0.421, He = 0.421, and FROH>2Mb = 0.041, respectively. Zetska Zuja had much lower FIS (0.001) and high FROH inbreeding (0.090), indicating a small population size and genetic drift. An analysis of the genetic population structure showed that Montenegrin sheep populations are genetically distinct populations. This analysis revealed the presence of admixture in most sheep populations (high heterogeneity), while genetic purity was observed in Zetska Zuja. The obtained results will help in the conservation management of endangered Montenegrin sheep populations. Full article
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18 pages, 3162 KiB  
Article
Importance of Mid-Infrared Spectra Regions for the Prediction of Mastitis and Ketosis in Dairy Cows
by Stefan Gruber, Lisa Rienesl, Astrid Köck, Christa Egger-Danner and Johann Sölkner
Animals 2023, 13(7), 1193; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13071193 - 29 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1707
Abstract
Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy is routinely applied to determine major milk components, such as fat and protein. Moreover, it is used to predict fine milk composition and various traits pertinent to animal health. MIR spectra indicate an absorbance value of infrared light at 1060 [...] Read more.
Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy is routinely applied to determine major milk components, such as fat and protein. Moreover, it is used to predict fine milk composition and various traits pertinent to animal health. MIR spectra indicate an absorbance value of infrared light at 1060 specific wavenumbers from 926 to 5010 cm−1. According to research, certain parts of the spectrum do not contain sufficient information on traits of dairy cows. Hence, the objective of the present study was to identify specific regions of the MIR spectra of particular importance for the prediction of mastitis and ketosis, performing variable selection analysis. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) along with three other statistical methods, support vector machine (SVM), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and random forest (RF), were compared. Data originated from the Austrian milk recording and associated health monitoring system (GMON). Test-day data and corresponding MIR spectra were linked to respective clinical mastitis and ketosis diagnoses. Certain wavenumbers were identified as particularly relevant for the prediction models of clinical mastitis (23) and ketosis (61). Wavenumbers varied across four distinct statistical methods as well as concerning different traits. The results indicate that variable selection analysis could potentially be beneficial in the process of modeling. Full article
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11 pages, 1662 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Freezing Media on the Characteristics of Male and Female Chicken Primordial Germ Cell Lines
by András Ecker, Bence Lázár, Roland Imre Tóth, Martin Urbán, Nikolett Tokodyné Szabadi, Maria Teresa Salinas Aponte, Mohd Adnan, Eszter Várkonyi and Elen Gócza
Life 2023, 13(4), 867; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13040867 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1434
Abstract
Recently, in vitro gene preservation has gained ground thanks to its lower cost and higher stability compared to in vivo techniques. One of the methods that can preserve female-specific W chromosome-linked genes is primordial germ cell (PGC) freezing. PGCs can be isolated from [...] Read more.
Recently, in vitro gene preservation has gained ground thanks to its lower cost and higher stability compared to in vivo techniques. One of the methods that can preserve female-specific W chromosome-linked genes is primordial germ cell (PGC) freezing. PGCs can be isolated from Hamburger–Hamilton stage 14–16 embryos via blood sampling. In our experiment, we used two newly established Black Transylvanian naked neck chicken cell lines and four cell lines from our gene bank. We compared two different freezing media (FAM1 and FAM2) in this study. The cell number and viability of the PGCs were measured before freezing (BF) and after thawing on Day 0, Day 1, and Day 7 of cultivation. We analyzed the germ cell-specific chicken vasa homologue (CVH) expression profile in PGCs using RT-qPCR. We found that on Day 0, immediately after thawing, the cell number in cell lines frozen with the FAM2 medium was significantly higher than in the FAM1-treated ones. On Day 1 and Day 7, the cell number and viability were also higher in most cell lines frozen with FAM2, but the difference was insignificant. The freezing also affected the chicken vasa homologue gene expression in male lines treated with both freezing media. Full article
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10 pages, 1074 KiB  
Article
The Role of PRLR Gene Polymorphisms in Milk Production in European Wild Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
by Ildikó Benedek, Vilmos Altbäcker, Attila Zsolnai, István Nagy, Dávid Mezőszentgyörgyi and Tamás Molnár
Animals 2023, 13(4), 671; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040671 - 15 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1960
Abstract
One of the problematic points of rabbit breeding is that the nutritional requirements of the kits are not fully satisfied by the does’ milk production from the third week of lactation onwards. The prolactin receptor gene has a significant effect on reproductive processes, [...] Read more.
One of the problematic points of rabbit breeding is that the nutritional requirements of the kits are not fully satisfied by the does’ milk production from the third week of lactation onwards. The prolactin receptor gene has a significant effect on reproductive processes, and its polymorphisms have been associated with milk production in several species (cattle, goats, sheep, and buffalo). The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), has a more diverse genetic background compared to domesticated lines. In the course of our study, sequencing of the 1210 bp long segment of the PRLR gene promoter region was accomplished. We detected four point mutations (SNP1-407G > A, SNP2-496G > C, SNP3-926T> and SNP4-973A > C) and one microsatellite at position 574. In our population, the four SNPs were segregated into four genotypes: AACCCCCC, GGGGTTAA, AAGGTTAC, and GGGGTCAC. Our results show that the genotype in the homozygous form is associated with higher milk production (1564.7 ± 444.7 g) compared to the other three genotypes (AACCCCCC 1399.1 ± 326.8 g; GTGACCTT 1403.8 ± 517.1 g; GGGGTCAC 1220.0 ± 666.2 g), and the short microsatellite repeat (167 bp) also coincides with significantly higher milk production (1623.8 ± 525.1 g). These results make the marker-assisted selection possible also for domesticated lines. Full article
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13 pages, 1583 KiB  
Article
Effect of Grape Pomace Intake on the Rumen Bacterial Community of Sheep
by Michal Rolinec, Juraj Medo, Michal Gábor, Martina Miluchová, Milan Šimko, Branislav Gálik, Ondrej Hanušovský, Zuzana Schubertová, Daniel Bíro, Luboš Zábranský and Miroslav Juráček
Diversity 2023, 15(2), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020234 - 7 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1528
Abstract
The performance of ruminants is affected mainly by the rumen bacterial community. The composition and properties of the rumen bacterial community depend largely on the diet components that are fed to the ruminant. The aim of this study was to determine the effect [...] Read more.
The performance of ruminants is affected mainly by the rumen bacterial community. The composition and properties of the rumen bacterial community depend largely on the diet components that are fed to the ruminant. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of grape pomace intake on the rumen bacterial community of sheep. Four different diets, two of which contained dried grape pomace (DGP), were used in this study. Rumen fluid samples from 12 wethers were used for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and subsequent bacterial identification. At the phylum level, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes; at the family level, Prevotellaceae and Porphyromonadaeceae; and at the genera level, Prevotella and Verrucomicrobia_Subdivision5_genera_incertae_sedis were the most common regardless of the diet the animals were fed. After the addition of DGP to the diet, the relative abundance of Methanobrevibacter, Butytirivibrio, Fretibacterium, and Verrucomicrobia _Subdivision3 _genera_incertae_sedis significantly increased, whereas that of Succiniclasticum and Selenomonas significantly decreased. The upregulated pathway of methanogenesis from H2 and CO2 was supported by a significant increase in Methanobacteriaceae after the diet was supplemented with DGP. The rumen bacterial community diversity indices (Richness and Shannon) were significantly affected by diet composition as well as by the change of housing location. The addition of DGP into the wethers’ diet increased the richness of the rumen bacterial community, which is good for maintaining rumen bacterial homeostasis. No adverse effect of the addition of DPG on the rumen bacterial community was noted. Full article
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10 pages, 1544 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Inbreeding Effects on Survival at Birth of Pannon White Rabbits Using the Inbreeding-Purging Model
by György Kövér, Ino Curik, Lubos Vostry, János Farkas, Dávid Mezőszentgyörgyi and István Nagy
Diversity 2023, 15(1), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010071 - 6 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2160
Abstract
Mating between related animals is an inevitable consequence of a closed population structure especially when it coincides with a small population size. As a result, inbreeding depression may be encountered especially when considering fitness traits. However, under certain circumstances, the joint effects of [...] Read more.
Mating between related animals is an inevitable consequence of a closed population structure especially when it coincides with a small population size. As a result, inbreeding depression may be encountered especially when considering fitness traits. However, under certain circumstances, the joint effects of inbreeding and selection may at least partly purge the detrimental genes from the population. In the course of this study, our objective was to determine the status of purging and to quantify the magnitude of the eliminated genetic load for the survival at birth of Pannon White rabbit kits maintained in a closed nucleus population. The evolution of the survival at birth was evaluated by applying the PurgeR R package based on the inbreeding-purging model. In the period from 1992 to 2017, 22.718 kindling records were analyzed. According to the heuristic approach, the purging coefficient reached the maximum possible value of 0.5 when estimating between 1992 and 1997. Based on the expected fitness over generations and on the expressed opportunity of purging, the beneficial effects of purging could be expected after 10 generations. The proportion of the purged genetic load could be between 20% and 60%. While the results obtained are not entirely conclusive, they do raise the possibility that some of the inbreeding load was caused, at least in part, by genes that could be successfully removed from the population by purging. Full article
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12 pages, 247 KiB  
Article
Genetic Parameters of Reproductive Performances in Hungarian Large White, Landrace, and Their Crossbred F1 Pigs from 2010 to 2018
by Oleksandr Kodak, Henrietta Nagyne-Kiszlinger, Janos Farkas, György Köver and Istvan Nagy
Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1030; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121030 - 25 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1566
Abstract
Genetic parameters, breeding values, and aggregate breeding values of number of piglets born alive (NBA), number of weaned piglets (NWE), and litter weight at weaning (LWWE) were predicted in the Hungarian Large White, Hungarian Landrace breeds, and in their cross (F1). Seven repeatability [...] Read more.
Genetic parameters, breeding values, and aggregate breeding values of number of piglets born alive (NBA), number of weaned piglets (NWE), and litter weight at weaning (LWWE) were predicted in the Hungarian Large White, Hungarian Landrace breeds, and in their cross (F1). Seven repeatability animal models were used. BLUP and REML methodology were used to estimate breeding values and variance–covariance components. PEST and VCE 6 software were used for estimating breeding values and variance components. Heritability for NBA and NWE was the same for all seven models. On the contrary, heritability estimates for LWWE were higher in comparison with NBA and NWE. The permanent environmental variance component was small for all traits. The large White breed had positive and significant genetic trends for all seven models and for all three traits. Landrace breed had significant trends for NBA, which was negative, and for NWE, the results were positive. The constructed indices result in one number (i.e., aggregate genetic merit); thus, the animals can be selected based on their overall performance considering the various aspects. Full article
16 pages, 1337 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Genetic Structure of Slovak Holstein Cattle Using Seven Candidate Genes Related to Milk Quality
by Martina Miluchová, Michal Gábor and Juraj Gašper
Diversity 2022, 14(11), 989; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14110989 - 16 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2033
Abstract
Milk is an important component of human nutrition, and its composition and milk yield fundamentally affect the economy of dairy farms. Genetic variability is a fundamental premise for livestock breeding and is commonly used in the identification of individual animals and in selection [...] Read more.
Milk is an important component of human nutrition, and its composition and milk yield fundamentally affect the economy of dairy farms. Genetic variability is a fundamental premise for livestock breeding and is commonly used in the identification of individual animals and in selection to improve performance. The aims of this study were to propose a rapid detection method for genes affecting the nutritional value and technological properties of bovine milk (FADS1, FADS2, FASN, SCD, DGAT1, CSN2 and CSN3) and to analyze Slovak Holstein cattle to widen knowledge on their genetic structure for these candidate genes. Genotyping was performed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and artificially created restriction site-polymerase chain reaction (ACRS-PCR) methods. Heterozygosity is an important factor for estimating genetic variation in domestic animals and represents the genetic potential and ability to adapt to the natural environment. In this study, Holstein cattle showed high heterozygosity values for markers FADS1-07 and CSN2-H67P. In contrast, they showed high homozygosity values for markers FADS1-01, FADS2-23, FASN-16024, SCD-T878C, DGAT1-K232A and CSN3-D148A. These results suggest that genetic diversity has been reduced, which may be due to breeding effects. Full article
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18 pages, 1540 KiB  
Article
Assessing Genetic Diversity and Searching for Selection Signatures by Comparison between the Indigenous Livni and Duroc Breeds in Local Livestock of the Central Region of Russia
by Irina Chernukha, Alexandra Abdelmanova, Elena Kotenkova, Veronika Kharzinova and Natalia A. Zinovieva
Diversity 2022, 14(10), 859; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14100859 - 11 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2190
Abstract
Indigenous pig breeds are mainly associated with the adaptive capacity that is necessary to respond adequately to climate change, food security, and livelihood needs, and natural resources conservation. Livni pigs are an indigenous fat-type breed farmed in a single farm in the Orel [...] Read more.
Indigenous pig breeds are mainly associated with the adaptive capacity that is necessary to respond adequately to climate change, food security, and livelihood needs, and natural resources conservation. Livni pigs are an indigenous fat-type breed farmed in a single farm in the Orel region and located in the Central European part of the Russian Federation. To determine the genomic regions and genes that are affected by artificial selection, we conducted the comparative study of two pig breeds with different breeding histories and breeding objectives, i.e., the native fat-type Livni and meat-type Duroc breeds using the Porcine GGP HD BeadChip, which contains ~80,000 SNPs. To check the Livni pigs for possible admixture, the Landrace and the Large White breeds were included into the study of genetic diversity as these breeds participated in the formation of the Livni pigs. We observed the highest level of genetic diversity in Livni pigs compared to commercial breeds (UHE = 0.409 vs. 0.319–0.359, p < 0.001; AR = 1.995 vs. 1.894–1.964, p < 0.001). A slight excess of heterozygotes was found in all of the breeds. We identified 291 candidate genes, which were localized within the regions under putative selection, including 22 and 228 genes, which were specific for Livni and Duroc breeds, respectively, and 41 genes common for both breeds. A detailed analysis of the molecular functions identified the genes, which were related to the formation of meat and fat traits, and adaptation to environmental stress, including extreme temperatures, which were different between breeds. Our research results are useful for conservation and sustainable breeding of Livni breed, which shows a high level of genetic diversity. This makes Livni one of the valuable national pig genetic resources. Full article
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23 pages, 2277 KiB  
Article
The Change in Microbial Diversity and Mycotoxins Concentration in Corn Silage after Addition of Silage Additives
by Mária Kalúzová, Miroslava Kačániová, Daniel Bíro, Milan Šimko, Branislav Gálik, Michal Rolinec, Ondrej Hanušovský, Soňa Felšöciová and Miroslav Juráček
Diversity 2022, 14(8), 592; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14080592 - 23 Jul 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2889
Abstract
In our study the presence of bacteria, yeast, and microscopic fungi was evaluated. Three forms of corn silage were made including silage without additive, silage with microbial additive (lactic acid bacteria), and silage with nutritional additive (urea). Silage additives were applied to the [...] Read more.
In our study the presence of bacteria, yeast, and microscopic fungi was evaluated. Three forms of corn silage were made including silage without additive, silage with microbial additive (lactic acid bacteria), and silage with nutritional additive (urea). Silage additives were applied to the matter within the recommended dosage, then the matter was ensiled into plastic bags and stored at a constant temperature. After 5.5 months of storage, average samples for microbial and mycotoxins analysis were taken. From microbiological points, the plate count agar method for enumeration of total count of bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, enterococci, yeasts, and microscopic fungi and mass spectrometry for microbiota identification were used. In total, 43 species of bacteria and yeasts and 6 genera of microscopic fungi were identified from all samples of corn silages. The most isolated species were Lentilactobacillus buchneri and Kazachstania exigua from bacteria resp. yeasts and Aspergillus and Penicillium from microscopic fungi. Mycotoxins were determined by HPLC-MS/MS and divided into two groups as regulated and emerging. In the corn silages only Fusarium mycotoxins were observed. All corn silages, regardless of the addition of the additive, were the highest in nivalenol content. Deoxynivalenol and beauvericin with the highest concentrations were present in silage with urea. Although the mycotoxins content of the variants changed, these changes were not statistically significant. In general, addition of lactic acid bacteria Lentilactobacillus buchneri and Lacticaseibacillus casei and urea as silage additives affect the microbial diversity; however, the hygienic quality of whole crop corn silage was not negatively changed. Full article
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