The objectives of this study were to compare the growth performance, ruminal fermentation, and bacterial community of young bulls fed with diets including dried or ensiled peanut vines and to investigate whether the combination of dry peanut vine and corn silage could exhibit better feeding effects. Forty-five young Holstein bulls were selected and fed for 60 days. The total mixed ration (TMR) was formulated as follows: (1) a dry peanut vine-based diet (DPV), (2) a peanut vine silage-based diet (PVS), and (3) a whole-plant corn silage mixed with the DPV (WPCS-DPV). The ratio of dietary concentrate to forage was 50:50. The results showed that the dried and ensiled peanut vines used in beef diet exhibited no difference in the average daily gain of bulls (p = 0.490). The pH of rumen fluid in bulls fed with the WPCS-DPV and PVS diets was lower than that in bulls fed with the DPV diet (p < 0.001). The bulls fed with the DPV diet had increased Ace and Chao1 values of rumen bacterial community compared with bulls fed with the PVS diet (p < 0.05). This study confirmed the feasibility of ensiling as a preservation procedure for peanut vines and provides a reference for its utilization schemes.
Keywords: bacterial community; beef cattle; growth performance; peanut vine; ruminal fermentation.
© 2022 Japanese Society of Animal Science.