Silage quality deteriorates with Clostridium spp. contamination, and if consumed, such silage jeopardises herd health and productivity. Minimising its occurrence reduces economic and animal welfare risks. The study investigated the influence of environmental and technological determinants on the Clostridium genus’ occurrence in silage. Analyses were conducted on 305 silage samples directly collected from farms located in all Polish provinces. Cultures and isolates were evaluated phenotypically and examined for occurrence of Clostridium spp., particularly C. perfringens and C. botulinum using PCR techniques. The results were statistically analysed using the ᵡ² test for continuous and Student’s t-test for non-continuous values. The most influential effect on Clostridium spp. occurrence is exerted by factors potentially associated with primary production, like the type of fertilisation and the contamination level of the ensiled feed material. Clostridium spp. was detected in 232 (76%) samples, and C. perfringens strains, predominantly toxinotype A, in 79 (26%). C. botulinum occurrence was not detected. Deterioration of silage by clostridia could be prevented by a properly conducted ensiling process with the addition of starter cultures, but the presence of spores mainly depends on primary production and the extent of contamination of the feed material.

The aim of the study was to present cases of botulism in animals found in Poland in 2019–2021. The analytical laboratory diagnosis and difficulties that occurred in the interpretation of the results are described. From 2019 to 2021, samples of serum, intestinal content, liver, spleen, kidney, faeces, wet feed, dry feed, ensilage, water and mixed samples of internal organs associated with 10 suspected animal botulism cases were sent to the National Veterinary Research Institute. Samples were analysed using a mouse bioassay and culture methods in combination with ntnh and bont gene detection. Among the ten putative botulism cases, only four (40%) were confirmed in the laboratory on the basis of the detection of botulinum toxin (BoNT) or the ntnh or bont genes. The remaining six (60%) were determined as probable despite observable characteristic clinical signs. The diagnosis of botulism in animals is a very difficult task, made so by the heterogeneity of Clostridium botulinum strains and possible loss of toxinogenicity during laboratory processing or the potential degradation of toxins. Laboratory diagnosis is a complex and problematic process which should utilise different prescribed methods for specific types of sample.

Silage quality deteriorates with Clostridium spp. contamination, and if consumed, such silage jeopardises herd health and productivity. Minimising its occurrence reduces economic and animal welfare risks. The study investigated the influence of environmental and technological determinants on the Clostridium genus’ occurrence in silage.

The role of silage feeding in the origin of an epizootic of encephalitic listeriosis in a sheep flock was investigated by use of a new direct Listeria-selective isolation and enumeration medium, in combination with serotyping and phage typing. The silage contained high numbers (about 10(6) cells/g) of a L monocytogenes strain indistinguishable with respect to serovar and phagovar from that isolated from the brains of sick sheep. These results provided unambiguous bacteriologic evidence of the epidemiologic link between silage consumption and listeriosis in ruminants.

Objective: The study was conducted to determine the effect of Leucaena at different proportions and doses of molasses on the nutritional quality, silage fermentation characteristic, and in vitro digestibility of corn stover silage. Materials and Methods: The study was designed in a completely randomized factorial design 3*3 pattern. The first factor was the proportion addition of Leucaena, i.e., L0 (0%), L15 (15%), L30 (30%), and L45 (45%) of inclusion of Leucaena on the dry matter (DM) basis of corn stover. The second factor was the dose of inclusion of molasses, i.e., M2 (2%), M4 (4%), and M6 (6%) on the fed basis of silage. Each treatment had five replications. The variables observed included chemical composition [DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), hemicellulose, acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber], silage fermentation characteristics (pH and NH3-N), DM digestibility (DMD), and OM digestibility (OMD) under in vitro conditions. Results: The result shows that the inclusion of Leucaena in the proportion of 30%–45% is very effective in increasing and improving the chemical composition of corn stover silage, significantly suppresses the content of CF, and increases the CP content of the silage. Likewise, the inclusion of molasses at a dose of 4% also positively contributed to the quality of the resulting silage, especially its effect in suppressing the buffer capacity of proteins resulting in low pH values and NH3-N concentrations in silage. Conclusions: It was concluded that the inclusion of Leucaena in 30%–45% and the inclusion of molasses at a dose of 4% is very effective in increasing and improving the chemical composition, silage fermentability characteristics, and rumen degradation of corn stover silage. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2023; 10(1.000): 118-125]

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus there was realized comparative evaluation of chemical composition and nutritive value of silages produced on the basis of millet (Panicum) and maize (Zea mays), their productive action and economic efficiency of ensilage fodders in diets of young stock of cattle. Data of chemical analysis showed the benefits of millet silage. The content of crude protein, crude fat, carotene, calcium and phosphorous was higher in millet silage. The analogous situation was in the analysis of biochemical indexes and energy value of dry matter. As a result of application of millet silage in diets of young stock of cattle made it possible to obtain 3,7 kg of body weight gain, while the expenses of forage per 1 kilogram of of weight gain lowered on 0,34 centner of fodder units, or 3,6%. Prime cost of 1 centner of fodder units in a diet in experimental group was on 57,3% lower than in a control one. Thus, use of millet silage in diets of heifers made it possible to lower the cost of fodders per 1 kilogram of weight gain on 63,2%, and prime cost of 1 kilogram of weight gain – on 19,8%.

Japanese millet (Echinochloa frumentacea) growing and yielding capacity was estimated in single and mixed sowings cultivated on sod-podzolic light loamy soils in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus; as well as comparative evaluation of silage quality and determination of digestibility of nutrients. Field experiment with forage crops was realized in threefold replication in accordance with the following scheme: Japanese millet (100%); Japanese millet (70%) + vetch (Vicia) (30%); Japanese millet (70%) + lupine (Luoinus) (30%); Japanese millet (70%) + pea (Pisum) (30%); Japanese millet (70%) + soybean (Glycine max) (30%). Research results showed that mixed sowings of Japanese millet with bean cultures made it possible to obtain higher yields than single sowings on 5,9-15,6%. Silage made of Japanese millet with bean culture contained higher amount of crude protein on 2,73-3,98% in comparison with silage which was produces only from Japanese millet. Silage produced from Japanese millet mixture with high protein crops had high energy and protein value: 0,90-0,92 fodder units; 9,47-9,59 mJ of metabolic energy per 1 kg of dry matter and 102-103 g of digestible protein per 1 fodder unit

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus there was studied the efficiency of application of forage chemical preservatives Kormoplyus-1, Kormoplyus-2, and Kormoplyus-3 for grass fodder conservation. The analyzed preservatives contained acetous acid, urotropine and sodium acetate (only in Kormoplus-2). In course of the study there were established experimental batches with the studied sreservative; there was determined a chemical composition of prepared forages; in physiological and scientifical and economic experiment there was analyzed the feeding efficiency of cereal ensilage. Research results showed that application of preservatives Kormoplyus-1 and Kormoplyus-2 2 for preparation of cereal ensilage made it possible to receive a high quality ensilage and to increase the dry matter safety on 4,2-8,7% and protein on 12-9,4% on comparison with storage without preservatives. Also, it made it possible to increase the digestibility of dry matter in cattle diets respectively on 5.5% and3.7%; organic substance - on 5.5% and 4.0%; fibre - on 16,5% and 15,0%, and also to increase nitrogen deposition on 17,4 and 20,8%. Feeding with forages preserved with Kormoplyus-1 and 2 did not render negative influence on a health state and biochemical indices of animal blood.