OBJECTIVE The effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and cellulase enzyme on fermentation quality, microorganism population, chemical composition and in vitro gas production of sorghum silages were studied. METHODS Commercial inoculant Lactobacillus plantarum Chikuso 1 (CH), local selected strain Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) TH 14 and Acremonium cellulase (AC) were used as additives in sorgh...

Aspergillus flavus, the causal agent of aflatoxin contamination, is a natural inhabitant of soils. A. flavus can be divided into two strains, S and L, with S strain isolates having a greater aflatoxin contamination potential than L strain isolates. Aflatoxin contamination can be severe in several crops in South Texas including cottonseed and corn. A. flavus communities in soils of South Texas c...

The objective of this study was to determine whether reconstituting field-dried and early-harvested sorghum grain affected the fermentation characteristics and feed value of the ensiled grain when fed to feedlot heifers. In Trial 1, sorghum grain was harvested at 14% moisture, rolled, and reconstituted to 25, 30, or 35% moisture, then ensiled in laboratory-scale silos. Lactic acid concentration...

Individual growth and feed intake of 36 Angus, 27 Polled Hereford and 30 Holstein steers were determined from 365 to 560 kg live weight. One-half of the cattle in each breed were fed a diet based on high-moisture ear corn and the other one-half were fed a diet based on corn silage. Within each breed X diet group, half of the cattle were implanted with zeranol. Cattle fed the high-moisture ear c...

Samples of sorghum distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) were collected and analyzed to establish a nutrient database and evaluate the quality and consistency between and within 5 ethanol plants in Kansas and Texas. Each sample (n = 21) was analyzed for AA, DM, CP, crude fiber, crude fat, ash, NDF, ADF, trace minerals, and starch. Mean values (DM basis) were 0.88% Lys, 10.49% crude fat, ...