Effect of a fibrolytic enzyme cocktail and lactic acid bacteria inoculant on fermentation characteristics, microbial community, and in vitro fiber digestibility in rice straw silage

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a fibrolytic enzyme cocktail applied during ensiling, either alone or in combination with lactic acid bacteria (LAB), on the fermentation characteristics, nutritive value, and microbial community of rice straw silage. Fresh rice straw was assigned to one of three treatments: none (control), a fibrolytic enzyme cocktail (CE, mainly xylanases and cellulase), or commercial cellulase enzyme (CM). Each treatment was applied either alone or in combination with Lactiplantibacillus paraplantarum (LPL). The use of enzymes did not affect (p > 0.05) lactic or acetic acid concentrations after 60 days of ensiling compared with the control silage. However, silage treated with enzyme and LPL exhibited lower acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentrations than the control. However, no differences (p > 0.05) in NDF or ADF degradability was observed between enzyme-treated and control silages. Silage treated with CE exhibited higher relative abundances of Proteobacteria and lower abundances of Firmicutes than the control. Silages inoculated with LPL showed greater Lactobacillus abundance (p