This study aimed to estimate the fractionation of carbohydrates and crude protein (CP), and the ruminal degradation rates of dry matter (DM), CP, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in sorghum silages. Silages were prepared with or without the addition of 10% cottonseed cake (CSC, natural matter basis) and Weissella cibaria ( W. cibaria ). The study followed a completely randomized design with four treatments: sorghum silage (SS), sorghum + 10% CSC (SSCSC), sorghum + W. cibaria (SSWC), and sorghum + 10% CSC + W. cibaria (SSCSCWC). Data were analyzed using nonlinear regression and mean comparison tests. The nonlinear models adequately described the degradation rates, with coefficients of determination exceeding 88%. All silages showed increased potential degradability of DM, CP, and NDF with increasing incubation time, exceeding 65%, 60%, and 50%, respectively, at 120 h in all silages. And silages with CSC showed increased CP degradability, at approximately 77%. Sorghum silage with W. cibaria had higher fiber content and greater true protein availability. Adding cottonseed cake increased DM and CP available for fermentation, which may enhance nutrient digestion and absorption when combined with W. cibaria , with 26.3% and 10.8% increases, respectively, compared to sorghum silage alone. The treatments also showed synchrony in DM degradation over incubation time. Therefore, they are recommended for use in sorghum silages.
Mendes et al. (2026) studied this question.