Table 4 Effects of ferulic acid esterase-producing L. plantarum A1 inoculation in alfalfa silage on dry matter (DM) digestibility, gas production, and fermentation characteristics of in vitro fermentation for 48 h

DM degradability, %

69.9^ab

67.6^bc

72.0^a

65.8^c

0.78

0.003

Gas production

 Total gas, mL

187^a

152^c

168^b

145^c

4.99

< 0.001

 Methane, mL

15.1^a

14.1^b

14.9^a

12.7^c

0.29

< 0.001

 Methane, mL/g digestible DM

43.1^a

41.7^a

41.3^ab

38.5^b

0.57

0.007

 Methane/Total gas, %

8.06^b

9.26^a

8.86^a

8.73^a

0.14

0.002

Volatile fatty acid (VFA)

 Total VFA, mmol/L

92.1^ab

83.0^bc

99.7^a

77.4^c

2.73

< 0.001

 Acetate, mmol/L

58.2^a

50.5^b

60.9^a

46.8^b

1.82

< 0.001

 Propionate, mmol/L

19.6^a

16.9^b

19.7^a

15.2^b

0.61

0.001

 Acetate/Propionate

2.97^b

3.04^a

3.09^a

3.07^a

0.02

0.017

 Butyrate, mmol/L

6.51^b

6.50^b

8.50^a

6.34^b

0.28

< 0.001

 Valerate, mmol/L

3.21^c

3.75^b

4.37^a

3.86^b

0.13

< 0.001

 Isobutyraye, mmol/L

1.42^c

1.59^b

1.92^a

1.61^b

0.06

< 0.001

 Isovalerate, mmol/L

3.12^c

3.83^b

4.27^a

3.52^b

0.13

< 0.001

 Total BCVFA, mmol/L

4.54^c

5.42^b

6.19^a

5.12^b

0.64

< 0.001

NH₃-N, mmol/L

31.4^a

25.5^b

30.1^a

25.9^b

0.80

< 0.001