Applicability of Pediococcus strains for fermentation of cereal bran and its influence on the milk yield of dairy cattle

The isolated Pediococcus acidilactici BaltBio01 and Pediococcus pentosaceus BaltBio02 strains were cultivated in barley and wheat bran (90/10, m/m) substrate, and the developed fermented feed stock, with high content of valuable Pediococcus, was used for Lithuanian black and white dairy cattle feeding. In addition, the influence of fermented feed stock on milk production and composition was determined. Isolated strains demonstrated versatile carbohydrate metabolism, grown at 30 degrees C and 37 degrees C temperatures, acidic tolerance, showed to be non resistant to antibiotics and have antimicrobial activity. Bioconversion of cereal by-products (barley and wheat bran) using isolated microorganisms allows production of safer (reduced Enterobacteria, aerobic bacteria, yeast and mould count) fermented feed stock with high content of Pediococcus. At the beginning of the feeding experiment, no significant differences in feed intake, milk production and milk composition were established between the test groups. Control and trial groups received the same ration; however, the trial groups, in addition, received 200 g per dairy cattle of the fermented feed stock containing 9.6 log(10) CFU g(-1) Pediococcus daily for 66 days (group B received 200 g fermented with P. acidilactici/dairy cattle/day feed stock, group C received 200 g fermented with P. pentosaceus/dairy cattle/day feed stock, and group D received 200 g fermented with P. acidilactici and P. pentosaceus/dairy cattle/day feed stock). After 33 days of experiment, significant milk yield increase in group D (yield 34.64 +/- 3.56 kg d(-1)), compared with group A (yield 29.93 +/- 3.55 kg d(-1)) and group C (yield 30.24 +/- 3.99 kg d(-1)) was established. After 66 days of feeding, similar trends were found, i.e. milk yield significantly increased in group D (yield 35.04 +/- 3.04 kg d(-1)) compared with group A (yield 29.04 +/- 3.88 kg d(-1)). It can be inferred that barley and wheat bran could be used to promote growth of P. acidilactici BaltBio01 and P. pentosaceus BaltBio02, and the produced fermented feed stock could be recommended for dairy cattle feeding in order to increase milk production.