Screening of Superior Lactic Acid Bacteria and Their Application in Broussonetia papyrifera Silage

The Broussonetia papyrifera exhibits advantages such as high nutritional value and elevated crude protein content, making it a potential resource to alleviate the shortage of feed resources in China. However, fresh B. papyrifera has limited naturally attached lactic acid bacteria and a high buffer capacity, causing natural fermentation to struggle in producing high-quality silage. This necessitates the addition of exogenous lactic acid bacteria to enhance fermentation quality. In this study, superior lactic acid bacteria strains were screened from various raw materials and applied as silage additives in B. papyrifera fermentation. The effects of these selected lactic acid bacteria on B. papyrifera silage quality were systematically evaluated by measuring and analyzing indicators including nutritional composition, fermentation characteristics, microbial community structure, and metabolic products. This investigation aimed to elucidate the mechanisms through which these lactic acid bacteria influence silage quality.