Comparison of frameworks for defining land occupation considering on-farm and off-farm feed production on Italian dairy farms.

Land occupation (LO) is one of the most frequently discussed aspects of livestock competition with agricultural activities. commonly In this study the area needed to produce purchased feeds for animal nutrition, was used to estimate the off-farm land occupation of dairy farms, allowing for a precise calculation of the total land occupation requirement for milk production (on-farm plus off-farm LO, expressed in m per unit of standardized milk). We use 4 approaches (LO1, LO2, LO3A and LO3B) to calculate the off-farm land used for milk production on dairy farms and apply them to 14 dairy farms in northern Italy as a case study.

Augmented visualization by computer vision and chromatographic fingerprinting on comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographic patterns: Unraveling diagnostic signatures in food volatilome.

Computer Vision is an approach of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that conceptually enables "computers and systems to derive useful information from digital images" giving access to higher-level information and "take actions or make recommendations based on that information". Comprehensive two-dimensional chromatography gives access to highly detailed, accurate, yet unstructured information on the sample's chemical composition, and makes it possible to exploit the AI concepts at the data processing level (e.g.

Effects of a prothioconazole- and tebuconazole-based fungicide on the yield, silage characteristics, and fungal mycobiota of corn harvested and conserved as whole-crop and high-moisture ear silages.

Aims: To analyze the effect of a prothioconazole- and tebuconazole-based fungicide on the yield and silage characteristics of whole-crop corn (WCC) and high-moisture ear corn (HMC) silages and on the fungal community dynamics from the harvest to aerobic exposure.

Methods And Results: Corn were untreated (NT) or treated (T) with a prothioconazole- and tebuconazole-based fungicide and harvested as WCC and HMC. Silages were conserved for 60 and 160 d and subjected to an aerobic stability test.

Effect of Inoculation with and on the Maize Silage Volatilome: The Advantages of Advanced 2D-Chromatographic Fingerprinting Approaches.

In this study, the complex volatilome of maize silage samples conserved for 229 d, inoculated with () and (), is explored by means of advanced fingerprinting methodologies based on comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The combined untargeted and targeted (UT) fingerprinting strategy covers 452 features, 269 of which were putatively identified and assigned within their characteristic classes. The high amounts of short-chain free fatty acids and alcohols were produced by fermentation and led to a large number of esters.

Inoculum, Dry Matter Contents at Harvest and Length of Conservation Affect Fermentation Characteristics and Aerobic Stability of Corn Silage.

Heterofermentative isolated from sugarcane silage, has recently been proposed as a silage inoculant to increase aerobic stability. Various conditions can influence the activity of LAB and their ability to alter silage quality (e.g.

Temperature during conservation in laboratory silos affects fermentation profile and aerobic stability of corn silage treated with Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus hilgardii, and their combination.

The environment temperature and its effect on the temperature of silage is very important for the fermentation and subsequent quality of a silage. Obligate heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inocula, because of their ability to inhibit yeasts, have been developed to prevent the aerobic deterioration of silages. The temperature during silage conservation may also play an important role in the fermentation profile of silages.

Testing selectivity of bacterial and fungal culture media compared to original silage samples using next generation sequencing.

Plate counts using selective culture media is still the most frequently used method for the enumeration of the different microbial groups that colonize silage, including lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and molds. Since different culture media have specific composition, they may allow the growth of specific populations. To date, no study has used next generation sequencing technology to compare the selective capacity of these different culture media although this approach could provide comprehensive insight into the relevance of using one culture medium over another.

Aspergillus fumigatus population dynamics and sensitivity to demethylation inhibitor fungicides in whole-crop corn, high moisture corn and wet grain corn silages.

Background: Aspergillus fumigatus, the causal agent of aspergillosis in humans, is commonly present as a saprophyte in various organic substrates, such as spoiled silages. Aspergillosis is generally combated with demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides, but the recent appearance of resistant medical and environmental strains made current treatment strategies less reliable. The goal of this study was to determine the evolution of A.

Increase in aflatoxins due to Aspergillus section Flavi multiplication during the aerobic deterioration of corn silage treated with different bacteria inocula.

The growth of Aspergillus flavus and the production of aflatoxins (AF) during the aerobic deterioration of corn silage represent a problem for animal and human health. This experiment was conducted to evaluate whether the presence of A. flavus and AF production originate from the field or additional AF are produced during the fermentation phase or during aerobic deterioration of corn silage.

Effects of conservation period and Lactobacillus hilgardii inoculum on the fermentation profile and aerobic stability of whole corn and sorghum silages.

Background: Lactic acid bacteria inocula have been developed over the years to improve the aerobic stability of silages. The aims of the study were to evaluate the effect of various conservation periods and the use of Lactobacillus hilgardii inoculum on aerobic stability, fermentative profile and microbial population of corn and sorghum silages. Trials were carried out on two corns and one sorghum crops.