# Pediococcus pentosaceus OL77 Enhances Oat (Avena sativa) Silage Fermentation Under Cold Conditions

## TL;DR

A cold-tolerant bacteria, Pediococcus pentosaceus OL77, improves oat silage quality in cold conditions by enhancing fermentation and preserving nutrients.

## Contribution

The study introduces a cold-tolerant Pediococcus pentosaceus strain that improves low-temperature silage fermentation.

## Key findings

- OL77-treated silage had higher lactic acid and preserved more water-soluble carbohydrates and crude protein.
- Microbial analysis showed faster fermentation stabilization and enhanced carbohydrate metabolism with OL77.
- OL77 reduced bacterial diversity and lowered silage pH, improving fermentation quality under cold conditions.

## Abstract

Ensiling forage under low-temperature conditions often leads to poor fermentation and nutrient losses. This study evaluated the effects of a cold-tolerant Pediococcus pentosaceus OL77 strain on oat silage. Silages were prepared with or without Pediococcus pentosaceus inoculation (1 × 105 cfu/g FM). After 90 days, OL77-treated silage showed markedly higher lactic acid (45.83 vs. 30.51 g/kg DM), lower pH (3.88 vs. 4.443), and better preservation of WSC (64.68 vs. 47.60 g/kg DM) and crude protein (89.26 vs. 65.52 g/kg DM) than the control. Microbial analysis revealed accelerated colonization by Pediococcus, reduced bacterial diversity, and faster stabilization of the fermentation process. Functional predictions indicated enhanced carbohydrate and energy metabolism. These findings demonstrate that OL77 can effectively improve fermentation quality and nutrient preservation of oat silage under low-temperature conditions, offering a practical inoculant option for cold regions.