Effect of Condensed Tannins on Nitrogen Distribution and Metabolome after Aerobic Exposure of Sainfoin Silage

(1) Background: Previous studies have indicated that proteolysis is inhibited by the condensed tannins (CTs) that are present during sainfoin ensiling. Whether inhibiting this effect of CTs on proteolysis is functional during aerobic exposure is still unclear. (2) Methods: the present study investigated the effect of CTs on metabolite composition during the aerobic exposure of sainfoin silage via the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG), leading to the inactivation of CTs. (3) Results: The neutral detergent-insoluble protein (NDIP) and acid detergent-insoluble protein concentrations were both more concentrated in the control group than in the PEG-treated group. There were 587 and 651 different metabolites present in the control and PEG-treated groups after 3 and 7 days, respectively, of aerobic exposure of silage. Flavonoids (72 metabolites) were the most abundant among these different metabolites. The addition of PEG upregulated histidine, threonine, asparagine, tryptophan, and glutamine, but downregulated phenylalanine. The relative abundances of Lactococcus, Fructobacillus, Enterobacter, Cutibacterium, Citrobacter, and Rosenbergiella differed significantly between the control and PEG-treated groups (p < 0.05); all of these bacteria showed significant correlation with some of the 50 most abundant metabolites. (4) Conclusions: the results suggest that the antioxidant status of the silage increased and inhibited the activity of a variety of bacteria that coexist with CTs, and decreased the production of certain amino acids after the aerobic exposure of silage.