Effects of inoculation of high dry matter alfalfa silage on ensiling characteristics, ruminal nutrient degradability and dairy cow performance

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a homolactic acid inoculant on ensiling characteristics and nutritive value of high dry matter (DM) alfalfa. The ensiling characteristics were determined by ensiling inoculated and untreated alfalfa haylage in mini-silos for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 45 days. Two lactating cows fitted with ruminal fistulas were used to determine ruminal degradabilities of nutrient in inoculated and untreated alfalfa silage (45-day silage). Effects of feeding inoculated and untreated alfalfa silage on animal performance were determined using 28 lactating dairy cows fed total mixed diets (40% forage and 60% concentrate) with the forage portion consisting of inoculated or untreated alfalfa silage. The pH of the inoculated silage declined from 5.9 to 4.5 within 2 days of ensiling while the pH of the untreated silage did not drop below 5 until day 16 post-ensiling. At all ensiling times, inoculated alfalfa silage had lower pH than untreated alfalfa silage. The concentration of lactic acid was higher while that of water-soluble carbohydrates was lower for inoculated than untreated alfalfa silage at all ensiling times. Inoculation increased proteolysis as indicated by a reduction in true protein and neutral detergent insoluble protein and an increase in non-protein nitrogen. Ruminal degradability of DM, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber of alfalfa silage were not affected by inoculation. The average effective degradability of dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber was 66, 65 and 62%, respectively. Dairy cows fed inoculated alfalfa silage had DM intake (average 22 kg day−1) and milk yield (average 42 kg day−1) similar to cows fed untreated alfalfa silage. It was concluded that the inoculant used in this study improved the ensiling characteristics of alfalfa silage with no significant effects on dairy cow performance.  2004 Society of Chemical Industry