Features of alfalfa fermentation depending on the dry matter content and silage method

Abstract

Quite intensive proteolysis, accompanied by deamination of amino acids to ammonia, is observed during silage of alfalfa even when it is dried to a dry matter content of 31-36%. As a result, the feed can accumulate up to 0.5% of ammonia in the dry matter of the feed. Our research has shown that the ammonia content depends more on the degree of drying than on the level of acidification of alfalfa silage. And reaches a minimum at 50-55% dry matter. Drying increases both the concentration of water-soluble carbohydrates (1.3 times) and the amount of malic acid (up to 4% per day), which can later be used by lactic acid bacteria acidifying the feed to a pH of 4.3-4.4. Preparations based on homofermentative lactic acid bacteria have shown themselves more effectively in silage of dried alfalfa to a dry matter content of 40-45%.