Abstract
Summary In the context of a research project, alfalfa was harvested at a very early stage of maturity, severely chopped and ensiled. A subset of the crop was additionally treated with a twin-screw extruder prior to ensiling. The aim of this treatment was to open vegetal tissues, then maximise the release of sugar and amino acids and consequently improve the digestibility of amino acids and the ensiling process. The obtained silages were of good quality and the extrusion process brought no additional advantages. In a feeding trial with broilers, the aim was to test the suitability of this alfalfa silage as a protein source in the feed for broilers. Therefore growth and carcass yield of slow growing broilers (genotype ISA 957) fed with chopped and extruded silage was evaluated. The trial involved three feeding phases and four feeding groups: In the control group (A) animals received a complete feed mixture, in groups B and C they received a supplemental feed mixture with an energy and protein content adapted to a previously assumed silage intake (Phase 1: 7,5%, Phase 2: 12,5%, Phase 3: 20%). Additionally group B and C received chopped and extruded silage, respectively. For the experimental group D the supplemental feed mixture and the extruded silage were mixed and then pelletised. The animals consumed both silages without problems. The achieved growth performance of all feeding groups was lower than those of comparable genotypes in previous studies. This fact is potentially related to the low lysine availability in the used concentrates. As a consequence, animals of groups B and C attained higher silage intakes than expected (up to 30% of the daily dry matter consumption), presumably compensating in this way the lack of lysine with the consumption of additional amino acids from the silages. This was reflected in a significantly higher growth performance in comparison to the control group. Extrusion as a pre-ensiling process had no benefits for the performance of the animals. From the results it can be deduced that alfalfa harvested in an early stage has a high potential as a protein source for the feeding of poultry.
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