Abstract
Alfalfa silage is a useful source of protein for feeding ruminants. Therefore, managing alfalfa silage in livestock production systems is an important issue in order to maintain the silage quality and achieve maximum profitable production of milk and meat. The aim of this investigation was to estimate the effects of bacterial inoculant Silko, containing Lactobacillus plantarum (strains: LP1, LP2, LP3 and LP4) on chemical composition, energetic characteristics and fermentation alfalfa silage under field conditions in the commercial dairy farm, during the 2016. The first-cut alfalfa in the second year has been conserved in silage form. The silage mass was subdivided into two equal parts (control (silage without inoculant) and silages treated with bacterial inoculant Silko) and ensiled in trench silo. After 60 days of ensiling, the silages were analysed. Dry matter, ash, crude protein, lactic acid, acetic acid, total digestible nutrients value and relative feed value were significantly higher in silage treated with bacterial inoculant Silko compared to control. Contrary, alfalfa silage treated with a bacterial inoculant Silko had lower values of cellulose, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, nonnitro extractive matter, pH, butyric acid, soluble nitrogen/total nitrogen and NH3- N/total nitrogen than untreated silage. Results showed that bacterial inoculant Silko increases silage quality compared to control so that research should be directed toward the use of such prepared silage in ruminant diets and its impact on milk and meat production on farms.
Highlights
In Serbia, alfalfa is grown on an area of 109230 ha with a total annual production of 481003 tons and an average yield of 4.4 t ha-1 (Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Serbia, 2016)
Đorđević et al (2011) reported that addition of homofermentative bacterial inoculants to alfalfa silages reduced the content of NH3-N and increased the lactic acid and pH compared to untreated silage
Values of cellulose (295.70 g kg-1), acid detergent fibre (ADF) (351.78 g kg-1), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (408.61 g kg-1) and non-nitro extractive matter (404.33 g kg-1) were significantly higher in silage without inoculant than in silage treated with bacterial inoculant Silko (271.03 g kg-1, 314.38 g kg-1, 393.10 g kg-1 and 379.90 g kg-1, respectively)
Summary
In Serbia, alfalfa is grown on an area of 109230 ha with a total annual production of 481003 tons and an average yield of 4.4 t ha-1 (Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Serbia, 2016). The high protein content and low content of soluble carbohydrates in the fresh material (< 1.5%), low dry matter and high buffering capacity make it difficult to ensile For these reasons, the application of chemical or bacterial additives is the important factor for ensiling alfalfa (Repetto et al, 2011). The advantage of bacterial inoculants is that they leave no residues and does not adversely affect animal health and product quality and safety For this reason, everywhere in the world largely suppressed chemical preservatives, regardless of their effectiveness. LAB ferment water-soluble carbohydrates to organic acids, mainly lactic acid which reduce the pH and inhibit the growth of pathogenic and spoilage bacteria, yeast and moulds which influence on heating and spoilage silage and dry matter losses (Zhang et al, 2009; Čabarkapa et al, 2010a). Đorđević et al (2011) reported that addition of homofermentative bacterial inoculants to alfalfa silages reduced the content of NH3-N and increased the lactic acid and pH compared to untreated silage
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