The effects of lactic acid bacteria and enyzme mixture inoculants on the fermentation, aerobic stability and feed value of alfalfa silage

This study was carried out to determine the effects of different doses lactic acid bacteria+ enzyme (LAB+E) inoculants on the fermentation, aerobic stability, relative feed value (RFV) and in vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD) characteristics of alfalfa silages. Alfalfa was harvested at the early, middle and late flowering stages. Sil-All (Alltech, UK), Sil-All (Alltech, UK) were used as LAB+E inoculants. Inoculants were applied to the silages at the rates of 1x105, 5x105 and 1x106 kob/g levels. Control and additives applied alfalfa were ensiled in 1 liter capacity plastic bags. The bags were stored at 20±2°C under the laboratory conditions. Three bags from each group were sampled for chemical and microbiological analyses 2, 4, 8 and 45th days after ensiling. At the end of the ensiling period, all silages were subjected to an aerobic stability test for 5 days. In addition, RFV and in vitro OMD of those silages were determined. The results showed that LAB+E inoculants reduced pH values and ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) content, whereas increased lactic acid, acetic acid contents and lactobacillus count of alfalfa silages. High doses LAB+E inoculant decreased neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and cellulose content and increased RFV and in vitro OMD but impaired aerobic stability of alfalfa silages.