Effect of Dry Matter Content and Inoculation on Ruminal Protein Degradability in Alfalfa Silages

The aim of the experiment was to determine the effect of different dry matter content and addition of silage inoculant on the ruminal protein degradability. Alfalfa herbage was collected from two cuts and the fresh matter was sampled two times during each cut (with different dry matter content). During the preparation of experimental micro-silages, the chopped forage was treated with a microbial inoculant or it was left untreated (control). The in sacco method was used for the measurement of ruminal protein degradability. The different dry matter content significantly (P<0.05) affected the rate of ruminal protein degradation in alfalfa silages. The average values of ruminal protein degradability of alfalfa silages were at lower dry matter content of 70.72 +/- 1.243%, at higher dry matter content 73.69 +/- 0.554% in the first cut. The ruminal protein degradability was significantly (P<0.01) different in the second cut. The alfalfa silages had average value of ruminal protein degradability at lower dry matter content of 69.19 +/- 1.184%, at higher dry matter content of 72.74 +/- 0.637%. The applied ensiling additive had no statistically significant influence on the ruminal protein degradability in alfalfa silages. In first cut, it was measured in control silages as 72.08 +/- 1.620% and in inoculated silages as 72.33 +/- 1.901%. In second cut, the average values of ruminal protein degradability of control silages were 71.56 +/- 1.833% and of inoculated silages as 70.37 +/- 2.014%. The using of bacterial inoculant had no significant effect of ruminal protein degradability, but improved the fermentation process quality.