Investigation of the nutrient content and IVTD of alfalfa silage with different additives

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 131 - 136, 30.10.2025

Hasan Hüseyin Şenyüz , Gökhan Şen , Ramazan Ayaş , Ali Karapinar , Ali Ersin Gümüş

https://doi.org/10.47748/tjvr.1760336

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to improve the silage quality of alfalfa, which is difficult to ensile. For this purpose, nutrient content and in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) were investigated using different additives.
Material and Method: For this purpose, groups were created with no alfalfa additive (WA), 10% ground wheat additive (W), 10% corn additive (C), 10% barley additive (B), 10% dried mulberry pulp additive (MP), 10% dried potato pulp additive (PP) and 2.5% yeast (Y). Silages were prepared in 1 L glass silos and opened after 45 days.
Results: The highest dry matter in the silages was obtained in group B (35.90±0.27), while the lowest was obtained in groups WA and B (26.91±0.17-28.05±0.10) (P<0.05). Crude protein was highest in the Y group (23.38±0.19) (P<0.05), while NDF was highest in the WA group (37.13±0.37) (P<0.05). IVTD was found to be highest in the PP group at 93.48±0.46 and significantly different from the other groups (P<0.05). The best Fleig scores were obtained in the W, M, PP, and Y groups. The lowest pH was obtained in the PP group.
Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was concluded that ensiling alfalfa with wheat, corn, potato pulp, and yeast would yield positive results. However, silage made without additives or with the addition of barley is not recommended.

Keywords

Alfalfa silage , IVTD , feed additive

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