Fermentation Characteristics and Feeding Value of Enzyme-Treated Alfalfa Haylage

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Abstract
Two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of cellulase and amylase additions to alfalfa haylage on feed intake, digestion, and milk production. In Experiment 1, 20 heifers were assigned to two groups. The treatment group received alfalfa haylage treated with .95 kg/metric ton of a cellulase preparation. The control group received untreated haylage. Silos were filled over 2 d because of time required to fill each silo. Dry matter losses of haylage harvested on d 2 were 8.4% for untreated haylage to 4.9% for treated haylage. Losses were relatively low and there were no differences due to treatment for wetter haylages made on d 1. Treatment had no effect on average daily gain on DM intake of heifers. In Experiment 2, the effect of feeding the alfalfa haylage treated with cellulase was determined with 10 lactating cows past peak production. Moisture concentration of haylages made in large plastic silos averaged approximately 45%. Haylage pH was 4.4 for the untreated and 4.2 for the treated haylage. There were no differences in DM intake, DM digestibility, milk production, or composition due to enzyme-treated alfalfa haylage fed to lactating dairy cows.