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.