Effects of Curing Periods and Preservatives on Quality of baled Alfalfa Hay

포장건조기간 및 보존제 처리가 알팔파 곤포건초의 사료가치에 미치는 영향

An experiment was camed out in 1994 to determine the effects of curing periods and preservatives on the characteristics and forage quality of baled alfalfa(Medicago sativa L.) hay after 60 days of storage. The main plots consisted of the curing periods such as 5 and 7 days, and the subplots consisted of preservatives such as commercial propionic acid preservative, lactic inoculant and control. Temperature during storage remained lower in 7 days cured hay bale than in 5 days and didn't rise over $30^{\circle}C$ in 7 days cured hay bale. After storage, bale with 7 days curing remained in better condition by visual assessment and DM loss of the bale was 21.4% with 5 days curing and 11.8% with 7 days curing. ADF and NDF contents of 5 days cured baled hay were 43.0 and 56.1%. respectively, which were lower than those of 7 days cured baled hay by 1.3 and 1.4%, respectively(P< 0.05). ADF and NDF contents of preservative treated baled hay were higher than those of the control(P<0.05). According to RFV, forage quality of the control and inoculant treated baled hay of 5 days curing, and the control of 7 days curing was classified as 3rd grade, but other baled hay was classified as 4th grade. The total nitrogen content of 5 days cured baled hay was 1.84% and 7 days was 1.38%(P<0.05). Significant differences(P<0.05) in total N content of baled alfalfa hay were found among the preservatives. ADIN/total N of 5 and 7 days cured baled alfalfa hays was 28 and 26%. respectively.