EFFICACY OF PEDIOCOCCUS-PENTOSACEUS FOR ALFALFA FORAGE EXPOSED TO PRECIPITATION DURING FIELD WILTING

The objective of the current study was to determine the preservation p otential for an inoculant containing two strains of Pediococcus pentos aceus for forage that had been exposed to precipitation during the wil ting phase. Forage was exposed to 26.4 mm precipitation and moderate d rying conditions prior to being baled at 20-25% moisture without (Wet) or with Pediococcus pentosaceus (Wet-PP) application at the time of b aling. A third hay treatment consisted of forage exposed to 27.6 mm pr ecipitation and baled at 15-20% moisture without inoculant application (Dry). Contrary to results from previous studies with good drying con ditions, application of Pediococcus pentosaceus at a rate of 10(5) cfu g(-1) forage did not reduce extent of fungal invasion during storage as determined by storage temperature, glucosamine change, post-storage visual scores and fungal populations. Two wilting trials were conduct ed to determine the effect of exposure to precipitation during the wil ting phase on the indigenous microbial population on the surface of fo rage material. Forage that was not exposed to precipitation during dry ing had total bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and total fungal populati ons ranging from 10(5) to 10(6), from 10(1) to 10(3), and from 10(4) c fu g(-1) forage DM, respectively, at the time of baling. Exposure to p recipitation resulted in population ranges of 10(7)-10(8), 10(3)-10(5) , and 10(4)-10(5) cfu g(-1) forage DM, respectively. Total bacterial p opulations increased significantly due to exposure to precipitation. U tilization of a bacterial inoculant at 10(5) cfu g(-1) forage may not be an adequate application rate when the density of the indigenous pop ulation on the forage surface is 100-1000 times greater.