Unwilted red clover and alfalfa herbage were hand-chopped, inoculated,
ensiled into laboratory silos and opened after 0, 1, 3 and 7 days. Pr
oteolysis was 40% lower with the red clover silage than alfalfa silage
after 7 days of ensiling. The lower extent of proteolysis with the re
d clover silages could not be explained by differences in dry matter c
ontent, pH decline nor final pH of the silage. It was determined that
red clover has a buffer soluble protein that could inhibit proteolysis
in red clover and alfalfa. The soluble protein is possibly a polyphen
oloxidase.