LOSSES AND QUALITY CHANGES DURING HARVEST AND STORAGE OF PRESERVATIVE-TREATED ALFALFA HAY OF VARYING MOISTURE-CONTENT

Second- and third-cutting alfalfa hay was baled at moisture contents r anging from 11 to 38%. Treatments included control, buffered propionic acid applied at 0.2 or 0.3% of wet weight, and propionic acid applied at 0.5 or 1.0% of wet weight. Effects of moisture content at baling o n harvest losses, storage losses, and pre- and post-storage quality we re determined Quality into storage [in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), an d crude protein (CP)] was not better for high moisture hay; quality af ter storage indicated benefits of baling lower moisture hay. Propionic acid reduced storage dry matter loss in hay with higher moisture leve ls. Neither chemical treatment had consistent significant effects on a lfalfa quality. Of the in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM) placed i nto storage, approximately 94% was recovered after a 60-day storage pe riod; recoveries of CP, ADF, and NDF were 99, 98, and 100%, respective ly.