Fermentation quality and in vitro digestibility of first and second cut alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) silages harvested at three stages of maturity

To investigate the suitable harvest stage of alfalfa for ensiling, first cut or second cut alfalfa were harvested at the budding stage (BS), the initial flowering stage (IFS) and the full flowering stage (FFS) in 2016 and 2017, and they were then ensiled for 45 days. The nutritional value and fermentation characteristics were assessed; subsequent in vitro gas production, digestibility, ruminal fermentation parameters, and cellulolytic bacteria …