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Wafered and Baled Alfalfa Hay Harvested at Different Stages of Maturity for Lactating Cows^{1, 2,}

Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman

ABSTRACT

Thirty cows and twelve bred heifers were used in lactation and digestion trials, respectively, to compare the feeding value of wafered and baled second cutting alfalfa hay harvested at prebloom, 1/10-bloom, and full-bloom stages of maturity. A double reversal design with five-week periods was employed in the lactation trial where hay was fed free-choice and grain to production.

Greater differences in digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen-free extract, and total digestible nutrient (TDN) content were obtained between prebloom and 1/10 –bloom stages of maturity than between 1/10- and full-bloom. Differences in dry matter (DM) intake and digestibility, with the exception of crude fiber, between wafered and baled hays at the same stages of maturity were generally small.

In the lactation trial, hay DM intake and body weight gain of cows fed 1/10- and full-bloom bales were lower (P < .05) than for cows fed prebloom and 1/10-bloom wafers; other treatments were similar. Cows fed pre- and 1/10-bloom wafers produced more (P < .05) fat-corrected-milk (FCM) daily than cows fed full-bloom bales. There were no significant effects (P > .05) of the six roughage rations on per cent milk protein or solids-not-fat. The milk fat percentage was higher (P < .05) in milk from cows fed 1/10-bloom wafers and bales than from cows fed prebloom wafers and bales.

¹ Scientific Paper no. 2846, College of Agriculture Research Center, Pullman, Washington, Project 1439.

² Taken from data presented by the junior author to the Graduate School of Washington State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a M.S. degree.

³ Present address: Canada Department of Agriculture, Research Station, Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada.