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Effect of Heat Treatment of Alfalfa Prior to Ensiling on Nitrogen Solubllity and In Vitro Ammonia Production

University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada

ABSTRACT

Two experiments were conducted to assess heat treatment of alfalfa prior to ensiling. In Experiment 1, direct-cut alfalfa (26% DM) was subjected to dry heat (air temperature 400°C) for either O, 7, 14, 21, or 29 s prior to ensiling. Wilted alfalfa (50% DM) was treated similarly for either O, 5, or 6 s. Heat treatment decreased the soluble N content of silage without inducing heat damage. Across all hours of incubation, heating prior to ensiling decreased in vitro NH₃ N production in comparison with untreated silage (direct-cut or wilted). Duration of treatment affected NH₃ production. Treatment of direct-cut material for at least 14 s was necessary to decrease NH₃ production in comparison with unheated alfalfa or alfalfa treated for 7 s prior to ensiling. Treatment (6 s duration) following wilting decreased NH₃ production in comparison with heat-treated, direct-cut alfalfa (7, 14, 29 s treatments). In Experiment 2, direct-cut alfalfa (36% DM) was subjected to microwave heating for either 0, 30, 60, 120, or 180 s prior to ensiling. Heat treatment decreased the soluble N content of silage. Treatment for at least 60 s resulted in a further decrease in N solubility. In addition, treatment for at least 60 s was necessary to decrease NH₃ production. Thus, short-term heat treatment of alfalfa prior to ensiling may be an effective alternative for improving the utilization of silage N in ruminants.

¹ Department of Animal and Poultry Science.

² School of Engineering.

³ Present address: National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India.