Influence of maturity on alfalfa hay nutritional fractions and indigestible fiber content

This study focused on changes in fibrous and protein fractions, changes in fiber digestibility and amount of indigestible neutral detergent fiber (NDF) as a consequence of increased maturity in alfalfa. A total area of 720 m2 was divided in 18 blocks randomly assigned to 3 treatments, differing in cutting intervals. Treatment 1 was harvested with a 21-d cutting schedule, at a prebloom stage; treatment 2 with a 28-d schedule, at about first-bloom stage; whereas a full bloom was observed in treatment 3, harvested with a 35-d cutting schedule. Treatments were replicated 4 times through the spring-summer period for 2 subsequent years, 2011 and 2012. Statistical differences were observed for crude protein [treatment 1: 20.8%, treatment 2: 17.3%, and treatment 3: 17.0%; standard error of the mean (SEM) = 0.83], soluble protein, and nonprotein nitrogen among treatments on a dry matter basis. Similar results were observed for acid detergent lignin (6.3, 6.9, and 7.3%, respectively; SEM = 0.39), lower in treatment 1 compared with others, and in vitro NDF digestibility at 24 or 240 h. Indigestible NDF at 240 h resulted in lower values for treatment 1 compared with treatments 2 and 3 (15.5, 17.2, and 18.3%, respectively; SEM = 1.54). Moreover, the indigestible NDF:acid detergent lignin ratio varied numerically but not statistically among treatments, being as much as 9% greater than the 2.4 fixed value applied for rate of digestion calculation and Cornell Net Carbohydrate Protein System (Cornell University, Ithaca, NY)-based model equations. Assuming the diet composition remained unchanged, treatment 3 (35-d cutting interval) would be expected to yield 1.4 kg less milk per day based on energy supply, and 2.8 kg less milk daily based on protein supply than treatment 1.