Interseeding alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) into bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] can be an effective way to improve forage quality and reduce the need for additional supplementation when fed to livestock. The objective of this research was to compare the nutritive value and forage mass of bermudagrass with and without interseeded alfalfa when harvested as baleage. On 19 Feb. 2016, 0.2‐ha plots were assigned in a randomized complete block design to either ‘Tifton 85’ (T85) or T85 interseeded with ‘Bulldog 805’ alfalfa (T85+Alf) in an established field of Tifton 85 bermudagrass at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus, Tifton, GA. The T85 received 84 kg N ha−1 four times throughout the growing season. Plots were harvested at early bloom stage every 28–35 d throughout the growing season, baled at 40–60% moisture, and individually wrapped. At each harvest, plots were evaluated for botanical composition and forage mass, and bales were sampled prior to wrapping for nutritive value analysis. The T85+Alf plots produced additional harvests each season, leading to greater herbage accumulation than T85 plots (P < .01). The T85+Alf treatment had greater crude protein and total digestible nutrients than T85 in each of the 3 yr, suggesting this mixture will need no or less supplementation to meet the nutritional requirements of a lactating beef cow. Therefore, interseeding alfalfa into a bermudagrass system improves forage mass and nutritive value.

High quality forages produced in the southeastern U.S. can benefit from being harvested as baleage when environmental conditions are not favorable for hay production. Current recommendations are to feed baleage within 9 mo of harvesting; however, wet summers or mild winters can reduce the need for utilizing stored forage in this timely manner. Limited data exist on the nutritional value of baleage stored beyond a 9-mo period. Therefore, the objective of this research is to determine if storage length affects the nutritive value of baleage in the southeastern U.S. This study was conducted from 2016–2020 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus, using ‘Tifton-85’ bermudagrass baleage (BG) and ‘Bulldog 805’ alfalfa-bermudagrass mixed baleage (BGA) harvested on a 28–35-d interval, baled at approximately 55% moisture, and individually wrapped for storage. Bales were marked by treatment, sampled prior to wrapping for initial determination (INT), and sampled again post fermentation at 6-wk, 9-mo and 12-mo timepoints for nutritive value analyses. Additionally, a subset of bales harvested in June and August of 2017 and 2018 were maintained and sampled at 24-mo time point. Statistical analysis was conducted using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4. Nutritive analysis showed a difference in the CP% between pre and post fermentation events for BGA (INT=22±2.39 and 6-wk, 9-mo, 12-mo=20±2.39; P &lt; 0.01), while no difference was found for BG. TDN% was different only at 6 wk for BGA (66±0.63; P = 0.03) compared to all other timepoints, with no difference for BG. The 24mo storage analysis showed a decline in the CP% and TDN% for both BGA and BG from pre and post fermentation. Results from this study conclude there no effect on the nutritive value of baleage stored up to 12 mo post fermentation. Maintaining bale integrity can be attributed to the decline in nutritive value observed when stored longer than 12 mo.

New silage inoculants contain a bacterial strain that produces ferulic acid esterase (FAE), which may facilitate lignin breakdown and increase the ensiled forage's digestibility. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a FAEproducing microbial inoculant for improving fermentation characteristics, nutritive value, and digestibility of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) (ALF) or alfalfa-bermudagrass [Cyondon dactylon (L.) Pers.] (ABG) silage. This study was conducted at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus in Tifton, GA, and the J. Phil Campbell Research and Extension Center in Watkinsville, GA, on 0.25 acres of previously established 'Bulldog 805′ alfalfa (Tifton) and a hybrid bermudagrass interseeded with Bulldog 505 alfalfa (Watkinsville). Forage was harvested twice during the growing season at 10% bloom of the alfalfa to simulate lignin content differences during the growing season. Harvested forage was treated with one of three treatments [FAE-producing microbial inoculant (MI + FAE), a heterofermentative microbial forage inoculant (MI), or an untreated water control] before being packed into miniature silos to undergo a 60-d fermentation. After a fermentation period, forage was analyzed for fermentation characteristics, nutritive value, and digestibility parameters. The inoculant treatment tended (P < .1) to affect total volatile fatty acid production in alfalfa; ABG was unaffected (P = .91). Inoculant treatment also did not affect in vitro dry matter digestibility of either forage (P = .22 and .33 for ALF and ABG, respectively). The MI + FAE treatment did not improve fermentation characteristics, nutritive value, or digestibility parameters compared with the MI inoculant.

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