The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding alfalfa haylage with microbial inoculat on dry matter intake, milk yield and composition in Holstein cows, at 135 ± 16.4 days in milk. A cross-over design with two periods of sampling was used. Treatments were alfalfa haylage (50.0% DM and 16.5% CP) control or microbially inoculated with Silobac® product (Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus). Each experimental period extended for twenty-one days, the last five used for data collection. The inoculation did not influence DMI (inoculated = 17.8 vs. control = 17.8 kg/animal/day), 4%FCM (21.0 vs. 20.4 kg/day), milk yield (23.0 vs. 22.4 kg/day), fat (3.46 vs. 3.47%), protein (2.96 vs. 2.93%), lactose (4.64 vs. 4.67%), total solids (11.9 vs. 11.9%) and fat free solids percentage (8.49 vs. 8.48%), SCC (5.43 vs. 5.16 log cell/10³/mL), MUN (11.7 vs. 12.1 mg/dl), acidity (15.9 vs. 16.4ºD), density (1030.1 vs. 1030.0) and cryoscopic index (-0.529 vs. -0.531ºH).
lactic acid bacteria; milk yield; Medicago sativa
