Research On Animal Production

     Effect of drying method was investigated on chemical composition, nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation parameters of alfalfa hay harvested in the morning or afternoon. Experimental treatments consisted of alfalfa harvested in the morning and dried in sun, alfalfa harvested in the afternoon and dried in sun, alfalfa harvested in the morning and dried in shadow, alfalfa harvested in the afternoon and dried in shadow, alfalfa harvested in the morning and dried in oven, alfalfa harvested in the afternoon and dried in oven, alfalfa harvested in the morning and dried in microwave and alfalfa harvested in the afternoon and dried in microwave. In vitro digestibility and ruminal fermentation parameters were determined by two steps and gas production methods. The highest acid detergent fibre and lowest dry matter content were observed in alfalfa dried in oven and shadow, respectively (P<0.05). The lowest nitrogen fraction C and the highest rumen undegradable protein content were observed in alfalfa hay dried in shadow and microwave, respectively (P<0.05). Alfalfa hay harvested in the afternoon and dried in shadow or microwave had the highest gas production (P<0.05). Partitioning factor and microbial biomass production were lower in alfalfa harvested in the morning and dried in oven (P<0.05). The highest and the lowest apparent dry matter and true orgaic matter digestibility were observed in alfalfa harvested in the afternoon and dried in shadow and alfalfa harvested in the morning and dried in oven, respectively (P<0.05). Overall, alfalfa hay harvested in the afternoon and dried in shadow or microwave had better quality compared to that harvested in the morning and dried in sun or oven.