Table 2 Fermentation characteristic and microbial counts of the alfalfa silages (g/kg of DM except as noted)

33.5 ± 0.31^c

35.9 ± 0.41^a

35.0 ± 0.20^b

36.2 ± 0.32^a

5.2 ± 0.18^a

4.8 ± 0.04^bc

4.7 ± 0.07^c

4.9 ± 0.09^b

13.0 ± 0.73^c

14.9 ± 1.06^bc

13.5 ± 0.93^a

13.8 ± 0.62^b

7.8 ± 0.41^a

4.6 ± 0.29^d

5.3 ± 0.61^b

5.0 ± 0.25^c

30.7 ± 1.17^d

36.9 ± 2.36^c

51.2 ± 2.41^a

45.5 ± 2.04^b

12.6 ± 1.48^c

38.3 ± 1.94^a

17.5 ± 0.98^b

18.4 ± 1.09^b

1.8 ± 0.07^a

0.2 ± 0.01^b

0.2 ± 0.06^b

0.3 ± 0.01^b

3.1 ± 0.23^a

0.0 ± 0.00^b

0.0 ± 0.02^b

0.1 ± 0.04^b

7.5 ± 0.16^b

8.3 ± 0.14^a

8.5 ± 0.08^a

8.5 ± 0.12^a

21.7 ± 0.09^c

22.6 ± 0.25^a

23.5 ± 0.59^a

23.3 ± 0.02^b

43.1 ± 1.70^a

41.7 ± 1.86^b

40.2 ± 2.05^c

42.6 ± 1.43^b

34.9 ± 0.56^a

32.3 ± 0.98^b

31.3 ± 1.59^b

33.3 ± 0.36^ab

4.3 ± 0.05^a

4.3 ± 0.03^a

3.7 ± 0.05^b

3.7 ± 0.04^b