Dietary fiber plays a important role in improving gut micriobiome and reproductive performance in gestating sows. This study aimed to evaluate effects of dietary supplementation with domestically produced alfalfa, provided in pelleted or mashed form, on body weight, body condition, litter performance, fecal score and fecal microbiome in gestating sows. A total of nine crossbred F1 gilts (Yorkshire × Landrace) with an average body weight of 230.33 ± 12.63 kg at 50 days of gestation were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (n = 3 per treatment): (1) control (CON, basal diet), (2) Pellet (basal diet + 10% pelleted alfalfa), and (3) Mash (basal diet + 10% mashed alfalfa). Results indicated that alfalfa supplementation had no significant effect on weight gain during gestation (p>0.05), although sows in both alfalfa-supplemented groups showed numerically reduced weight loss during lactation compared to the control. The mashed alfalfa improved average daily weight gain of piglets during lactation (p<0.05). Moreover, the pelleted alfalfa alleviated constipation and numerically increased the relative abundance of positive microbes such as Firmicutes (phylum level), Lactobacillaceae and Ruminococcaceae (family level), and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Lactobacillus, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG_002 (genus level) (p<0.05). On the other hands, it numerically decreased the relative abundance of negative microbes such as Proteobacteria in phylum level and Escherichia_Shigella in genus level. These findings suggest that domestically grown alfalfa, particularly in pellet or mash form, may be a valuable dietary fiber source for gestating sows to support piglet performance, gut health, and welfare. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to confirm these effects.

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) is widely used to assess the nutrient composition of forages. In forage, the leaf to stem ratio of alfalfa greatly affects its forage quality, with a high ratio of leaf indicated as high quality. This study aimed to evaluate the predictability of the alfalfa leaf-to-stem ratio and feed value using NIRS. Alfalfa hay was manually separated into leaves and stems by hand and the analysis samples were then made in the controlled range between 0 and 100%. Calibration models (n=320) were developed using modified partial least squares regression (MPLS) based on cross-validation. The optimal calibrations were selected based on the highest coefficients of determination in cross-validation (R2) and the lowest standard error of cross-validation (SECV). The prediction accuracy for the leaf-to-stem ratio (SECV, 5.95 vs. 5.71%; R2, 0.91 vs. 0.91) in alfalfa hay was comparable. For leaves, the standard error of calibration (SEC) was 4.94% (R2=0.94), and for stems, it was 4.81% (R2=0.94). The leaves and stems of the SEC were 4.94% (R2=0.94) and 4.81% (R2=0.94), respectively. The prediction accuracy for feed value, based on the leaf-to-stem ratio, predicted SECV values of 0.92% (R2=0.88) for crude protein (CP) content, 1.92% (R2=0.91) for neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content, 1.36% (R2=0.91) for total digestibility nutrient (TDN) content, and 9.86 (R2=0.81) for relative feed value (RFV). The results of this study demonstrate the potential of the NIRS method as a reliable tool for predicting the leaf-to-stem ratio of alfalfa hay, and show available techniques for routine feed value evaluation.

Alfalfa hay varieties have been developed and cultivated in Korea to enhance the self-sufficiency rate of domestic roughage. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of feeding domestic and imported alfalfa on the growth performance and economic feasibility of Hanwoo bulls. This study was conducted using eight Hanwoo bulls, aged 6 to 7 months, during their growing period. Hanwoo bulls were divided into two groups: one group fed imported alfalfa and the other group fed domestic alfalfa. Dry matter intake, weight gain, and blood metabolites were analyzed for two months of the growing stage. There was no significant difference between the two groups in dry matter intake and body weight. However, the price of domestic alfalfa is lower than that of imported alfalfa, so feeding domestic alfalfa is expected to have a positive effect on reducing production costs. Further study is needed to compare not only the growth performance but also carcass characteristics after slaughter by feeding domestic alfalfa to Hanwoo for a longer period during their growing stage.

The objective of this study was to investigate the comparison of feeding a total mixed ration (TMR) containing imported alfalfa hay and TMR containing hot-air dried domestic alfalfa on rumination activity, milk production, and composition in lactating dairy cows. Ten Holstein dairy cows were divided into two groups: control (imported alfalfa hay + TMR) and treatment (hot-air dried domestic alfalfa + TMR) groups. The study was conducted over a total period of 18 days, including a 13-days adaptation period and a 5-days main experimental period. The results indicated no differences in total digestible nutrient and net energy intake between the imported and hot-air dried alfalfa. Body weight was not significantly different between the two groups (p>0.05), however, total feed intake and rumination time were significantly and tendentially higher in the treatment group compared with control group, respectively (p<0.001; p=0.075). Milk yield was not significantly different between the two groups (p>0.05), however, milk fat (kg) and lactose (%) concentration were significantly higher in the treatment group compared with control group (p=0.016; p=0.02). This study confirms that feeding TMR with hot-air dried domestic alfalfa results in no differences of feed intake, rumination activity, and milk productivity. Therefore, it is considered that hot-air dried domestic alfalfa can be used as a substitute for imported alfalfa on lactating dairy cows.

It would be advantageous to grow legume forage crops in order to increase the productivity and sustainability of sloped croplands in Hamkyongbukdo. In particular, the identification of potential cultivation areas for alfalfa in the given region could aid decision-making on policies and management related to forage crop production in the future. This study aimed to analyze the climate suitability of alfalfa in Hamkyongbukdo under current and future climate conditions using the Fuzzy Union model. The climate suitability predicted by the Fuzzy Union model was compared with the actual alfalfa cultivation area in the northern United States. Climate data obtained from 11 global climate models were used as input data for calculation of climate suitability in the study region to examine the uncertainty of projections under future climate conditions. The area where the climate suitability index was greater than a threshold value (22.6) explained about 44% of the variation in actual alfalfa cultivation areas by state in the northern United States. The climatic suitability of alfalfa was projected to decrease in most areas of Hamkyongbukdo under future climate scenarios. The climatic suitability in Onseong and Gyeongwon County was analyzed to be over 88 in the current climate conditions. However, it was projected to decrease by about 66% in the given areas by the 2090s. Our study illustrated that the impact of climate change on suitable cultivation areas was highly variable when different climate data were used as inputs to the Fuzzy Union model. Still, the ensemble of the climate suitability projections for alfalfa was projected to decrease considerably due to summer depression in Hamkyongbukdo. It would be advantageous to predict suitable cultivation areas by adding soil conditions or to predict the climate suitability of other leguminous crops such as hairy vetch, which merits further studies.

This study was conducted to determine the optimal spring seeding dates for alfalfa yield and feed value. The experiment was conducted annually for three years (2021~2023) at the field in the Department of Animal Resources Development, NIAS, located in Cheonan. The treatments involved six seeding dates ranging from February 24 to April 14, with 10days intervals. Alfalfa was harvested four times a year at the early flowering stage. Dry matter yield showed a tendency to decrease with delayed the seeding date. However, depending on the climatidc condisions in the seeding year, the dry matter yield on March 14 or 24 was comparable to that on February 24. Annual dry matter yield varied, influenced by the daylight conditions each year. The average feed value did not significantly differ within in the same year with delayed seeding dates (p>0.05). Therefore, the most stable period for alfalfa spring seeding in the central area of South Korea is considered to be from February 24 to April 4, with February 24 indentified as the optimal date.

본 연구는 수분함량과 미생물 첨가제가 알팔파 사일리지의 발효특성과 사료가치에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위해 수행되었다. 알팔파는 개화 10% 시기에서 수확되었으며 수분 함량(M60, M50, M40 및 M30)이 60, 50, 40 및 30%일 때 각각 이용하였다. 1500g을 샘플링한 후, 증류수 10mL을 첨가한 미첨가구(NAD)와 Lactococcus lactis 와 Pediococcus pentosaceus의 혼합물을 증류수(0.1g/10mL)에 1.5 x 1010cfu/g 농도로 희석한 후 접종한 미생물 균주 첨가구(ADD)를 3개월 및 6개월 발효하였다. 수분 및 미생물 첨가제에 따른 연평균 알팔파의 조단백, 중성세제 불용성 섬유 및 산성세제 불용성 섬유에서 차이가 없었다(p>0.05). 모든 발효기간에서 pH는 ADD의 M40에서 가장 낮았다(p<0.05). NAD 처리구에서는 젖산이 M50에서 가장 높았고(p<0.05), ADD 처리군에서는 M40 시험구에서 젖산이 가장 높았다(p<0.05). NAD와 ADD의 M60은 젖산 함량이 다른 수분 함량들에 비해 가장 낮으며(p<0.05) 낙산이 유일하게 검출되었다. 미생물군집의 상대적 풍부도는 ADD 처리구의 M40과 M50에서 Homo LAB (Enterococcus, Lactiplantibacillus, Lacticaseibacillus, Lactococcus, Pediococcus)의 비율이 가장 높았고, Clostridium은 M60에서 가장 높았다.

본 연구에서는 건열처리를 통해 알팔파 종자에 접종된 Bacillus cereus ATCC 12480, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC SSA81, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Escherichia coli O157:H7 ATCC 43894, Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028을 발아율에 영향 없이 불활성화 시키는 조건(65oC 에서 21일, 70oC에서 16일, 75oC에서 10일, 80oC에서 7일)을 조사하였다. 알팔파 종자를 6-7 log CFU/g 수준으로 접종 하고 65, 70, 75, 80oC로 건열처리 한 후, 발아율을 확인 하였다. 알팔파 종자의 발아율은 시장에 유통되고 있는 알 팔파 새싹의 발아율 기준인 70%로 설정하였다. 알팔파 종 자에서 B. cereus는 65oC에서 21일, 70oC에서 18일, 75oC 에서 14일, 80oC에서 4일, Listeria monocytogenes는 65oC에서 21일, 70oC에서 18일, 75oC에서 12일, 80oC에서 7일, S. aureus는 65oC에서 18일, 70oC에서 18일, 75oC에서 11 일, 80oC에서 4일, E. coli O157:H7은 65oC에서 21일, 70oC 에서 18일, 75oC에서 12일, 80oC에서 6일, Sal. Typhimurium 은 65oC에서 24일, 70oC에서 22일, 75oC에서 14일, 80oC 에서 7일 이상 건열처리 하였을 때 완전히 불활성화 되었 다. 모든 균주는 65oC에서 80oC로 온도가 상승할 때 특정 온도에서 세균의 90%를 죽이는 데 필요한 시간인 D-값 (R2=0.5656−0.7957)이 유의미하게 감소하였다(P<0.05). 80oC 에서 7일간 건열처리 하였을 때 발아율이 70% 미만으로 감소하였기 때문에 75oC에서 14일간 건열처리 하는 것이 알팔파 종자의 안전성을 확보하는데 있어 가장 효과적인 방법이다. 이 연구는 알팔파 종자의 안전성을 확보하고 일 정한 품질의 새싹을 생산하는데 기초자료로 이용될 것으 로 기대된다.

This experiment was conducted to establish the technology for artificial hay preparation in Korea. Using far-infrared heater, a device that can control temperature, airflow, and far-infrared radiation was produced and conducted on the fourth harvested alfalfa. The drying conditions were carried out by selecting a total of four conditions. For each condition, the radiation rate was set to around 40% (33-42%), and the temperature was set at 58~65℃, and the speed of the airflow was fixed at 60m/s. The overall drying time was set to 30 min in the single and 60 min (30-30 min) and 90 min (30-30-30 min) in the complex condition, and the radiation rate and temperature were changed by time period. In the case of drying condition 1, the final dry matter (DM) content was 46.26%, which did not reach a DM suitable for hay. However, all of the alfalfa corresponding to the remaining drying conditions 2 to 7 showed a DM content of 80% or more, resulting in optimal alfalfa hay production. In power consumption according to the drying conditions, the second drying condition showed the lowest at 4.7 KW, and the remaining drying conditions were as high as 6.5 to 7.1 KW. The crude protein content was found to be high at an average of 25.91% and it showed the highest content in the 5th drying condition (26.93%) and the lowest value in the 6th drying condition (25.16%). The digestibility showed a high value with an average of 84.90%, and there was no significant difference among treatments (p>0.05). Considering the above results, it was judged that drying condition 2 was the most advantageous.

This study was conducted to examine the dry matter yield and weed control of alfalfa according to postemergence herbicides treatment during spring seeding alfalfa. The seeding time of alfalfa was April 21, 2021, the seeding amount was 20 kg/ha, and the seeding method was by 20 cm wide. The alfalfa harvest was carried out at the early bloom stage (10% of flowering), and the harvest date was June 29, 2021. The test treatments were non herbicide (NH), hand weeding (HW), herbicide 1 (Trifluralin, H1), herbicide 2 (S-metolachlor, H2), herbicide 3 (Alachlor, H3), and herbicide 4 (Pendimethalin, H4). Alfalfa plant height was significantly highest in H2 (62.1±1.4 cm) followed by H3 (61.7±1.6 cm), HW (58.5±1.0 cm), H1 (57.2±1.3 cm), H4 (56.1±1.3 cm), and NH (54.1±1.2 cm) (p<0.05). Based on HW, H2 and H3 were high and H1 and H4 were short, but NH was significantly shorter than HW and H1~H4 (p<0.05). The dry matter yield of alfalfa in NH, HW, H1, H2, H3, and H4 were 717.2±94.2, 2,613.8±254.1, 1,667.8±94.1, 2,498.3±120.2, 2,435.0±118.3, and 1,793.7±354.3 kg/ha. HW is the highest among them (p<0.05). The feed composition of alfalfa was 22~24% of the dry matter yield, and the CP content were significantly higher in NH (23.6 %) (p<0.05). The NH had higher (p<0.05) NDF and ADF, but RFV was lower (p<0.05). The weed plant height was NH 98.0±3.3cm, HW 73.3±1.7 cm, H1 91.9±1.5 cm, H2 53.3±5.8 cm, H3 81.4±3.5 cm and H4 96.6±2.2 cm, and H2 was significantly smallest in the group (p<0.05). The weed dry matter yield was NH 4,770.4±232.5 kg/ha, HW 316.3±91.9 kg/ha, H1 2,353.4±173.7 kg/ha, H2 114.5±10.2 kg/ha, H3 752.7±440.6 kg/ha and H4 2,220.6±775.6 kg/ha. The weed control value was HW 94.1%, H1 53.5%, H2 98.2%, H3 84.9%, H4 48.7%, the weed value of H2 is similar to weed control value of HW. Considering the above results, postemergence herbicide treatment controlled weeds by more than 50% compared with no treatment, and among herbicides, H2 (S-metolachlor) was found to be on a similar level to hand weeding.

본 연구는 객토를 한 간척지에서 석고시용 수준이 알팔파의 수량과 사료성분에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 수행하였다. 실험장소는 간척한지 17~33년 경과된 석문간척지로서 약 70 cm 정도 객토한 토양이었다. 객토에 사용한 흙은 섬토양의 제염을 하지 않은 것 이었다. 처리는 석고를 시용하지 않은 0 ton/ha 구(G0), 석 고를 2 ton/ha(G2) 및 4 ton/ha(G4) 시용한 구로 하였다. 수확은 알팔파가 개화초기(개화 10%)에 도달할 때 1차 수확하였으며 이 후 수확은 약 35일 간격으로 수확을 하였다. 알팔파의 건물수량은 1차 년도는 G2가 G0와 G4보다 유의적으로 높았으며 2차 년도는 처리간 유의적인 차이는 없었으나 G2가 G0와 G4보다 높은 경향을 보였다. G2에서 알팔파의 건물수량이 높은 이유는 토양의 pH 및 EC가 각각 재배가능 및 재배적합 수준이었고 피복도 및 알팔파 식생비율도 높은 것에 기인하였다. 1차 및 2차 년도 모두 석고 처리 간 CP, NDF 및 ADF 함량 및 RFV는 차이가 없었다. 한편 1차 및 2차 년도의 연구결과를 통해서 알팔파 건물수량에 부정적인 영향을 주는 요인은 봄의 가뭄과 여름의 집중된 강수로 나타났다. 이상으로부터 객토 간척지에서 석고 처리는 알팔파의 건물수량을 높이는데 효과적인 것으로 판단되며 2 ton/ha이 적정 수준인 것으로 사료된다.

Acidic soil significantly reduces crop productivity mainly due to aluminum (Al) toxicity. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) roots were exposed to aluminum stress (Al3 +) in calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution (pH4.5) and root growth, physiological and antioxidant enzyme responses were investigated. The root growth (length) was significantly inhibited after 48 h of aluminum stress imposition. Histochemical staining with hematoxylin indicated significant accumulation of aluminum in Al stress-treated root tissues. Histochemical assay were also performed to detect superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation, which were found to be more in root tissues treated with higher aluminum concentrations. The enzymatic activity of CAT, POD and GR in root tissues was slightly increased after Al stress treatment. The result suggests that Al stress alters root growth in alfalfa and induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and demonstrates that antioxidant enzymes involved in detoxification of Al-mediated oxidative stress.

기후변화는 곤충의 성장, 발육, 생존, 생식력, 분포범위 등 생활사의 변수들에 영향을 준다. 특히 외래곤충의 경우 생태계 정착 및 확산이 빨라 지고 있으며, 생태계 교란, 토착종 감소 등 생물다양성을 감소시키는 직접적인 원인 중 하나이다. 알팔파바구미는 1990년대 제주도에서 처음 발견 후 남부지방에 대량 발생하여 농업해충으로 인식되었다. 최근 하면처로 이동하는 개체에 의한 밭작물의 피해와 여러 시군에서 서식이 확인되며 확산의 우려되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 기후변화가 알팔파바구미에 미치는 영향에 대해 파악하였다. 미래의 기후 시나리오 RCP 4.5와 RCP 8.5에서 알팔파바구미의 잠재적 분포를 추정하기 위해 MaxEnt 모델을 적용하였다. 모형의 변수는 2015~2017년까지 알팔파바구미의 서식이 확인된 66개 지점과 종의 생태특성 및 예측변수간 상관성을 고려한 6개(bio3, bio6, bio10, bio12, bio14, bio16)의 생물기후를 사용하였다. 예측된 모형의 적합 도는 평균 0.765로 잠재력이 의미 있는 값이며, 최고 따뜻한 분기의 평균기온(bio10)이 60~70%로 높은 기여도를 나타냈다. 2050년과 2070년의 시나리오(RCP 4.5, RCP 8.5)에 대한 모형의 결과는 한반도 전역에서 알팔파바구미의 분포 변화를 보여 주었으며, 기온상승에 따른 전국적 확산이 예측되었다.