Transcript Silage- Preserved Grass for Winter Feed

Silage- Preserved
Grass for Winter
Feed
Slide 1
Factors That Affect
Silage Quality
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Use of additives
Compaction
Speed of filling &
sealing the pit
Wetness when cut
Time of year
ensiled
Silage Data
Harvest
15 May 29
Date
May
Silage Yield 4.0
5.2
13
June
6.6
27
June
7.8
Silage
Digestibility
Silage
Intake
Carcass
Gain
75
70
65
60
9.0
8.3
7.6
7.0
0.51
0.39
0.27
0.15
Increase in yield= longer growing period, increase photosynthesis & day length,
Variation in digestibility= grass develops flower, high % cellulose, reduction in starch
Decrease in carcass = lower intake, less digestible food, decreased protein content
Making Silage
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Preserved grass by
acids.
Lactic Acid from
sugars in grass
Complete absence
of air.
Adequate supply of
sugars.
Complete Absence of Air
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Air must be excluded to enable Lactic
Acid Bacteria to feed & prevents rotting.
Lactobacilli
Streptococci
These bacteria feed & multiply to
produce LACTIC ACID-Preserve
Anaerobic bacteria
The Faster air is excluded the quicker
the bacteria can start to work on sugars
to produce acid to lower pH.
Fast filling the pit & sealing is vital
pH 4 as fast as possible
Adequate Supply of Sugars
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Anaerobic bacteria
feed sugars Acids
Sugar content 10 –
15%
Different grass species
Grass acts as a
substrate for the
bacteria & converts the
sugars to acids
Grass Species used for
Silage
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Perennial Ryegrass
Italian Ryegrass
(biennial)
White clover
Red clover
Factors forming Lactic
Acid Silage
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Air free
Fill silo quickly
Short cut grass
Good compaction
Wilted grass
Lactobacillus
Streptococcus
Good Acidification
 Low pH
 Effective Additive
 Good Sealing of
silo
 High sugar Grass
 STAGE of Growth
= High Palatability,
High Digestibility
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Additive
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Improve Silage
Preservation
Increased Silage
Intake
Improved
digestibility &
animal performance
Molasses
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Sugar Based
Added to supplement sugars already
present in grass.
The sugars are converted to acids by
microbes.
9-18 litres/ton of grass
Added either by harvester or at the pit
Young leafy grass, wet weather have
reduced sugar content
Sulphuric/Formic Acid
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These reduce the pH of
grass from 6 to 4.8
Creates an environment
which favours lactic acid
production
2-3 litres/ton
The lower the sugar level
in grass, the leafier the
grass & the wetter the
grass the higher rate of
acid is used
Silage Cutting
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Mower- chops the
grass up small to
increase the
surface area for
bacteria to act on
Precision chop
mower
Wilting
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This is to cut the grass & leave it on the
ground for 24 –48 hours before
gathering up & ensiling it
To remove some water from the crop
Increases conc. Of sugars
Reduces level of effluent
Raises DM content
Reduces the activity of undesirable
bacteria
Reduces the size of clamp required
Saves on additives
To Make silage
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Close the field in time.
Fertilize adequately
Cut at the correct stage of growthprecision chopper
Allow to wilt for 1-2 days
Pick up the grass
Transport to pit/bale
Fill pit quickly
Use an additive
Spread grass and compact evenly
Cover & seal the pit
Experiments
% Sugar in silage sample
 Compare silage samples-colour, smell,
pH, water content.
 % DMD
 To conserve grass as silage in the lab
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Veronica Walsh, Coláiste Treasa
To get high levels of
carbohydrates
Cut the grass at the young leafy stage
 Cut in dry conditions(water dilutes)
 Allow to wilt
 Cut using a precision chop mower
 Use a carbohydrate rich additive
 Mow in afternoon
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