Transcript Pasture Management to Reduce Weed Competition

Hay Preservatives and
Baled Silage
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Specialist
Crop and Soil Sciences – UGA
The other extreme…
Hay Moisture Probe
Contacts
Accuracy of Various Hay Moisture
Probes – 4th cutting Bermudagrass
40
Actual
FtP
JD
Hay Moisture (%)
35
30
DW
FtW
PA
25
20
15
10
5
0
10 a.m.
1 p.m.
3 p.m.
Determining Moisture
Methods:
4. Hay Moisture Testers/Probes
3. By feel (if calibrated).
2. Microwave moisture test
Determining Moisture
Methods:
4. Hay Moisture Testers/Probes
3. By feel (if calibrated).
2. Microwave moisture test
1. Moisture tester (e.g., Koster)
Losses During Storage
• Even when hay is baled at the target moisture
(15% moisture for round bales; 18% for squares),
the forage will go through a “sweat” for 2-3 wks.
 Moisture is driven off, heat is given off, and DM dec.
 A 1% decrease in moisture ≈ 1% decrease in DM
 Moisture tends to equilibrate at 12% during storage
20% Moisture
1000 lbs DM
H2O + CO2
12% Moisture
920 lbs DM
HEAT
Mold Spores
Aspergillus
Penicillium
O2 + H2O
Carbohydrates
(sugars)
CO2
CO2
CO2
Causal Agents of Hay Heating
70
110
150
190
230
270
310° F
Plant
Respiration
Fungi and Bacteria
Heat-Resistant Fungi
Exothermic Chemical Reaction
(combustion)
Hay Temperature | Risk Levels
70
110
Normal Range
Safe
150
Heat
Damage
190
230
270
Fire Danger
310° F
Bale Moisture Effects Bale Temp
Temperature, °F
150
33% Moisture
125
25% Moisture
100
75
17% Moisture
0
10
20
Days
30
40
Small Squares
Coblentz et al., 2000. Crop Sci.
HEAT
Aspergillus
Penicillium
O2 + H2O
Carbohydrates
(sugars)
CO
CO2
2
Bacterial
CO2
Decomposition
Organic Acids are Corrosive
Same baler, 2 months later.
Hay Preservation Additives
• Rock Salt
No effect on mold growth
Increases palatability
Not recommended.
Hay Preservation Additives
• Bacterial/microbial inoculants
Those tested have no consistently
demonstrable effect.
Some have had inconsistent
effects
(some positive, some no change).
Effectiveness in Humid South is
questionable (high humidity)
Requires real-time moisture
measurement (rate adjustment)
Hay Preservation Additives
• Organic acids
• Buffered acids
Prevents heating, but maintains moist
environment for microbial activity.
DM losses often offset DM gains.
Beneficial when moisture is 18 – 25%
Baled Silage
Silage & Haylage
SILAGE - Forage that has
undergone anaerobic
fermentation
Less dependent on
weather
Makes use of some
forages that other-wise
wouldn’t work.
Quality Advantages
• Enables
timely harvest
• Lowered
• Less
shatter loss
• Higher




risk of rain damage
forage quality1
Lower NDF, ADF, ADL
Higher CP
Increased digestibility
Increased palatability
• However,
“Garbage in = Garbage out!”
1
Han, et al. 2005; Hancock and Collins, 2006.
Wilting
2-5% loss
Baling
2-5% loss
Baled Silage
Can be more efficient…
Fewer Losses
Accumulate With
Each Step
Storage
4-10% loss
Feeding
Minimal loss
End Result:
90% of Original DM
Baled Silage – An Option for
Harvesting High Quality
Treatment
CP
TDN
%
%
Bermuda Hay
16.1 a
62.9 b
116 c
1.56 b
Ryegrass Baleage
16.3 a
65.9 a
174 a
1.94 a
Ryegrass Hay
14.7 b
62.4 c
133 b
1.26 b
0.22
0.35
3.2
0.341
LSD0.10
RFQ
ADG
(lbs/hd/d)
Alfalfa silage & hay
2, 4, or 6 layers of film
Hay
6 layers
2 layers
Storage Treatment
2 layers
4 layers
6 layers
Hay
Consumption
53%
84%
88%
44%
4 layers
Details
Silage Fermentation
Silage pH
pH 6.0
pH 4.2
Acetic acid bacteria
1 2 3 4
7
pH 3.8
Lactic acid bacteria
14
Days after ensiling
20
28
Acetic acid, like propionic acid in hay preservatives, is
an antagonist to yeast/fungal growth. Plus, there is
very little oxygen for the fungus to grow.
Bale Wrapper Selection
Consider:
Cost, Labor, Speed, Volume
Baled Silage Costs
Plastic Cost:
$5.00 - $15.00/ton DM
Wrapper cost:
$2.00 - $5.00/ton DM
Fuel & Repairs:
$0.50 - $5.00/ton DM
Labor:
$0.75 - $2.00/ton DM
Total:
$12 - $25/ton DM
The Unseen Cost of
Hay Storage
Expected
Losses
Cost of Production ($/ton)
$80
$100
$120
$140
Value of Losses in the System ($/ton)
Hay, no cover/on ground
50%
$40
$50
$60
$70
Hay, under roof
25%
$20
$25
$30
$35
Baleage
15%
$12
$15
$18
$21
Wrapping System Determines
Through-Put
• Cut
mid-afternoon on one day,
bale & wrap the next day.
• Amount
cut = how much can be
baled and wrapped the next day.
• Bales
should be wrapped w/in
12 hrs of baling.
Make Good Bales
• Optimize bale size
 match to tractor
 dense bales
 4’x 5’ bale is most popular
 900-1300 lbs, dep. on %M
 square edges
• Use plastic twine or net
 sisal twine degrades plastic
Choose an Appropriate Site for
Wrapping
• Wrap at the storage site
 reduces handling
 reduces risk of spoilage
Bale at the Right Moisture
Ideal Range, 50-65% Moisture
Toxic Potential
(Clostridial,
Listeriosis)
70%
40%
Moisture
Rule of thumb:
bale when the forage is no longer wet
enough to wring juice out of a handful.
Poor
Fermentation
Apply enough plastic but no more.
6-10 layers
(+ double on joints)
4-6 layers
Resources
Questions?
www.georgiaforages.com
1-800-ASK-UGA1