Forage Preservation and Haymaking INAG 116 – Hay Production April 29 th - May 6, 2007

Forage Preservation and HaymakingINAG 116 – Hay Production

April 29th - May 6, 2007

Haymaking and forage preservation Why preserve forages?

Forage preservation methods

Is it worth it for you to do it on your farm? COST EQUIPMENT

WHY?? Natural foraging behavior

Size of most animal operations today

Quality of feed that is transportable

Animal health

Permits long-term storage

Natural foraging behavior High forage diets lead to digestive tract health

Decreased incidence of colic and founder in horses

Healthier microbial populations in hindgut of horses

Provides a more filling diet than diets high in concentrate

Animal production in the 21st Century Most operations are small or have more

animals than land available for grazing

Requires use of preserved forage to meet nutrient requirements of the animals

Feed Quality Forage, when preserved correctly can be a

very high quality feed for animals at all stages of production

Animal Health High quality forage is healthy for the animals

Long-term storage Quality does decrease over time

Microbial respiration Nonenzymatic chemical reactions Plant enzymatic activity

If humidity and temperature can be controlled, hay quality will remain higher Temps above 20º C (68º F) Humidity above 70%

Leads to fungal growthand decreased quality!

Overall Objectives in Managing Preservation Want a stable product

System to minimize losses associated with harvesting and processing

Must meet transportation and storage needs/capacities

Consequences of using preservation systems

It is NOT 100%!!

Process

Fresh vegetation Preserved Forage

Dry Matter LossesQuality Loss

Dry Matter Loss Loss of Dry Matter due to:

Plant metabolism Microbial metabolism (which lasts longer than

plant metabolism) Physical losses

Shattering or breaking of plant material

DM yield of fresh forage is greater than that of preserved vegetation

Dry Matter Loss The nutritional value of fresh forage is greater

than that of preserved forage Most nutritious chemical components of plants

are the parts most susceptible to loss LEAVES are more nutritious than STEMS

Methods of Forage Preservation Hay

Silage

Haylage

Others

Haymaking Phases

Treatments

Problems encountered

Use of Preservatives

Main phases of haymaking

1. Curing

2. Packaging

3. Storage

Key Success Factors in Hay Production

Labor:

The labor requirements for small square bales can quickly eliminate profits. Increasing labor charges and decreasing labor availability has forced most producers to look towards labor saving equipment.

Weather:

The humid climatic conditions and sometimes frequent rains can result in high losses of quality and quantity.

Labor Saving Equipment

Cutting

Curing

Raking

Baling

Stacking

Storage

Curing Step One: Cutting

Curing Step 2: Tedding

Curing Step 3: Raking


Cutting

Advent of disc-bines allows for much faster cutting speeds.


Bale Accumulators


Bale Accumulator


Accumulator Forks


Accumulator Forks


Self Propelled

Automatic Stacking Wagon


Pull Type

Automatic Stacking Wagon


Bale Ejector

Avoiding Weather Losses

Equipment to reduce drying time:



Tedders



Window Inverter



Hay Preservatives



Haylage

Bale Wrapper



Inline Bale Wrapper

Other Equipment Options

•Large square balers

•Re-balers for converting round bales to square bales

•Larger wheel rakes for faster raking

•Self propelled windrowers and mower conditioners

•Hay Basket Wagons

When to Cut?Species Stage of Maturity

Alfalfa Bud to 1/10 bloom

Red Clover ¼ to ½ bloom

Timothy Late boot

Bromegrass Heads emerged

Orchardgrass Blooms emerged

Reed Canarygrass Heads emerged

Tall Fescue Boot stage

Management Goals

YIELD

QUALITY

PERSISTENCE

Factors in response to harvest of legumes Presence of leaf area

Determines capacity for photosynthesis

Carbohydrate reserves

These are compensating factors (one can compensate for the other in its absence)

Alfalfa Reserve Levels(initial spring regrowth)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Stage of Growth

Car

boh

ydra

te R

eser

ves (%

)

8-10 in Regrowth

Growth initiated Bud

Bloom

Full bloom

Mature seed

Alfalfa Reserve Levels(Impact of frequent cutting)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Stage of Growth

Car

boh

ydra

te R

eser

ves (%

)

8-10 in Regrowth

Growth initiated Bud

Bloom

Full bloom

Mature seed

Pre-bud cutting

Alfalfa Reserve Levels(total season)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

50 100 150 200 250 300

Day Number

Car

boh

ydra

te R

eser

ves (%

)

Cut Cut

Cut

Cut

Cut

(7-10 in)

Factors determining regrowth response of grasses Forms of carbohydrate reserves in grasses

Cool season grasses fructans, simple sugars

Warm season grasses starch, simplesugars

Storage sites Crowns (stem bases) Roots (small amounts) Rhizomes, if present

Lesser importance of Carbohydrate reserves in grasses Morphology storage organs are less

massive Small crowns Diffuse roots No taproot

Physiology reserves remain low for longer periods during a regrowth cycle

Harvest timing & optimization of yield, quality and persistenceYield accumulation

during regrowth (one cycle)

1. Lag phase• Growth rate is a function of

slope

2. Linear phase• Growth rates are highest

3. Declining phase• Maturity reached or nutrients

sapped

TimeYie

ld A

ccum

ula

tion

1

2

3

*

* Point where you begin to achieve maximum light interception

Yield accumulation over multiple regrowth cycles

Time

Cum

mul

ativ

e Acc

umul

atio

n

New growth curve whencut at bud stageNew growth curve whencut at bloom

Yield advantageof later harvest

Curing Phase Overview of the curing process:

Objective is to promote drying as rapidly as possible

Factors that affect curing: Leaves dry faster than stems Exposed forage always dries faster Drying rates during curing are high early on, then low

later

Factors affecting the duration of curing

Typical duration 3-7 days

Environmental factors

Mechanical factors

Environmental Factors Factors that promote

curing: High temperature Low humidity High wind Solar radiation

Weather hazards during curing: High humidity Rain

Causes increased shattering

Delays curing Leads to mold

development MOLD

Field = black Baled = white

Cutting considerations Cut when soil surface moisture is below 45% If raining? Move hay

carefully! Leaf shatter Turn windrows

Loss Due to Rainfall Leaching

Respiration

Leaf Loss

Quality?

Rain is in the forecast…Relative Risk

ExplanationLower Higher

Forage can be ensiled Forage will be baled Fewer days needed for curing; narrower swath

Small acreage of forage to be harvested

Large acreage of forage to harvest

Delaying harvest puts more acres at risk of not being cut on time

Rain forecast for early in drying period

Rain forecast for late in drying period

Quality loss is less of rained on when still high moisture

Forecasted rain is short duration/scattered

Forecasted rain is “frontal” +/- long duration

Less leaching if short duration, high intensity

Rain is in the forecast…Relative Risk

ExplanationLower Higher

Pure grass or grass/legume mix

Pure legume Losses associated with leaf shatter less concern with grass

Standing forage is beyond optimum maturity stage

Standing forage still high in quality

Advancing maturity=less cell compounds susceptible to leach loss

Chemical drying agent/ preservative used

No chemicals/drying agents used

Effective use of chemicals allows for baling at higher moisture

Mechanical Factors Hay is cut into windrows

Wider, thinner windrows Exposes a greater surface area to air

Conditioning Common in high rainfall areas Crimping, rolling, or crushing forage Breaks the stems

Raking/turning Example: alfalfa -- raking at 50% moisture will lead to

only 5% leaf loss, while raking at 33% moisture leads to higher leaf loss

To speed drying time: Have as much hay on ground at midday as possible In fields with north/south facing slopes:

Hay south-facing (dries faster) Haylage/silage north-facing

Adjust conditioner so that hay is laid in wide thin rows

Taller stubble will aid drying of lower part of row

Adjustment and Operation of Hay Adjustment and Operation of Hay Equipment for Minimal Drying TimeEquipment for Minimal Drying Time

2007 Delaware Ag WeekHay and Pasture Session

Harrington, DE 22 January 2007

James L. GlanceyIan Cosden

Matt DunsonJeff GordonDoug Cook

University of Delaware

Richard StrosserCase-New Holland, Inc.

[email protected]

Presentation Overview

Hay Drying Physics Conditioner Designs and Adjustments Comparison of Conditioning Methods

Intermeshing rollers vs. impellers Dry matter and drying rate studies

Raking and Tedding Summary

Hay Production . . . Biggest Challenge:

Decreasing drying time. Economic losses result

primarily from in-field drying.

Excessive Drying Times: Dry matter loss Bleaching Exposure to Rainfall Microbial degradation

Dry Matter Loss

How Hay Dries

Phase I: Plants continue to respire

after cutting. Moisture moves through

open stomates. Stomates open during

daylight. Wide swath widths are the

single most important factor in this phase.

How Hay Dries . . .

Phase II: Moisture loss through

leaves and stems. Conditioning

accelerates this phase.

How Hay Dries . . .

Phase III: Loss of most tightly

held water, mainly from stems.

Conditioning critical for this phase.

Target moisture for hay is 14 to 18%.

Driving Factors in Hay Drying

Plant Structure Legume Grass

Windrow Structure Wide vs. Narrow Yield

Environmental Factors Solar Intensity Humidity Wind Speed Dew Soil Moisture

Target Moisture Levels 18% for small bales Less for large bales

(most important)

(least important)

Keys to Making Quality Hay

Cut at the right maturity.

Never trust a weather forecast.

Keep equipment maintained to minimize downtime.

Keep equipment adjusted.

Don’t ever flip the tractor with the mower . . .

Mechanical Conditioning

Bending failure of the plant stem.

Promotes moisture loss through the failure locations.

Proper machine adjustment critical for effective conditioning.

Survey of operators indicates improper machine setup 70% of the time.

Types: Intermeshing rollers Impeller Super-conditioners

Intermeshing (Chevron) Rollers

Adjustments: Gap between conditioning rolls.

Most important parameter Roll pressure

One or two handles to change spring preload on upper roller

Set based on yield Higher pressures for grasses

Roll registration Set relative rotation for proper

meshing

Impeller Conditioner

Tines or flails impact crop.

Rubbing between tines and conditioning hood abrades stems.

Super-conditioning Machined steel or

rubber rollers. Objective is to create

linear cracks in the plant stem.

Because of precision machined rollers and involute profile, gap is almost zero.

Involute Profile Rollers

Duel rollers with Pressure Control

System

Super-conditioning . . .

Price ~ $9500 add-on.

Evaluating Conditioning

The best way to check is to observe the condition of the harvested forage in the windrow.

The stems should be cracked. If not, adjustments must be made.

Linear Crack Crimp

Conditioning Roll MaterialEffect on Field Loss

0123456

MoldedRubber

Tire Cords Rubber andSteel

Steel

Conditioning Roller Type

Dry

Mat

ter

Lo

sses

(%

)

Impeller SettingsEffects on Drying Rate

0.1

0.12

0.14

0.16

0.18

0.2

Slow Fast

Impeller Speed

Dry

ing

Co

nst

ant,

k

Hood Setting

Impeller Speed

0.10.120.140.16

0.180.2

0.22

Far Medium Close

Conditioning Hood Setting

Dry

ing

Co

ns

tan

t, k

Comparison: Impeller vs. Rolls

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

Steel Y Steel U Plastic U Rubber Rolls

Conditioner

Dry

ing

Co

nst

ant Alfalfa

Grass

0

2

4

6

8

10

Steel Y Steel U Plastic U Rubber Rolls

Conditioner

Le

af

Lo

ss

(%

)

Average

Aggressive

Non-Aggressive

Steel Y Steel U Plastic U

Rubber Rolls

Total Dry Matter Losses Three Harvesting Systems

Initial Windrow WidthEffect on Drying Rate

Drying RateConditioned/Not- Conditioned

Windrow width

(% of max )

1 (fastest) Conditioned 100

2 Conditioned 65

3 Not-conditioned 100

4 Not-conditioned 65

5 Conditioned 35

6 (slowest) Not-conditioned 35

An unconditioned swath width of +90% will dry faster than a conditioned swath width of 35%.

Haylage moisture and quality vs. swath width

Swath Width of Mower ConditionersSurvey of U.S. Manufacturers

Average Minimum Maximum

Maximum Swath Width

(% of Cutting Width)61.4 27.8 87.3

Conditioner Width(% of Cutting Width)

65.4 29.4 99.7

If Windrow Width is Too Narrow

Chemical Conditioning? Potassium Carbonate @ 5

lbs per dry ton. Use 30 gallons of water per

acre. Modifies the wax layer on

the stem to increase drying. Best case – can reduce

drying by 1 day. Still need mechanical

conditioning. Not a preservative.

Raking (and Tedding) Timely raking helps minimize leaf

loss and promotes rapid, even drying.

Raking hay that is too wet retards drying.

Raking hay that is too dry results in excessive leaf shatter, losing leaves and hay quality.

Rake when moisture content is about 50%, otherwise, wait until the dew sets before raking.

Side delivery rakes loose about half as much as wheel rakes.

Summary

Solar intensity is the key to fast drying – use wide windrows.

Properly adjusted mechanical conditioning systems can are as good as any other method for reducing drying time.

In general, use conditioning rolls for alfalfa and impeller conditioners for grasses.

Try to rake at moistures more than 40%; use a tedder only above 50%.

For roll conditioners, an automatic adjustment system to control roll gap will likely be available within 5 years.

Baling

Packaging Phase Nature of losses

Shatter – leaves are most susceptibledirectly associated with water

content!

Several factors may affect the magnitude of losses during packaging

Losses during packaging Species

Legumes have higher losses Water content at time of curing termination

Higher loss with lower water content Equipment

Round bales tend to cause more shattering than square bales

Time of Day Bale early morning or evening when there is dew to

reduce loss to shatter

Chemical Hay Treatments

Two main Categories Preservatives Drying Agents

Preservatives Mode of Action

Applied either at or immediately after baling Designed to kill or retard microbial activity Some produce a favorable type of microbial

activity Allows for baling at higher moisture levels

Types of Preservatives Organic Acid Based

Contain propionic or acetic acid Kills microbes

Microbial Based Carried over from silage fermentation agents Promote “favorable” microbial activity Produces compounds that later prevent mold NO PROVEN EFFECTIVENESS

Older types Include agents such as salt (wet areas, mountain meadows) Urea Anhydrous ammonia (used on round bales)

Anhydrous Ammonia Kills microbes Protein Digestibility

NH3OH

Plastic Cover

Open container

Preservatives Benefits of use:

Shortens duration of curing time Reduces risk due to weather hazards

Allows packaging at higher moisture content Reduces shattering losses

Limitations on use: Organic Acid Types

Effective at moisture levels up to 35% Highly corrosive (safety!)

Microbial Agents Effective at moisture levels up to 25%

Drying Agents “Chemical

Conditioners” Composition Mode of Action Method of

Application Benefit of Use Limitations on

Drying Agent Use

Composition Key ingredient is Potassium Carbonate

(Potash) May also include:

fat-based materials Sodium Carbonate Flavoring Agents

Chemical Factors Hay Drying Agents

Reduces field drying time by increases rate of water loss from cut forage Do not directly dry the hay!

Potassium Carbonate or Sodium Carbonate Applied to standing forage before or at cutting

Alkaline N-silicates and alkaline carbonates in combination with wetting agents

Chemical Factors Reduces curing time

0 – ½ day at first cutting ½ - 1 day at 2nd cutting ½ - 2 days at 3rd cutting 0 – 1 day at 4th cutting

Recommended application rates vary: 1/8-pound each KCO3 per gallon water 5 pounds preservative per ton dry matter

harvested

Cost of Chemical Conditioners Cost for chemical is between $1.90 and $10

per ton of hay produced To equip a mower-conditioner with a tank and

spray equipment = $1000 Mixing/handling increases mowing time by

10-20% Total cost (parts, labor, chemical) is between

$2.65 and $10.75 per ton of hay produced

Predicting Yield per Acre Clip a 3’ x 3’ area of crop at normal cutting height

from a typical area of growth Weigh sample to nearest 10th of a pound Repeat in several areas and average results Calculate baled tons per acre by multiplying the

average sample weight by 0.6 (assumes standing forage is at 75% moisture)

To compute on DM basis, dry the hay to normal baling DM%

Mode of Action Creates pores in the surface of stems Stems have a waxy covering which can be a

barrier to water loss Egyptians used potash to make raisins 4000

years ago!

Waxy stemDrying agent

Porous stem

Mode of Action

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Drying AgentNormal Curing

% H2O

Ready for baling

Method of Application Applied at time of cutting/swathing

Try to apply to stems for maximum benefit!

Benefit of use: Shortens duration of curing (low risk) Most have lipids included which enhances the

effectiveness of potash Less shatter loss (more pliable material)

Limitations on use of Drying Agents Only work with legumes!!

Usually used only on alfalfa Grasses don’t have exposed stems

Doesn’t work well in high humidity environments

Typically limited to spring usage

Storage Phase

Moisture content

Weather

Moisture during storage Water content must be below a critical level

Based on Size and Density of package Small rectangular bales

≤ 20% (upper limit is 20%) Large Bales

One-ton rectangular: ≤ 18% High density rectangular bales: ≤ 15% Cubes ≤ 12%

Consequences of excessive moisture Major Hazard = MOLD

Produces toxins Heat loss:

Fire Chemical heat damage (non-enzymatic browning)

Maillard Reaction

Plant Sugars + amino acidsHeat + high moisture

140-150º F

ArtifactLignin

Weathering Losses

Uncovered Most weather damage

occurs only on exposed surfaces

Large stacks = less total damage

The Weathering Process Bales stored outside on the ground without covers

Increase dramatically in moisture content (especially the outer 2-3 inches)

Begins slowly but then accelerates Weathered hay is more easily penetrated by rain

Thatch formation on round bales Coarse-stemmed forage crops won’t thatch well Once a wet layer forms – bale won’t shed water well

Thatch formation… 6’ x 6’ bale 22 gallons of water for every inch of rain 30 inches of rainfall during the storage period 660

gallons of water! Location of weathering – three layers

Outside = wet, dark, rotten no feeding value Second = thinner layer of moist heavily molded hay

low feeding value Third = light mold, higher moisture content surrounding

inner unweathered portion

The Weathering Process

Factors Affecting Outside Storage Losses Bale Density Other Field Operations or Techniques Climatic Influences Site Selection Bale Orientation/Placement Protecting the Tops of the Bales Protecting the Bottoms of the Bales

Factors Affecting Loss Bale density:

Denser less spoilage Affected by type of baler being used (some large

round balers produce 2x the density) Fine-stemmed hays will produce denser bales

Other field operations/techniques: Hay row formation uniform, proper size Operate rakes, balers in same direction hay was

cut

Factors Affecting Loss Other field operations/techniques: (con’t)

Moisture content at baling Bale wrapping

Twine closer together decreases loss but increases cost Net wrap

Use of preservatives Climate:

Higher rainfall Rainfall distribution High humidity Temperature

Factors Affecting Loss Site selection:

Close to feeding area Well-drained, upland site Hay/soil contact should be avoided

Bale orientation/placement Large round bales – without sides touching, flat

ends butted together Rows should run north/south

Factors Affecting Loss Protecting the tops of the bales:

Cover bales – plastic sheeting, “caps”, fabric Secure cover firmly

Protecting the bottoms of the bales: Held off the ground by something that doesn’t

trap/hold water Wooden pallets, telephone posts, scrap pipe, cross ties Rock pads Prevent hay/soil contact

Costs vs. Benefits of Hay Storage Cost of hay losses Barn storage

Costs and risks of barn storage Reducing Fire Risk

Combustion due to extreme heating External Causes

Cost vs. Benefit of Hay StorageBeginning hay value, $/ton

% Loss 50 70 90

5 52.69 73.68 94.74

10 55.55 77.78 100

15 58.87 82.35 105.88

20 62.50 87.50 112.50

25 66.80 93.33 120.00

Barn StorageIncrease w/ barn storage (% units)

Treatment compared to barn storage

Dry Matter Digestible Dry Matter

On Ground, no cover 8.7 12.7

Drained surface 2.4 6.8

Plastic cover 3.2 3.6

Drained surface + plastic cover

0.3 -1.4

Net Wrap 1.5 --

Plastic Sleeve 0.6 --

Pyramid stack + cover on top

3.7 --

Costs and Risks of Barn Storage Building structure itself Shrinkage of hay

Hay inside for several months will lose 5-10% of it’s weight

Depreciation Economic value of building declines over time (5% of

initial value per year) Interest on investment Taxes and insurance

Reducing Fire Risk External or internal causes Combustion due to extreme heating

Bale hay at proper moisture levels! If too wet store outside for ~ 3 weeks Loose stack the bales Use of hay preservatives to aid drying

External causes Common sense!

Things NOT to do Allow sides of

round bales to touch

No bales in standingwater

No storage under trees

Ensiling Process of producing silage Silage: the product of fermentation of plant

tissue Produced by microbial activity under anaerobic

conditions

Plant Sugars fermentation Organic Acids“pickled” plant materiallow pH

Direct-cut, High-moisture Silages No treatment – most typically done with

cereal silages such as corn Factors affecting success:

Anaerobic conditions Plant water content Fine chopping Packing Sealing

Presence of readily fermentable carbohydrates

SilagePhase 1:

Aerobic

Phase 4:Continued lactic ferementation

Phase 5:Stable

Phase 2:

Acetic acid

Phase 3:

Lactic Acid

69º F

90º F 85º FTemperature Change

6.0 4.2

4.0 3.8pH change

0 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22

Major barriers to proper ensiling

Aerobic Conditions

Internally trapped air

External air

Hazard: heating and creation of non-enzymatic browning (“caramelized”)

Major barriers to proper ensiling Undesirable fermentation

Causes: Activity of clostridium species bacteria Favored by high moisture, high pH plus low levels of

fermentable carbohydrates

If conditions are marginal: Contributing factors include:

High protein High Ca

Problem species = alfalfa, most cool season grasses

Undesirable Fermentation… Characteristics:

Poor conservation of protein and energy

Proteinaminoacids

Volatile forms of Nitrogen

clostridia

Energy Excessive dry matter losses:lactic acid butyric acid + CO2

Foul odors, decreased palatability

Low Moisture Silage (Haylage) Extended wilting

Until 45-60% water Finer chopping required

¼ inch Silo must be perfectly sealed

Upright silo (requires oxygen-limiting structure) Aerobic activity – almost no fermentation

(too dry)

Balage Used in wet environments Large round bales wrapped or bagged in

plastic 40-60% water

Advantages Disadvantages Procedures

Balage - Advantages Reduced risk of weather damage Flexibility baler can be used for hay and silage Lower fixed costs and operating costs Requires less energy than chopping Lower field losses Easily expandable without large investment Can store @ higher moisture with less seepage loss Natural green color remains

Balage - Disadvantages Storage loss if integrity of plastic wrap is not

maintained and air is allowed into bale Incomplete ferementation, higher pH, unstable Cost of plastic wrap Increased labor requirements Plastic bagged bales are difficult to move without

damaging the wrapping Disposal of used plastic is a potential pollution

hazard (lots and lots of plastic)

Procedures Wilting

Moisture at harvest is single-most important factor (50-60%) Excess moisture butyric acid formation (instead of lactic acid) At less than 40% moisture combustion

Temperature rise fermentation; want temps below 90° F Baling

Chain-type baler (rather than belt) Tight, even rolls (10-15 pounds DM/cubic foot)

Storage Barn-stored (may have some surface mold, but otherwise

good) Outside (high loss rate; DON’T cover with black plastic!) Bagging done at storage site, not at baling

Balage Procedures Cut and conditioned just as in normal haymaking High moisture (50-60% ideal) Use of traditional round-baler

Will weigh about 2x normal bale Must be bagged/wrapped within 1-2 hours after

baling for maximum feed quality Don’t carry excess over to next winter!

Put up as dry hay if you intend to sell or use over several seasons.

Losses Involved in Ensiling Process Fermentation Losses

Minimal loss unless clostridial fermentation Protein breakdown

Seepage Caused by excessive moisture Leaching of soluble nutrients out of silo Losses in digestible nutrients ODOR, CORROSIVE

Surface Spoilage Exposed areas susceptible Horizontal silos more susceptible (cover with plastic)

Silage Additives Fermentation stimulants

Molasses Makes up for lack of fermentable carbohydrates Microbial bacteria

Silage innoculators – refined bacterial cultures About 1-2% better feed efficiency and fermentation in corn

silage

Fermentation inhibitors Direct acidification – mineral acids Bacterial inhibitors

Silage Additives… Nonprotein Nitrogen

Add Nitrogen to the silage Used with cereal silages such as corn

Corn silage energy:protein balance is off (more energy than protein)

Addition of urea or anhydrous ammonia can bring N level up

Ruminants are able to use NPN, but horses can’t Rumen microbes are able to produce protein from NPN that can

then be absorbed in the small intestine by the animal In horses, protein is absorbed in the small intestine and microbes

don’t come along until the large intestine

Use of Silage/Haylage/Balage Traditionally fed to high-producing dairy

cows Not a traditional horse feed CAN be fed to horses (especially haylage and

balage) Problem: entire bale must be used within 10

days of opening to prevent spoilage. Must have large number of animals to eat the stuff

Equipment Tractor ($10,000 and up)

Equipment Mower/conditioner

1992 12’ New Holland Mower/Conditioner; Used price = $9,250

Equipment Rake

Single side rake, John Deere, used = $2350

Equipment Baler

Round Baler = $13,000 usedSmall Square Baler = $5000 used

Expenses Buying your own equipment = expensive Use of custom operators (Average costs in

MD): Mowing = $10/acre (range of $5 - $30) Conditioning & Mowing = $12/acre ($7 - $35) Raking = $7/acre ($5 - $15) Baling = 50¢/bale (30¢ - 75¢) Most custom operators require a minimum of 5

acres, smaller acreage = higher price!

Forage Suitability for Hay

Forage Suitability for Hay Not all plants are created equal when it comes

to suitability for hay Things to consider:

Location Nutritional needs of animals consuming hay Quality of hay to be produced Cost of establishment and maintenance

Yield and CP content of various hay crops

Type of Hay Crop Hay Yield (tons/acre)

Crude Protein (%)

Alfalfa (early bloom) 3-6 17-22

Oats 1-4 8-10

Orchardgrass 1-4 12-15

Red Clover 2-4 14-16

Ryegrass 1-4 10-16

Tall Fescue 2-4 10-15

Coastal Bermudagrass 5-8 10-14

Common Bermudagrass 2-6 9-11

Crop Establishment Perennials more economical than annuals Pure stand vs. mixed Hay fields should be weed-free for a high

quality product Soil test every year prior to fertilizer/lime

application QUANTITY OR QUALITY??

Pure Stands or Mixtures Pure grass or pure legume can be

advantageous over a mixed grass-legume stand: Eases management associated with trying to keep

all species in a mixture competitive Increases number of herbicides that can be used for

weed control Improves forage quality – a pure legume stand is

usually higher in quality than a pure grass or mixed grass-alfalfa stand.

Pure Stands or Mixtures Mixed grass and legume stand can be

advantageous over a pure grass or legume stand: Eliminates need for N fertilizer Lengthens life of pasture or hay land because grass

will remain after legume stand is reduced Reduces the problem of legumes “heaving” Reduces soil erosion on steep slopes Improves livestock performance

Shotgun Mixture? Shotgun mixture = mix of many grasses and

legumes Prepackaged Don’t give you, the producer, the opportunity to

match a specific grass/legume to your soil type Eventually, 2-3 predominant forage species will

survive due to Soil type Cutting management Fertilization program

Selecting the right grass Soil Characteristics

Drainage Fertility pH

Plant characteristics Palatability of plant Winter hardiness Growth habit Drought tolerance Cool vs. warm season

Soil Characteristics

Plant Characteristics

Drain Fertility pH

Species

Longev Palatab.

Winter Hard

Growth Habit

Drought Tol

Cool vs Warm

VPD M-H 5.8-8.2

Reed Canary perennial L G S G C

PD L 5.4-6.2

Redtop perennial L-M G S F C

SPD L-M 5.4-8.2

Switchgrass perennial M G Bl G W

SPD M 5.4-6.2

Tall fescue perennial M F-G B G C

SPD M 5.5-8.2

Orchardgrass perennial M-H F B F C

VPD = very poor drainagePD = poor drainageSPD = somewhat poor dr.MWD = mod. well drained

H = high

VH = very highF = fairG = good

P = poorB = bunchgrassBl =bunch-likeS = sod

C = coolW = warm



Drain Fertility pH

Species

Longev Palatab. Winter Hard

Growth Habit

Drought Tol

Cool vs Warm

SPD M 5.4-6.2

Timothy perennial

H G B P C

SPD M-H 5.6-6.2

Ryegrass annual/ perennia

l

VH - to F B P C

SPD H 5.4-6.2

Smooth Brome

perennial

VH G S G C

MWD L-M 5.4-6.2

Big bluestem perennial

H G S G W

MWD L-M 5.4-6.2

Indiangrass perennial

H G S C W


H = high



C = coolW = warm

Grass Species - seeding Careful selection of seeding time = important

Planting earlier or later than suggested dates can result in decreased yield

Weed pressure is greater if spring planting is delayed Buy seed on a “pure live seed” (PLS) basis

Some seeds will be inert

%PLS = % purity x % germination

pounds bulk seed x % PLS = pounds PLS

Pure Live Seed example 100 pound bag of tall fescue

Germination value of 80% Purity value of 90%

%PLS = 80% x 90% = 72% Only 72 pounds of the purchased 100 pounds will

produce your desired crop Have to divide the recommended seeding rate by

the PLS to determine actual weight of application per acre!!



Drain Fertility pH

Species


Drought Tol

Cool vs Warm

PD M 6.0-6.5

Alsike Clover perennial

H G F C

SPD L 5.5-6.2

Striate lespedeza

Summer annual

H n/a F W

SPD L 5.5-6.2

Korean lespedeza

Summer annual

H n/a F W

SPD M 6.0-6.5

Crimson clover

Winter annual

H VP P C

SPD M 6.2-6.8

Red clover perennial

H G F C


H = high



C = coolW = warm



Drain Fertility pH

Species


Drought Tol

Cool vs Warm

SPD M 6.5-6.8

Sainfoin perennial

M G G C

WD M-H 6.8-7.2

Sweetclover Annual/ biennial

M - to G G C

WD H 6.6-7.2

Alfalfa perennial

VH G G C


H = high



C = coolW = warm

Selecting the right mixture Compare soil properties when deciding what

to mix i.e., alfalfa + orchardgrass not a good combo when

soil is poorly drained Timothy and smooth brome don’t persist well if

more than 3 cuttings occur; if quantity is a goal, choose orchardgrass instead to mix with alfalfa

Documents

Forage Preservation and Haymaking INAG 116 – Hay Production April 29 th - May 6, 2007