FORAGES Gwinyai E. Chibisa, Ph.D.

FORAGES Gwinyai E. Chibisa, Ph.D. http://craig-stephen.photoshelter.com/image/i0000ywgwhaenwsi

Haymaking Objectives i. Produce a high yielding, high quality crop ii. iii. iv. Rapid curing Minimize leaf loss Minimize cell respiration v. Avoid leaching losses & molding vi. Maintain quality in storage

Haymaking Phases Harvesting/Cutting Curing Raking Baling Storage

Harvesting http://www.deere.co.za/en_za/products/equipment/hay_and_forage_equipment/mower_conditioners/mower_conditioners.page?

When to Harvest? Impact of plant maturity on DMI & digestibility Ball et al, 2001. American Farm Bureau Federation Publication 1-01

When to Harvest? Forage Species Time of Harvest Alfalfa Bud stage (1 st cutting); 1/10 bloom for 2 nd and later cuts Orchardgrass, Tall Fescue Red Clover Barley, Oats, Rye, Wheat Sudan-sorghum hybrids Weather conditions? Boot to early head (1 st cut); every 4-6 weeks after Early to ½ bloom. Boot to early head stage. Early boot stage.

Curing What is the objective of curing??

Curing (cont.) Factors that affect the duration of curing Initial DM% Environmental i. Temperature ii. iii. iv. Humidity Wind speed Solar radiation Conditioning

How Does Rain Affect Hay Quality i.? ii.? iii.? iv.? v.? vi.?

Make Hay While The Sun Shines Ball et al, 2001. American Farm Bureau Federation Publication 1-01

What Would You Do? If forage is ready to harvest for hay, but rain is in the forecast?

Curing (cont.) Factors that affect the duration of curing Initial moisture % Environmental i. Temperature ii. iii. iv. Humidity Wind speed Solar radiation Conditioning

Conditioning What is conditioning?

Mechanical Conditioning Conditioners bruise, lacerate, crush or crimp plant to reduce differential drying of leaves vs. stems https://www.poettinger.at/img/landtechnik/scheibenmaeher/rc_aufbereiter_th.jpg

Chemical Conditioning Desiccants/ drying agents E.g., K 2 CO 3, NaCO 3 http://extension.psu.edu/plants/crops/forages/hay-and-silage/harvest-management/chemical-conditioners-for-hay

Reducing Drying Time Tedding http://www.farmingmagazine.com/dairy/forages/haymaking-101-mowing-tedding-and-raking/

Reducing Drying Time Raking http://www.schinckelhayrakes.com.au/schinckel_inline_rakes.htm

Baling Has to be done at the correct moisture % moisture? Consequences of baling when too wet or dry? https://www.deere.com/en_us/products/equipment/hay_and_forage_equipment/balers/9_series_round_balers/9_series_round_balers.page

DM Losses During Haymaking Ball et al, 2001. American Farm Bureau Federation Publication 1-01

DM Losses During Haymaking (cont.) Process % DM Respiration 2-16 Conditioning (crimper) 1-4 Raking at 40-50% moisture 2-5 Raking at 10-15% moisture 25-30 Baling (rectangular) 2-5 Baling (large, round) 15-40

Baling When Too Wet Growth of spoilage microbes (aerobic) Spoilage bacteria, e.g., bacilli Yeasts, molds, fungi Hay (plant sugars, protein) + O 2 CO 2 + H 2 O + Heat

Effect of Feeding Moldy Hay in Cattle Parameter Good Hay Moldy Hay Hay intake, kg 7.1 6.5 Rumen fermentation characteristics Total VFA, µ mol/ml 88.0 72.5 Rumen ammonia, mg/dl 23.4 15.5 Digestibility, % DM 63.7 53.5 CP 76.9 53 Performance Average daily gain, kg/d 0.73 0.61 Feed:Gain 12.0 13.4 Mohanty et al. (25)

Hay Preservatives Hay preservatives Reduce losses due to molds & heating Reduce drying times (can bale at higher T C) Roberts, 2005. https://www.agry.purdue.edu/forageday/2005/article/management%20of%20preservatives-2005_version3.pdf

Hay Preservatives (cont.) Preservative Mode of Action Application Method Moisture Content of Hay Pros & Cons Weak acid e.g., Propionic acid Controls mold & bacterial growth by altering ph Liquid-added before baling Up to 30% Can be stored Corrosive Buffered acid e.g., Ammonium propionate Controls mold & bacterial growth Liquid-added before baling Up to 30% Not as corrosive Not as effective Bacterial inoculants Compete with other microbes in hay Liquid-added before baling Up to 23% Cannot be stored Designed for silage prodn

Hay Storage Recommended % moisture for safe storage Bale type % Moisture Small rectangular bales 16-18 Round bales (soft center) 14-16 Round bales (hard center) 13-15 Large rectangular bales 12-14 Export hay < 12

Hay Storage (cont.) Protect from the elements http://hallhall.com/blog/haying-with-the-buffalo-on-colorado-ranches/, http://rurification.blogspot.ca/2012_12_01_archive.html

Hay Storage and Forage Quality Ball et al, 2001. American Farm Bureau Federation Publication 1-01

USDA Hay Market Prices Feb 16, 2016 http://hayandforage.com/article-521-usda-hay-market-prices- -February-16-2016.html

Relative Feed Value (RFV) Widely used index to market hay RFV = % Digestible DM DM intake (% of BW) 1.29

Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) Index that estimates energy supply Earlier equations based on ADF; TDN Legumes and grasses = 88.9 (0.79 ADF%) NRC, 2001 TDN = dnfc + dcp + (dfa 2.25) + dndf 7

Relative Feed Quality (RFQ) Another forage quality measure RFQ = TDN DM intake (% of BW) 1.23

Summary????