Dave MyersExtension Educator, Agriculturemyersrd@umd.eduhttps://extension.umd.edu/anne-arundel-county

Hay and Silage EvaluationAnne Arundel Extension

USNAD 1995

USNAD March 30th, 1992

Alfalfa Haylage36’X45’ 1000 Ton

Corn Silage30’X60’ 1200 Ton

Grain Storage

TMR – Total Mixed Ration

41.5% Corn silage

21.8% Alfalfa Haylage

6.4% Dry Hay

70% forage Based

NFTA 2018 CERTIFIED LABORATORY FACILITIES:Cumberland Valley Analytical Services301 790-1980Sharon Weaver4999 Zane A Miller DriveWaynesboro PA 17268

Waypoint Analytical - PA717 656-0326Greg Zimmerman280 Newport RdPO Box 483Leola PA 17540

Dairy One Forage Lab607 257-1272Mike Reuter730 Warren RoadIthaca NY 14850

NATIONAL FORAGE TESTING ASSOCIATIONPO Box 1470Stuart, FL 34995Tele: 402 416-0052WEB SITE: WWW.FORAGETESTING.ORGEMAIL: NFTA@FORAGETESTING.ORG

Silage Corn Harvest Moisture Range:Trench & Bunker Silage 65-70%*Ag Bag 60-70%Conventional Upright Silo 63-68%*Oxygen Limiting Upright Silo 55-60%

* Capping material should have a higher moisture content.

Making Quality Silage, Haylage & Baleage

Haylage Harvest Moisture Range:Bunker Silo and Stack Silage 50-65%*Ag Bag 50-65%Baleage 45-65%**Conventional Upright Silo 50-65%*Oxygen Limiting Upright Silo 45-60% * Capping material should have a higher moisture content.** Baleage should not be made with hay under 40%.

Making Quality Silage, Haylage & Baleage

$20,000 Feed BagAlfalfa Haylage

Ag Bag Haylage or Silage 8’ Bag 1.0 ton/linear foot

10’ Bag 1.5 ton/linear foot12’ Bag 2.0 ton/linear foot

Silage Special Round Balerwith Net Wrap and Plastic.

Baleage at 45-65% Moisture.

Harvest Moisture Determination:Accurately determine moisture

content.

Making Quality Silage, Haylage & BaleageMicrowave Method

Tester Method

Silage Fermentation

Respiration Stage: Oxygen that is trapped in storage is rapidly consumed by aerobic bacteria. Fermentation Stage: Anaerobic bacteria, which survive in the absence of oxygen, begin to grow and multiply converting the plant sugars into organic acids – mainly lactic and acetic.

Anaerobic Fermentation BacteriaHomofermenters produce just lactic acid and includethe species Lactobacillus plantarum, Pediococcus species, and Enterococcus species.

Heterofermenters produce lactic acid, acetic acid or ethanol, and carbon dioxide. Lactobacillus buchneri is the best example of a heterofermenter.

Excluding All Air:Fermentation is an anaerobic

process.Double and Triple Wrap Round

Bales. Fermentation ceases when

bacteria growth is stopped by the accumulation of acids. The haylage will then remain at a stable pH with no bacterial growth and can be preserved for a long time, providing there is no exposure to air.

Important Silage Quality GoalspH<4.5 (definitely below 5).At least 2% lactic acid. greater than 5% total acids on a dry matter basis.

What is Relative Feed Value?Making every mouthful count.Relative feed value is an index that ranks cool season legumes (alfalfa) and grasses by potential digestible dry matter intake. It is calculated from digestible dry matter and dry matter intake.

Digestible dry matter is an estimate of the total digestibility of the feed and is calculated from percent Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF).

Dry matter intake is an estimate of the amount of feed an animal will consume in percent of body weight and is calculated from percent Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF).

Source Ronald L. BomanUSU Extension Dairy Nutritionist

What is Relative Feed Value?Making every mouthful count.Calculation of Relative Feed Value (RFV)

DDM = Digestible Dry Matter = 88.9 - (0.779 x % ADF)DMI = Dry Matter Intake = 120 / (% NDF)RFV = (DDM x DMI) / 1.29

Example: (Plug in values for ADF and NDF on a dry matter basis)

Alfalfa Hay or Haylage with 28% ADF and 35% NDFDDM = 88.9 - (0.779 x 28) = 67.1DMI = 120 / 35 = 3.43RFV = (67.1 x 3.43) / 1.29 = 178

Source Ronald L. BomanUSU Extension Dairy Nutritionist

Good dairy Alfalfa hay should be 21 to 22% crude protein and less than 28% ADF and 35% NDF with a relative feed value of 170 to 180.

What Often Goes Wrong with Silage Making

Forage cut at the wrong stage of maturity will not have enough fermentable carbohydrates for completion of fermentation.

Lower bale density makes round bale silage more susceptible to entrapment or penetration of oxygen and increases the chance of air pockets within the bale.

Baling too wet or non-wilted forages are more likely to spoil; bacteria from the Greater than 70% moisture almost guarantees Clostridia growth and spoilage.

Conversely, forage that is too dry does not ferment but has greatly increased mold production.

Baled silage is also more likely to spoil due to damage to the plastic covering, resulting in the harmful introduction of oxygen.

Baleage 45-65%

What Often Goes Wrong with Silage Making

Botulism caused by anaerobic Clostridium botulinum, often associated with soil contamination.

Listeriosis caused by Listeria monocytogens, often associated with feces and rotted vegetation.

Health Risks of Poor Fermentation

Toxins and Mycotoxins attributed to yeasts, molds and bacteria, i.e. Bacillus species, and the Aflatoxins: Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillum.

Flooding and Animal Feed Safety

The rules drafted by the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine for dealing with crops where fields were flooded.

At a minimum, the crops harvested from flooded fields should be tested for these contaminants:

Mycotoxins: including aflatoxin, fumonisin, vomitoxin, zearalenone, and ochratoxin.

Heavy metals: specifically cadmium, mercury, and lead.

Certain disease-causing bacteria: especially Salmonella, E.coli O157:H7, Clostridium perfringens, and botulinum.

Chemicals: such as pesticides, with particular emphasis on organophosphate and chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides.

Silage & Haylage InoculantsUsing silage additives to aid fermentation is generally unnecessary, however they may be beneficial in situations where: 1) Forage material is drier than recommended; 2) Cold weather cut; or 3) Crop has been rained on, soil contaminated.The most common Inoculants:1) Homofermentative species Lactobacillus plantarum. Other common homofermentative species include variousLactobacillus or Pediococcus species andEnterococcus faecium.

2) Heterofermentative species Lactobacillus buchneri is theused to improve aerobic stability.

Inoculation Rate:90 billion live lactic acid bacteria per ton of crop ensiled.

Hay moisture tester is required.

Techniques to dry hay to 15% storage moisture, (14% for firm center round bales).

Never stack hay wetter than 17% moisture without preservatives.

Making Quality Hay

Hay Preservatives Buffered Organic Acids –Propionic is the most common.

Advantages of Propionic Acid: Reducing mold.Reducing drying time in the field.Reducing potential rain damage.Reducing leaf loss.Providing more baling flexibility.

Got Alfalfa?

Good dairy Alfalfa hay should be 21 to 22% crude protein and less than 28% ADF and 35% NDF with a relative feed value of 170 to 180.

1991 USNAD 1st No-Till Alfalfa Field

1992 USNAD No-Till Alfalfa

Dave MyersExtension Educator, Agriculturemyersrd@umd.eduhttps://extension.umd.edu/anne-arundel-county

Hay and Silage EvaluationAnne Arundel Extension