making quality baleage - the virginia forage and grassland ...dry matter losses when forage is...

Making Quality BaleageVirginia Winter Forage Conference

Dr. Dan UndersanderUniversity of Wisconsin

Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2019

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• Stocker cattle• Growing lambs & kids

• Beef cow & calf• Ewe with lamb• Doe with kid

• Ewe/doe, not lactating• Idle horse

Forage Quality Needs of Animals

• Nursing mare• Hard working horse

Relative Forage Quality


Nutrient Requirements for Gain

6

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

9

9.5

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1 1.5 2 2.5 3

LbTD

N/

day

Average Daily gain

500 lb Steer


Reducing Beef Feeding Costs

High quality forage Improves animal performance

Reduces purchased supplement costs


Nutrition concepts

Animals need more energy when cold over winter Cows with body score of 5 (6 for first calf heifers):

Produce more colostrum Give birth to more vigorous calves

Calves stand sooner Calves have greater ability to overcome early disease

challenges due to higher immunoglobulin levels

Have higher calf rate of gain.


Dry Matter Losses when Forage is Harvested at Varying Moisture Contents

Storage LossHarvest Loss

DryHay

Treated/Wrapped Hay

Wrapped Bales

Wilted Silage

Direct Cut

Harvest wetter to minimize field/leaf loss


Why make baleage?

Harvest with less weather delay

Harvest higher quality forage Less rain damage Less leaf loss above 20% moisture


Harvesting High quality

Forage is at the highest quality when cut

Objective: to prevent yield and quality loss during harvesting


Rate of Alfalfa Forage Quality Change per Day

Component Mean

Crude Protein, % DM -0.25

Acid Detergent Fiber, % DM 0.36

Neutral Detergent Fiber, % DM 0.43

Neutral Detergent Fiber Digestibility, % NDF -0.43

RFV, points -2.9

RFQ, points -3.6

Source: Undersander, 2009 unpublished


Dry Matter Losses when Forage is Harvested at Varying Moisture Contents

Storage Loss

Harvest Loss

DryHay

Treated/Wrapped Hay

Wrapped Bales

Wilted Silage

Direct Cut


Hay Preservation

Mold growth – molds grow at 20% to 35% moisture: Consume nutrients, sugars, starch Respiration causes heating →hay fires Produce mycotoxins

Detrimental to animal health May decrease feed intake

Produce spores if inhaled may cause lung disease

Presence reduces value of hay


Heating can lead to fire

Heating can lead to spontaneous combustion and fires


Heating can lead to fire

Sept 24, 2013 A load of hay on a semi caught fire on I-80 in Iowa


Results of Malliard Reaction

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Chan

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erce

ntag

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nits

Heating Degree Days > 86F

Dig NDF

Dig CP

Dig NFC


Results of Malliard Reaction

TDN = dNFC + dCP+ 2.25*FA + dNDF - 7

-12

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

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6

Chan

ge, P

erce

ntag

e U

nits

Heating Degree Days > 86F

Dig NDF

Dig CP

Dig NFC

TDN


Potential Health Hazards due to Fungal Spores and Mycelia

Actinomycetes

AbsidiaAlternariaAspergillis

fumigatus

CladosporiumMucorPenicilliumYeast

respiratory disease,delayed allergic reactionsmycotic abortionsimmediate allergic reactionmycotic abortion,respiratory disease,delayed allergic reactionsimmediate allergic reactiondigestive tract ulcerationdelayed allergic reactionmycotic mastitis


Moisture for baling to prevent mold

Square Bale SizeSmall Medium (3’ x 3’) Large (4’ x 4’)<20% <16% <14%

Round Bale SizeSmall

(4’ w x 5’ h)Medium

(5’ w x 5’ h)Large

(5’ w x 6’ h)<17% <16% <15%

Amount of heating depends on heat transfer conditions.


Allowable moisture without spoilage in hay

Depends on heat transfer conditions. Can bale without spoilage at higher moisture

content if: Cooler air temperatures (e.g. fall vs summer) Smaller bale – less self insulation Single bale vs stack – some growers let bales

“sweat” for a couple weeks then stack.


Wrap in plastic

Can wrap bales at any moisture between 20 and 70%

Below 50% moisture - oxygen exclusion

Above 50% moisture – both oxygen exclusion and fermentation with acid production Less spoilage on feedout


Fermentation and moisture content

10 30 50 70Moisture content (%)

Increasing fermentationButyric Acid Fermentation

Fermentation may be important on feedout but not for preservation of baleage


Fermentation analysis profile normal ranges

Legume Silage

Grass Silage

Corn Silage

Moisture: 60-65% <65% 60-65% pH 4.0-4.3 4.3-4.7 3.8-4.2 Lactic Acid, (% of DM) 6-8 6-10 5-10 Acetic Acid, (% of DM) 1-3 1-3 1-3 Ethanol (% of DM) <1.0 <1.0 <3.0 Ammonia-N (% of CP) 10-15 8-12 <8.0


Wrap in plastic

Can wrap bales at any moisture between 20 and 70%

Below 50% moisture - oxygen exclusion Above 50% moisture – both oxygen exclusion

and fermentation with acid production Less spoilage on feedout


Fixed chamber vs Variable

Variable chamber Fixed chamber


Silage baler vs Hay baler

Fixed chamber less dense center Fixed chamber can only make 1 size bale


Value of Silage Baler A bale 5 ft wide by 4.5 ft tall Same density, same dry weight 850 lbs

Baleageat 60% moisture weighs 2125 lbs

Hay at 15% moisture weighs 1000 lbs


Greater bale density results in lower baleage pH

Slower tractor speed results in denser bale


Greater bale density results in longer bunk life


Wrap in plastic

Preserves by excluding oxygenNeed at least 6 wraps


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140

Tem

p (F

)

no wrap2 mils3 mils4 mils6 mils8 mils9 mils10 mils12 mils15 mils

Effect of Plastic Wrap Thickness on Internal Temperature of Bale over Time,

Lancaster, WI 1998 (30% moisture)

How to make baleage:Wrap with 6 layers of plastic


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Tem

p (F

)

no wrap0 hours24 hours48 hours96 hours

Time from Baling to wrapping

Timing of Bale Wrapping effect on Internal Temperature of Bale over Time,

Lancaster, WI 1998 dry bales (36% moisture)

How to make baleage:Wrap Quickly after baling

Several types ofwrappers are available


In-Line Wrappers

Must have uniform adjacent bales Seal ends of rows Use 40% less plastic than individually wrapped Must feed sufficient forage to stay ahead of spoilage

when removed end bales (at least 3 bales/day).


In-Line vs individually wrapped

As a rule of thumb - individually wrapped bales is most

appropriate for less than ~50 head of cattle

above 50 to 75 head, consider in-line wrapping to reduce plastic use.


Avoid UV Degradation of Plastic

• Avoid oiled sisal twine• Use plastic, untreated sisal, netwrap• Buy good plastic


Mold

Mold only grows with oxygen

White mold on bale exterior means either:

1. Poor Plastic2. Too few layers of plastic


A few additional thoughts

Best to have a windrow as wide as baler pickup for making uniform diameter bales.

Bale when forage is slightly tough to minimize leaf loss.

Seal tears in plastic


Choose storage site carefully

What will site look like after rain

Don’t place under tree

Clear 100 feet around bales if rodents a problem


Summary

Cut forage for high yield and needed quality Bale to minimize heating Wrap within 24 hours after baling Wrap with at least 6 layers of plastic


Minimize dirt and other debris

making quality baleage - the virginia forage and grassland ...dry matter losses when forage is...

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