Understanding and Reducing Mold Growth in Hay

Understanding and Reducing Mold Growth in Hay by S. Ray Smith University of Manitoba An ideal hay should contain maximum digestible energy and protein to meet the needs of high producing livestock. Several factors can reduce an ideal hay lot into an average or fair lot. One of the most frustrating factors that results in downgraded […]

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Systems to Improve Storage Characteristics of Large Square Bales in a Humid Climate

Systems to Improve Storage Characteristics of Large Square Bales in a Humid Climate by Kevin J. Shinners Professor of Agricultural Engineering Department of Biological Systems Engineering University of Wisconsin – Madison Abstract Large square bales are susceptible to greater storage losses than small square bales formed at the same moisture. This is primarily due to the greater […]

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Prevent Hay Mow and Silo Fires

Prevent Hay Mow and Silo Fires by R.L. Tormoehlem, R.G. Koegel, H.D. Bruhn and D.V. Jensen Numerous barn and silo fires occur annually in Wisconsin.  Barn fires, usually caused by spontaneous ignition of hay, occur during and after the haying season. Silage may spontaneously ignite when it is ensiled at less than 40 percent moisture.  Barn and silo […]

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Heat Damaged Forages: Effects on Forage Quality

Heat Damaged Forages: Effects on Forage Quality by Wayne Coblentz and Patrick Hoffman Introduction Traditionally, heat damage in forages has been associated primarily with alterations in forage protein quality as a result of Maillard reactions. A Maillard reaction is a heat-induced chemical reaction between protein (amino acids) and sugars. Maillard products produce a range of odors and colors […]

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Successful Wrapping and Storage of Square Bales

Successful Wrapping and Storage of Square Bales Dan Undersander and Tim Wood, University of Wisconsin and William Foster, Consultant Medium square bales (800 to 1000 lb) are increasingly being used across the northern dairy regions to reduce the labor associated with hay and haylage making.  If making hay, these bales need to have 2 to […]

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Propionic Acid Preservatives for Hay

Propionic Acid Preservatives for Hay by Wayne Coblentz1, Dan Undersander2, and Michael Bertram3 1US Dairy Forage Research Center, Marshfield, WI 2Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison 3Superintendent, University of Wisconsin Arlington Agricultural Research Station Introduction Hay producers working in humid environments are well-acquainted with the consequences of baling moist hays, which include heating, molding, losses of dry […]

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Big Bale Storage Losses; how different options stack up

Big Bale Storage Losses; how different options stack up by Craig Saxe Introduction When harvesting baled hay, it’s not always easy to control weather related losses, but storage loses should be more controllable. After all, a lot of time, energy and expense have gone into producing a high quality and high value baled product. Many would […]

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Making Quality Silage Bales

Making Quality Silage Bales by Jerry Clark Introduction Humid conditions during the summer in the upper Midwest can make it difficult to harvest good, quality, dry hay. Many dairy producers have turned to large bale silage as a method of harvesting their hay crop either as their main storage option or to store surplus hay. Putting […]

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