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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Large Baler Research and Storage Ideas by Ronald T. Schuler, Extension Agricultural Engineer Many alfalfa producers look to harvest their alfalfa as intermediate (about 30 inches × 30 inches × 5 feet) square bales. This is an excellent method for handling dry alfalfa hay especially if it is going to be marketed. Because the intermediate square bales are denser […]
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Silage Preservation: First Things First by Brian J. Holmes bjholmes@wisc.edu Harvest at Correct Stage of Maturity Why? High levels of readily available carbohydrate are needed to ferment into acids. What Stage? Alfalfa – early to mid bloom, Corn – 1/3 – 1⁄2 half milk line Harvest at Correct Moisture Why? Too dry… high porosity (oxygen penetration) reduced acid production […]
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Adding Enzymes to Silage by Patrick Hoffman and Richard Muck Introduction Enzyme addition to silages has received considerable attention over the past decade. Their primary function is to break down forage fiber during fermentation, rendering the silage more digestible during feedout. The breakdown of fiber into soluble sugars also helps bacteria produce lactic acid, which helps […]
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Anhydrous Ammonia for Legume-Grass Silage by Randy Shaver Introduction Anhydrous ammonia has long been added to corn silage to increase nitrogen content and improve its aerobic stability. Some recent popular-press articles made mention of farmers that either use or have used this additive on legume-grass silage. This article will address the potential benefits or risks associated […]
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Lactobacillus buchneri for Silage Aerobic Stability by David K. Combs and Patrick C. Hoffman Department of Dairy Science University of Wisconsin-Madison Introduction Lactobacillus buchneri is a bacterial inoculant approved for use in grass silages, corn silage, legume silage and high moisture grains. Lactobacillus buchneri has been demonstrated to improve aerobic stability of silages by reducing the growth […]
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Microbial Inoculants for Silage by Francisco Contreras-Govea and Richard Muck Introduction Ensiling is an important means to preserve forage quality. Although silage fermentation occurs naturally under anaerobic conditions due to the native bacteria on plants, the speed and efficiency of the fermentation (pH drop) is variable, depending on the numbers and types of lactic acid bacteria […]
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Silage inoculants: What the research tells us about when and how to use them With all of the variables – crop varieties, weather, packing density, speed of covering – no two silage crops are ever the same, which is why scientists are reluctant to give blanket statements regarding when and how to use silage inoculants. […]
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Inoculating High Moisture Corn by Patrick Hoffman and Richard Muck (revised December, 2011) Introduction High moisture corn (HMC) is harvested between 25 and 35% moisture content and stored in a silo where it is preserved through fermentation. The optimum harvest moisture for good fermentation of HMC is 28 to 32%. In general, high moisture corn ferments […]
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Bunker Silo Cover Alternatives by Brian Holmes Introduction Silage is covered for two primary reasons. First, covered silage reduces exposure to oxygen. Oxygen is required for the growth of aerobic organisms. These aerobic organisms cause the decomposition of valuable feed. A second reason for covering silage is to exclude rainfall. Precipitation washes organic acids and other […]
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