Rain Damage to Forage During Hay and Silage Making
by Mike Rankin and Daniel Undersander
Introduction
Rain that occurs between the time forage is cut and harvested causes both yield and quality losses that reduce the value of the crop as an animal feed and a marketable commodity. Weather-induced losses can be caused by:
Increased and prolonged plant respiration that reduces soluble carbohydrates and the overall energy content of forage.
Leaching of soluble carbohydrates, protein, and certai
Making Sure Your Kernel Processor Is Doing Its Job
by Kevin J. Shinners and Brian J. Holmes
Introduction
For cows to digest the starch in corn efficiently, the corn kernels in chopped and processed whole-plant corn must be broken into small particles. Three decades ago it was thought that effective starch utilization occurred if the corn kernel was merely nicked or broken. With today’s high-producing animals, we know kernels must be processed into smaller particles for dairy
