Susceptibility to losses during mechanical silage and haymaking operations in relation to grass dry matter content

Abstract

A series of laboratory experiments is described to investigate the susceptibility of grass forage to losses during mechanical field conservation operations in relation to dry matter content. Losses were measured during a simulated manual 'tedding' treatment carried out on grass .samples being dried on a laboratory thin-layer drying rig. Values of loss per successive treatment remained at a near constant low level at low dry matter (DM) contents, except for a somewhat higher loss level from the first treatment. As DM content rose above about 60%, the level of loss per treatment rose rapidly with increase in DM content. A relationship between loss per treatmeni and DM content was derived from the data by a bilinear regression analysis, and this will be incorporated into an Operational Research model of forage conservation systems.

Effect of forage conservation method on microbial flora and fermentation pattern in forage and in equine colon and faeces

“…Fructan content is usually higher in the stem than in the leaves in the grass species used in this study (Smith, 1973). The extensive amount of tedding of the hay crop would be expected to result in lower leaf:stem ratio (Honig, 1980;McGeechan, 1988), but hydrolysis of non-structural carbohydrates also takes place during wilting (Wylam, 1953). The difference in fructan content in fresh crops was not the same in the preserved forages, where HAY contained the largest amount of both fructans and sucrose, while fructose content was highest in HL and glucose content lowest in SIL (Table 2).…”

Silage and haylage for horses

“…The total water intake was higher on the silage diet, but water output (in faeces and urine) did not differ between the diets (Muhonen, Lindberg, et al., 2009), meaning that evaporation losses must have been higher on the silage diet, probably due to a larger heat increment of feeding (Blaxter, ). The reason for the higher digestibility of silage compared to haylage and hay may be explained by loss of highly digestible leaves in the field due to mechanical handling of dry crops during haylage and hay production, as this may decrease overall digestibility of the forage (Honig, ; McGechan, ). Another explanation may be the previously known loss of DM during ensiling without loss of energy.…”

“…The total water intake was F I G U R E 1 Average lactic acid concentration (•) in g per kg dry matter and pH (x) in baled silage and haylage of different dry-matter concentrations (data from Müller, 2005;, Müller et al, 2008Müller, 2009a;Müller, 2009b;Müller, 2012;Müller et al, 2013;Müller et al, 2016)[Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com] MÜLLER | 817 higher on the silage diet, but water output (in faeces and urine) did not differ between the diets (Muhonen, Lindberg, et al, 2009), meaning that evaporation losses must have been higher on the silage diet, probably due to a larger heat increment of feeding (Blaxter, 1989). The reason for the higher digestibility of silage compared to haylage and hay may be explained by loss of highly digestible leaves in the field due to mechanical handling of dry crops during haylage and hay production, as this may decrease overall digestibility of the forage (Honig, 1980;McGechan, 1988). Another explanation may be the previously known loss of DM during ensiling without loss of energy.…”

Methods for reduction of water soluble carbohydrate content in grass forages for horses

“…During hay-making, leaf loss during tedding and raking in the field often results in reducedprotein concentration, but it may not result in reduced WSC concentration (Alli et al, 1985;McGeechan, 1988). Alli et al (1985) found that approximately 50% of the leaf material was lost during a drying period of 53 h when making hay from lucerne (Medicago sativa) and timothy (Phleum pratense).…”