 |
||||
|
||||
|
|
||||
Consistency is the name of the game Feedlot rations need to be consistent. Erratic ingredient quality can effect feed intake of starting and finishing rations, and is unacceptable. Alfalfa silage is often more consistent than alfalfa hay in cattle rations. Alfalfa silage is more consistent The advantage of alfalfa silage for a feedlot is its consistency. If it is wilted to 68 to 70 percent moisture, then it will pack properly and undergo a strong fermentation. The product coming out of the bunker is usually a consistent product when compared to alfalfa hay. The advantage of alfalfa silage for the farming operation is it can be removed from the field promptly after cutting and the irrigation water returned to the field. Many times an extra cutting can be attained with alfalfa silage production. Alfalfa hay may be inconsistent Even though good dry alfalfa hay is a tremendous feed, it is hard to get a consistent supply without a concerted effort. It can be high in protein if it is cut early. But if alfalfa hay is handled poorly, it can be a disaster for beef cattle rations. Feedyard managers and nutritionists complain a lot to alfalfa hay suppliers. We seldom complain about the price. We complain about the inconsistent quality. Alfalfa hay gets damaged easily by weather because it is harvested during the rainy time on the high plains and corn belt of the United States. The product may become black and unpalatable. It may loose leaves if turned to cure the hay. It may mold if stored with excessive moisture. It may turn chocolate brown in the middle of big bales from stack burning, and will loose energy. Even good hay can be of questionable quality when delivered to the feedyard. Most hay is stored without a cover, and may contain moisture due to rain or snow. When it is ground and delivered to the feedyard, it may contain such moisture. The moisture in the hay changes the ration moisture and changes the nutrient and additive values. But along with the moisture comes a musty smell that is unpalatable. Unpalatable hay is bad in finish rations, and is disastrous in starter rations. Alfalfa hay produced right is a great feed Alfalfa hay delivered to the feedlot in the deserts of Arizona, New Mexico, California and Nevada is a consistent high quality beef cattle ingredient because it is seldom damaged by rain at harvest. In the desert, snow and rain moisture are rarely mixed with it when ground and delivered. The dairy farms want and need a high "relative feed value" hay to get optimum milk production. However, feedyards use alfalfa hay primarily for the roughage and protein reasons rather than the energy value. Feedlots need consistent hay free of mustiness. A quality control and inspection program needs to be worked out with hay suppliers so that hay can be turned down if necessary. Alfalfa silage is different chemically Your nutritionist may formulate rations differently with alfalfa silage than alfalfa hay. The crude protein of the two products is different. The soluble protein fraction of alfalfa silage is much higher than in dry alfalfa hay. The protein in dry hay is a more natural protein while part of the soluble protein in silage is more like protein from non-protein-nitrogen (NPN). The fermentation in the silo degrades the protein to ammonia and amines. Your nutritionist may use less NPN from urea when alfalfa hay makes up a large part of the ration such as in a starter or growing ration. Alfalfa silage vs. alfalfa haylage Alfalfa haylage usually refers to a crop that is wilted to 60 percent moisture and is stored in oxygen limited structures or plastic bags. Very little alfalfa silage is stored as haylage because of material handling problems. It is much simpler to wilt alfalfa modestly and store in a bunker rather than a tower silo or a plastic bag. However when alfalfa haylage is put up properly, it is an excellent consistent feed. The protein in haylage is not as soluble as it is in alfalfa silage. Starting rations with alfalfa silage Dry roughages are preferred in starting rations but some silage may be used. If consistent quality alfalfa hay is not available for starting rations, then a roughage substitute may be needed. Dry roughages to consider in addition to quality alfalfa hay are: cottonseed hulls, cottonseed burrs, grass hay, oat hay, wheat hay cut in the boot stage and sorghum hay free from mustiness and molds. All silages including alfalfa silage can be used as part of the roughage in starting rations. Work with your nutritionist to design your starting rations. Mixing alfalfa silage rations One of the problems with the use of alfalfa silage in beef rations is it does not mix as well as ground hay. This can be overcome by shredding the silage before it is mixed with the other ration ingredients. Manure spreader truck is used to move the haylage to a mixing area where it is added to the mixer truck. This procedure solves the problem of mixing Green alfalfa hay vs. brown alfalfa hay The green colored alfalfa hay is not always a high protein, high energy hay. A shower of rain and then good drying conditions doesn't effect the value very much. About all that is lost is the carotene. A green hay may be late to cut, full of blue blossoms, grass and weeds. If the brown hay is cured and harvested properly, it may be superior to a green hay. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
All information is copywrited by Feed Lot magazine and cannot be printed or re-printed
without the publishers express consent. Please contact
Feed Lot Magazine for reprint and copy authorization.
|
||||