Chapter 20 - Conservation Of Grass

Question 1

What is silage

Answer 1

Fermentation of carbohydrates in the grass produce acids which lower the pH of the grass and inhibit all microbial activity

Question 2

What is hay

Answer 2

Grass is dehydrated to remove the majority of the water present. In the absence of water microbial activity is inhibited

Question 3

What is heading out

Answer 3

When half of the grass plants have produced seed heads

Question 4

What is ensiling

Answer 4

The process of storing grass or another crop in silo, clamp or put for preservation as silage

Question 5

How can a farmer provide the optimum conditions for high carbohydrate levels in ensiled grass

Answer 5

Cutting grass when it is leafy 
Cutting in dry weather 
Using double-chop machinery 
Leaving the grass to wilt 
Adding molasses to the grass

Question 6

Differentiate between Lactobacillus and Clostridium

Answer 6

Lactobacillus produces good-quality, lactic acid silage

Clostridium produces poor-quality,butyric acid silage

Question 7

Describe what Happens to the DMD value of grass after heading out - with a simple diagram

Answer 7

DMD is approximately at 75% at the heading out stage in perennial ryegrass. For each day that cutting is delayed after this point the DMD value will fall by 0.5%

Question 8

What is fermentation

Answer 8

The conversion of carbohydrates and to acid by anaerobic bacteria

Question 9

What is a mower conditioner

Answer 9

Used to cut grass for preservation of silage or hay as winter fodder
Machine cute the grass and pushed it between two rollers
Enables grass to dry faster due to the exposure of a greater surface area

Question 10

What a rotary rake

Answer 10

Used to create rows of swathes of grass ready for baling as silage

Question 11

What is a rotary Tedder

Answer 11

Also known as a hay Bob
Used to shake up swathes of grass to allow for faster drying by exposing the grass to the sun and allowing air to pass through

Question 12

What is a baler

Answer 12

Used to gather up swathes of grass to create silage or hay bales
Bales Can be squared or round
Bales are produced and are then wrapped by the wrapping machine to produce silage bales

Question 13

What are 4 additives in silage production

Answer 13

Acids
Sugar and molasses
Bacterial inoculants
Enzymes

Question 14

1) Acids

Answer 14

Used to aid preservation
Lower the Ph of the silage - inhibit the fermentation process and prevents bacterial activity
Sulfuric acid most common
Disadvantage- reduce palatability of grass and can corrode machinery

Question 15

2) sugar and molasses

Answer 15

Added to ensiled grass to increase carbohydrates concentration in the pit
Extra sugar used in the fermentation process

Question 16

3) bacterial inoculants

Answer 16

Speeds up the fermentation process and reduces the ph within the pit
Can do this more rapidly than acids
Aid in the preservation of protein

Question 17

4) enzymes

Answer 17

Added to silage in order to break down grass fibres

Breakdown of grass fibres provides additional carbohydrates in the form of sugar for fermentation

Question 18

What is haylage

Answer 18

The grass that has been cut and left to dry out before baling
The moisture levels in the grass is less than silage but higher than hay - approx 60%

Question 19

What should you do when producing haylage

Answer 19

Close of fields to livestock 6-8 weeks before cutting
Fertilise pasture with nitrogen fertiliser
Cut grass with conditioner mower since reduces the moisture content faster
Cut a height of 8-10cm above the ground to avoid soil contamination
Ted grass twice a day for 2 days to speed up drying
Bake with a baler and warp with a 6-8 layer of Platic
Stored similar to silage bales prefer under cover and on flat surface

Question 20

Production of pit silage

Answer 20

3 concrete walls And a concrete base
Storage tank for effluent and channels to bring effluent from the pit to the tank
Tank should be leak proof the prevent pollution
Closed of the livestock 6 weeks before cutting.
Grass mowed into swathes and left to wilt
Picked up by forage harvester
Brought to the silage pit and heaped.
Tractor is used to roll over the layer of grass to remove any air. If additives are used they should be added to each layer rolled
Once air is removed the pit is sealed with heavy duty black polythene sheeting which keeps the pit airtight to allow anaerobic respiration take place
The polythene is weighed down to keep in place
Polythene should be inspected after 2-3 weeks and tightened

Question 21

Production of round bale silage

Answer 21

Grass for round bales is mowed and wilted for 1-2 days - 30% DM
Swathes of grass collected by baker and turned into bales
Wrapped in polythene by the wrapper.
Bales transported to where they are stored. Care should be take to rodent damage or tears to the polythene
Bales stores standing on the flat part . This has a thicker later of polythene and less likely to burst
Bales should not be stored closer than 20m from a watercourse and should not be stacked no more than two bales high

Question 22

What are 4 advantages of round bale silage

Answer 22

Excess round bales can be sold
Less expensive on smaller farms where silage pit cannot be constructed - low transport and storage cost
Flexible storage: bales can be stored on the field or easily transported to any location on farm
Less dependant on weather conditions

Question 23

What are 3 disadvantages of round bale silage

Answer 23

High unit cost
Not suitable for very wet silage
Prone to damage if not properly handled