FINAL NUTRITION

Question 1

What is Silage?

Answer 1

silage = pickled forage
product of fermentation of green forage crops that have been compressed and stored under anaerobic conditions

Question 2

what is the fermentation process called in making silage?

Answer 2

Ensiling

Question 3

What is ensiling?

Answer 3

produces acids and consumes the oxygen in the silo, preserving the plant material

Question 4

What are the common crops used for silage?

Answer 4

whole crop corn, whole crop cereal (i.e., wheat, barley etc.), whole corp sorghum, alfalfa etc.

Question 5

What is an example of a poor-quality crop that can be used for silage?

Answer 5

alfalfa and legumes

Alfalfa - high in protein (High protein prevents pH to go too low)

Question 6

What is an example of crop that can be used in dry areas?

Answer 6

milo or sorghum
- these crops are good for making silage

Question 7

In making silage, when should the crops be harvested?

Answer 7

in the right maturity step

Question 8

What would happen if silage has air in it?

Answer 8

growth of mold

Question 9

What crop is the most popular in California to make silage?

Answer 9

corn

Question 10

What are the two types of silos?

Answer 10

upright tower and horizontal silo

Question 11

where is the upright silo or tower used?

Answer 11

mostly in canada and europe
rarely used in USA
- used in small dairy farms

Question 12

what is the most common type of silo used in the states?

Answer 12

horizontal silo

Question 13

What are the two types of horizontal silo?

Answer 13

bunker silo (floor and wall on three sides)
drive over- piles (on the ground) - most common in california

Question 14

what are the advantages in making silage?

Answer 14

• not dependent on weather
• less loss and more harvested TDN
• generally more palatable than hay
• can be prepared from plants having thick stems

Question 15

What are the disadvantages in making silage?

Answer 15

• committed to livestock feeding (no off-farm market)
• DM consumption may be lower (due to moisture)
• handle more water

Question 16

what will happen if plants with thick stems are used for haymaking?

Answer 16

• rough and unpalatable

Question 17

can you make hay using sorghum or corn?

Answer 17

NO

Question 18

is silage the only choice when using thick-stemmed crops like sorghum and corn?

Answer 18

yes

Question 19

what is the DM of silage?

Answer 19

30-40%

Question 20

what is the DM of hay?

Answer 20

80-90%

Question 21

what are the steps in making silage?

Answer 21

1. harvest/chopping = rule of thumb (harvest when the milk line is 1/2 to 2/3 down from the kernel crown.
   = maturity management = want to harvest grain (starch) not indigestible fiber
2. packing
   - more DM harder to pack = more bulky
   - the monster truck is usually used to pack
   - tires of the truck are packed with water to pack and get the air out
3. sealing
   - two layers of plastic
   - first plastic = acts as an oxygen barrier
   - thicker plastic = heat barrier - reflects heat from the sun.

Question 22

what happens in the silo?

Answer 22

phase 1: plant material is put into the silo
= plant cells continue to respire, oxygen is consumed, carbon dioxide and heat are produced, temp of silage increase
Phase 2 : acetic acid is produced
= pH changes from 6.0 to 4.2
phase 3: lactic acid formation begins on third day
= Acetic acid formation declines
phase 4: lactic acid formation continues for about 2 more weeks
= temp gradually declines, bacterial action stops as pH lowers to 4.0
phase 5: if everything has gone properly, silage remains constant
= if insufficient lactic acid was formed, butyric acid production begins.
= protein may be broken down and spoilage may occur.

Question 23

what happens in phase 1 in the silo?

Answer 23

plants will continue to respire (increases temp) = want to limit this (can be a good or bad thing)
- uses sugars in the plant material and turns them into CO2 and water
- uses oxygen
- inevitable step
1 or 2 days

Question 24

phase 2

Answer 24

start of fermentation = bacterial population (first) produces acetic acid (vinegar smell)
pH level starts to drop to 4.2
pH 4.2 is where the bacteria produce acetic acid cannot be active anymore
day 3

Question 25

phase 3 in silo

Answer 25

lactic acid. bacteria become active in pH 4.2. continue about 2 weeks

the precursor to making acid for bothgh fermentation = sugars

pH fermentation stops at 3.8

when the pH drops too low lactic bacteria cannot live

Question 26

how long does the whole fermentation process in making silage?

Answer 26

21 days but silage can be maintained for up to 12 yrs if properly made

Question 27

managing silage at feed out

Answer 27

• remove an adequate amount of silage every day to keep the silage face “fresh”
• eat as you go.

Question 28

Silage safety

Answer 28

• dangerous for people if too high
• avoid excess high when filling bunker silos and building drive-over-piles
• avoid working close to the unstable exposed feed put face

Question 29

What is grain sorghum (milo)

Answer 29

• drought tolerant- grown in drier climates
• grain is exposed - not covered by husk or hull
• somewhat lower in energy than corn; 95-98% of the feeding value of corn for poultry
  and swine; 85-90% for cattle and she