FINAL NUTRITION Flashcards
What is Silage?
silage = pickled forage
product of fermentation of green forage crops that have been compressed and stored under anaerobic conditions
what is the fermentation process called in making silage?
Ensiling
What is ensiling?
produces acids and consumes the oxygen in the silo, preserving the plant material
What are the common crops used for silage?
whole crop corn, whole crop cereal (i.e., wheat, barley etc.), whole corp sorghum, alfalfa etc.
What is an example of a poor-quality crop that can be used for silage?
alfalfa and legumes
Alfalfa - high in protein (High protein prevents pH to go too low)
What is an example of crop that can be used in dry areas?
milo or sorghum
- these crops are good for making silage
In making silage, when should the crops be harvested?
in the right maturity step
What would happen if silage has air in it?
growth of mold
What crop is the most popular in California to make silage?
corn
What are the two types of silos?
upright tower and horizontal silo
where is the upright silo or tower used?
mostly in canada and europe
rarely used in USA
- used in small dairy farms
what is the most common type of silo used in the states?
horizontal silo
What are the two types of horizontal silo?
bunker silo (floor and wall on three sides)
drive over- piles (on the ground) - most common in california
what are the advantages in making silage?
- not dependent on weather
- less loss and more harvested TDN
- generally more palatable than hay
- can be prepared from plants having thick stems
What are the disadvantages in making silage?
- committed to livestock feeding (no off-farm market)
- DM consumption may be lower (due to moisture)
- handle more water
what will happen if plants with thick stems are used for haymaking?
- rough and unpalatable
can you make hay using sorghum or corn?
NO
is silage the only choice when using thick-stemmed crops like sorghum and corn?
yes
what is the DM of silage?
30-40%
what is the DM of hay?
80-90%
what are the steps in making silage?
- 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 - 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 - sealing
- two layers of plastic
- first plastic = acts as an oxygen barrier
- thicker plastic = heat barrier - reflects heat from the sun.
what happens in the silo?
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.
what happens in phase 1 in the silo?
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
phase 2
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
phase 3 in silo
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
how long does the whole fermentation process in making silage?
21 days but silage can be maintained for up to 12 yrs if properly made
managing silage at feed out
- remove an adequate amount of silage every day to keep the silage face “fresh”
- eat as you go.
Silage safety
- 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
What is grain sorghum (milo)
- 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
