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July 13, 2006 Get the Most From Forages Most dairy managers agree their cows can't make milk without high-quality forage. Many farmers in the Dakotas produce much of their own forage. J.W. Schroeder, North Dakota State University Extension Service dairy specialist, has some tips to maximize the quality of that forage. He recommends producers adjust their cutting machine to create the widest possible swaths, which will make hay dry fast and minimize quality losses in the field. Studies have shown hay left in narrow swaths or windrows loses water-soluble carbohydrates, or energy, through respiration. Wide-swath hay needs less time to reach 60 percent to 65 percent moisture, the level at which respiration stops. In one study, cows produced 13 percent more milk from first-cutting alfalfa laid in wide versus narrow swaths. Schroeder says that study was with haylage, but some of the advantages of wide swaths apply to dry hay, too. He also suggests cutting alfalfa as short as possible. Agronomists at the University of Wisconsin have found leaving short stubble maximizes yield with little sacrifice in quality. They recommend:
Schroeder says another way to get the most out of forages is to improve the yield of drought-stressed alfalfa. University of Nebraska experts suggest producers first determine if the alfalfa is growing. If the alfalfa seems to have stopped growing and enough has grown to justify harvesting it, cut it right away because waiting means the crop is going to deteriorate. If the alfalfa still is growing, even slowly, wait until as much yield as possible has accumulated before harvesting. This might occur sooner than producers think, Schroeder says. Research has shown the maximum yield from any single cutting occurs at or soon after full bloom. Full bloom is when virtually every stem has one or more flowers open and blooming. Since most stems usually have several potential flowers, full bloom and maximum yield occur while many potential flowers still have not bloomed. Bottom leaves begin falling off faster after full bloom so new growth can accumulate at the top. “The bottom line is that yield can be lost by waiting too long,” Schroeder says. Producers who buy hay to supplement their forage also have ways to get the best quality possible. They need to insist on at least minimum sampling standards for that hay, according to Schroeder. “Proper sampling will help ensure that the hay you are buying is worth the cost of the product, to say nothing of the high cost of transport,” he says. To ensure producers are testing the hay correctly, here are some generally recognized sampling principles:
### Source: J.W.
Schroeder, (701) 231-7663, jschroed@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
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North Dakota State University |
