Forage Management Unit for Adults

Lesson 4: Making, Harvesting, and Storing Quality Forage and Seed

Direction and Purpose to:

Obtain knowledge and information resources necessary to make intelligent decisions for maximum profitability and quality forage harvesting, storage, and seed production.

Producing Quality Hay

Hay quality makes the difference Use cost-benefit analysis Examine protein-nitrogen

relationships Recommended stages for harvest

Stretching Winter Forage Supplies

Stockpiling forages• Extends grazing season• Minimizes production costs

Utilizing Crop residues Feeding Practices

Problems with Putting Up Quality Forage Weather

Toxicity and Poisons to livestock•Nitrate toxicity•Prussic acid poisoning

Problems with PuttingUp Quality Forage Insect and animal pests

•Deer•Grasshopper•Blister Beetle•Alfalfa Aphid•Alfalfa Weevil•Armyworm (Moth)

Methods of Hay Storage

Round bale storage

Use of preservatives

Do…..

Don’t…..

Proper Forage Sampling and Analysis

Collect forage samples Proper sampling equipment Forage tests & laboratories

Need a cross-section sample of of entire bale

See picture for positioning

For square bales take core sample from the end of bale.

Proper Hay Sampling Method

Evaluating Forage Quality Understand/Interpret feed

analysis reports• NDF/ADF• Energy Content• Protein

Feed value for livestock Visual appraisal

Silage Production Procedures & Techniques

Harvesting Ensiling Adding anhydrous ammonia Adding urea Baling

Seed Production Procedures and Techniques

Cool Season Grasses

Red Clover

Conclusions

Understanding what quality forage is Taking proper forage samples Knowing locations of laboratories Realizing livestock nutrition needs

continued… Determining if stored forage will

meet nutritional needs of livestock Understanding steps necessary for

putting up quality forage Realizing most economical storage

methods

continued… Being aware of possible ways to

stretch winter forage supplies

Knowing management procedures and techniques necessary for quality silage and seed production

Putting Knowledge into Practice…

Utilize forage test information to make the necessary management decisions for livestock nutritional requirements.