forage quality and utilization of kentucky bluegrass residue john holman plant, soil and...
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Bluegrass Forage Quality - Analogy I need to come to this meeting in Spokane but my department head only gave me funds for gas (energy) to make 85% of the trip. Does that mean his offer is of no value to me? Of course not, it just means that I have to find funds for gas (energy) for the rest of the tripTRANSCRIPT
Forage Quality And Utilization Of Kentucky Bluegrass Residue
John HolmanPlant, Soil and Entomological Sciences
Carl HuntAnimal and Veterinary Science
Larry Van TassellAgricultural Economics and Rural Sociology
Kentucky Bluegrass Forage Quality
• Post-seed harvest forage valueBaleGrazeBale and graze
• Pre-seed harvest forage value (during fallowyear)
•Bale•Graze•Graze and bale
Bluegrass Forage Quality - Analogy
• I need to come to this meeting in Spokane but my department head only gave me funds for gas (energy) to make 85% of the trip. Does that mean his offer is of no value to me?
• Of course not, it just means that I have to find funds for gas (energy) for the rest of the trip
Nutritive value of bluegrass straw needs to be enhanced to support a productive beef
cow
Nutrient Bluegrass straw
Cow requirement*
ME, Mcal/lb .77 .91
Protein, % ~4.0 9.0
* NRC (1996) requirements for a late pregnancy, 1200 lb beef cow
Methods to Enhance Straw Quality
Energy and protein supplementation
Chemical modification: Ammoniation
Physical modification Grinding Pelleting
Energy and protein supplementation
1200 lb cow, late gestationConventional program
19.3 lbs grass hay ($75/ton)7.5 lbs alfalfa ($96/ton)$1.08/cow/day
Grass straw program
14.0 lbs grass straw ($40/ton)9.5 lbs alfalfa ($96/ton)3.4 lbs barley ($102/ton)$0.91/cow/day
Energy and protein supplementation
What happens with a 10% improvement in straw quality? Grass straw program
14.0 lbs grass straw ($40/ton) 9.5 lbs alfalfa ($96/ton) 3.4 lbs barley ($102/ton) $0.91/cow/day
Improved straw program 14.0 lbs grass straw ($40/ton) 8.1 lbs alfalfa ($96/ton) 3.2 lbs barley ($102/ton) $0.83/cow/day
Or, straw is worth $51.50!
Ammoniation!!
How does ammoniation work in the “real world” – Study with WSU beef herd
Lbs of ration intake per cow per day
No difference in performance: cow weight, body condition, calf weight (45 day), rebreeding
Ration ingredient
Ammoniated Non-ammoniated
Alfalfa hay 10.1 13.6
Bluegrass straw
20.8 19.6
Rumen digestibility: 36-h ISDMD
Same as Control (P > 0.10)
Pre-seed harvest forage value:
We don’t know yet
Seasonal quality and quantity of grazable forage
Kentucky Bluegrass (KBG) Forage Study Background
• Baling is an integral component of many reduced and non-thermal KBG residue management alternatives-Baling removes 75-80% of the post-harvest residue
▪ Proprietary types produce ~ 1 ton/ac
▪ Common types produce ~ 2 ton/ac
• Baled residue needs to be utilized for alternative methods of residue removal to be economically viable
Kentucky Bluegrass Forage Study Objectives
• Determine if KBG can be hayed or grazed in an alternate year production system while maintaining system profitability and sustainability • Quantify the decline of KBG quality post combine• Determine if variety impacts forage quality
- Quantify stem/leaf ratio, C/N ratio, and elemental nutrient content
• Quantify the amount and type of nutrients removed with the baled residue
Kentucky Bluegrass Forage Study Methods
• RCB design with 3 replications-For 2 years under non-irrigated conditions at the WSU
Turfgrass Research Site- Varieties: Kenblue, Touchdown, Ascot, and Limousine
• Collect KBG forage samples at boot, flowering, swathing, combining, and 0-21 days post combining• Measure the collected samples for fiber (ADF & NDF),
crude protein, in-vitro digestibility, lignin content, C/N ratio, and elemental nutrient content
Kentucky Bluegrass Forage Study Outcomes
• Identify the optimum time to bale post-harvest residue
• Identify the type and amount of nutrients removed with the baled residue
• Calculate the optimum time of grazing or baling KBG in the fallow year of the alternate year cropping system to maximize profitability
• Determine KBG forage quality and energy value
• Determine if KBG variety impacts forage quality
• Disseminate information to KBG growers and public