Description
Harvesting hay as baleage can allow for more timely harvest, especially in spring months when curing conditions are not ideal. Forage conserved as baleage undergoes anaerobic fermentation in which the sugars are converted to lactic acid, lowering final pH. To successfully conserve forage as dry hay, moisture concentrations must be less than 18%. In contrast, the ideal moisture concentration for baleage is between 55 and 65%. There are a number of producers harvesting and wrapping hay that is not quite “dry enough” to bale but is too dry to ensile. This produces a product commonly referred to by producers as “sweet hay”. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of dry matter at ensiling on the final pH and nutritive value of cool-season grasses. This study was conducted at the UK Research and Education Center located near Princeton, KY. Two mixed cool-season grass hay fields were sampled every two hours during daylight starting at cutting and ending when the hay was dry enough to bale. Each sample was immediately chopped into 2 to 3-inch lengths and sealed in a vacuum bag (3/4 full). After 6 weeks of fermentation, the vacuum bags were sampled. Final pH increased as DM at ensiling increased. Dry matter at ensiling had little impact on nutritive value. Our data indicate that if oxygen is excluded from the forage, ensiling in the range of 18 to 55% moisture may be a viable range management tool.
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Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Impact of Dry Matter at Ensiling on Final pH and Nutritive Value of Mixed Cool-Season Haylage
Harvesting hay as baleage can allow for more timely harvest, especially in spring months when curing conditions are not ideal. Forage conserved as baleage undergoes anaerobic fermentation in which the sugars are converted to lactic acid, lowering final pH. To successfully conserve forage as dry hay, moisture concentrations must be less than 18%. In contrast, the ideal moisture concentration for baleage is between 55 and 65%. There are a number of producers harvesting and wrapping hay that is not quite “dry enough” to bale but is too dry to ensile. This produces a product commonly referred to by producers as “sweet hay”. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of dry matter at ensiling on the final pH and nutritive value of cool-season grasses. This study was conducted at the UK Research and Education Center located near Princeton, KY. Two mixed cool-season grass hay fields were sampled every two hours during daylight starting at cutting and ending when the hay was dry enough to bale. Each sample was immediately chopped into 2 to 3-inch lengths and sealed in a vacuum bag (3/4 full). After 6 weeks of fermentation, the vacuum bags were sampled. Final pH increased as DM at ensiling increased. Dry matter at ensiling had little impact on nutritive value. Our data indicate that if oxygen is excluded from the forage, ensiling in the range of 18 to 55% moisture may be a viable range management tool.
