Publication Date

1985

Location

Kyoto Japan

Description

The high humidity in southeast Louisiana prohibits curing of rycgrass hay at its optirnu�� quality st��ge . Oft���� up to 10 days are required in curing rye grass cut before mid-May t':' reach a safe level ��or storage. R��mfall and ��•gh hunudity dunng_ this period increase the curing time and decrease the quality of rye?rass. Bali��g .of !ug�� mo1st':1re hay 1s one way to reduce the curing time and limit the weather related damage. However, microbial _ activity m high moisture hay reduces _its quahty_ due to loss of protein and energy and the formation of molds. Microbial activity may be reduced by treating green hay with organic acids or anhydrous ammonia after baling. A study was therefore initiated in 1982 and co��tinued in 1983 at !he Southeast Research Station near Franklinton to investigate the effects of applied anhydrous amrnoma on the preservation and quality of ryegrass hay stored in large round bales. Anhydrous ammonia prevented mold growth and mode.rated temperature rise in high moisture ryegrass round bales. Such treatment can allow safe storage of baled hay upto 40% moisture resulting in improved quality through an increase in digestibility of structural carbohydrates. The quality of treated hay was not superior to field dried hay but AP was increased by the ammonia treatment. Being able to bale at higher moistures than field drying to 12% should offer the advantage of reducing field curing time and reducing weather related damages. A heavy duty bag is necessary for bale storage to withstand the elements.

Share

COinS
 

High Moisture Ryegrass Preservation with Ammonia

Kyoto Japan

The high humidity in southeast Louisiana prohibits curing of rycgrass hay at its optirnu�� quality st��ge . Oft���� up to 10 days are required in curing rye grass cut before mid-May t':' reach a safe level ��or storage. R��mfall and ��•gh hunudity dunng_ this period increase the curing time and decrease the quality of rye?rass. Bali��g .of !ug�� mo1st':1re hay 1s one way to reduce the curing time and limit the weather related damage. However, microbial _ activity m high moisture hay reduces _its quahty_ due to loss of protein and energy and the formation of molds. Microbial activity may be reduced by treating green hay with organic acids or anhydrous ammonia after baling. A study was therefore initiated in 1982 and co��tinued in 1983 at !he Southeast Research Station near Franklinton to investigate the effects of applied anhydrous amrnoma on the preservation and quality of ryegrass hay stored in large round bales. Anhydrous ammonia prevented mold growth and mode.rated temperature rise in high moisture ryegrass round bales. Such treatment can allow safe storage of baled hay upto 40% moisture resulting in improved quality through an increase in digestibility of structural carbohydrates. The quality of treated hay was not superior to field dried hay but AP was increased by the ammonia treatment. Being able to bale at higher moistures than field drying to 12% should offer the advantage of reducing field curing time and reducing weather related damages. A heavy duty bag is necessary for bale storage to withstand the elements.