Forages
Forage Quality: Physical
The Forage and TMR Particle Separator was designed to help in determining the correct forage particle length needed to improve ruminant nutrition.
Topics Include visual appraisal of feeds, pH determination of forages, and determining forage dry matters.
Silage
Topics include sensory evaluation, chemical composition and physical characteristics of silage and the potential uses of the particle separator.
French language version of "Troubleshooting Silage Problems".
Compared to hay production, silage increases the potential yield of nutrients from available land, decreases feed costs, lowers harvest losses, and often increases forage quality.
This video explains the principles and practices involved in making high-quality silages to feed to today’s high-producing dairy herds. This video details specific factors that the dairy producer controls in producing good silage and the steps that are involved in the silage fermentation process. Specific segments address the various types of silage that are commonly fed and the major types of silo structures used, including recommended silage dry matter and particle size for each structure type. DVD Format. English and Spanish versions available.
Interest has developed in cutting corn silage higher during harvest to improve the forage quality. Cutting corn silage higher can increase silage quality because the lower part of the crop is poorly digestible, but this can also reduce yield.
Excel Spreadsheet Tools
The Nitrate Calculator automates the calculations of nitrate intake and provides a conversion assistant.
Forage Quality: Nutrient Composition
Forage and Feed Sources
Mycotoxins, Nitrates and Other Toxicity Problems
A new companion spreadsheet for this publication is available. The "Nitrate Calculator" automates the calculations of nitrate intake and provides a conversion assistant. See "Excel Spreadsheet Tools" on this page.
Drought and Forage Shortages
We have designed two spreadsheets to complement this publication: the "Forage Value Spreadsheet" and the "Grain and Byproduct Feed Value Spreadsheet". See "Excel Spreadsheet Tools" on this page.
