Chapter 20 - Conservation Of Grass Flashcards
(23 cards)
What is silage
Fermentation of carbohydrates in the grass produce acids which lower the pH of the grass and inhibit all microbial activity
What is hay
Grass is dehydrated to remove the majority of the water present. In the absence of water microbial activity is inhibited
What is heading out
When half of the grass plants have produced seed heads
What is ensiling
The process of storing grass or another crop in silo, clamp or put for preservation as silage
How can a farmer provide the optimum conditions for high carbohydrate levels in ensiled grass
Cutting grass when it is leafy Cutting in dry weather Using double-chop machinery Leaving the grass to wilt Adding molasses to the grass
Differentiate between Lactobacillus and Clostridium
Lactobacillus produces good-quality, lactic acid silage
Clostridium produces poor-quality,butyric acid silage
Describe what Happens to the DMD value of grass after heading out - with a simple diagram
DMD is approximately at 75% at the heading out stage in perennial ryegrass. For each day that cutting is delayed after this point the DMD value will fall by 0.5%
What is fermentation
The conversion of carbohydrates and to acid by anaerobic bacteria
What is a mower conditioner
Used to cut grass for preservation of silage or hay as winter fodder
Machine cute the grass and pushed it between two rollers
Enables grass to dry faster due to the exposure of a greater surface area
What a rotary rake
Used to create rows of swathes of grass ready for baling as silage
What is a rotary Tedder
Also known as a hay Bob
Used to shake up swathes of grass to allow for faster drying by exposing the grass to the sun and allowing air to pass through
What is a baler
Used to gather up swathes of grass to create silage or hay bales
Bales Can be squared or round
Bales are produced and are then wrapped by the wrapping machine to produce silage bales
What are 4 additives in silage production
Acids
Sugar and molasses
Bacterial inoculants
Enzymes
1) Acids
Used to aid preservation
Lower the Ph of the silage - inhibit the fermentation process and prevents bacterial activity
Sulfuric acid most common
Disadvantage- reduce palatability of grass and can corrode machinery
2) sugar and molasses
Added to ensiled grass to increase carbohydrates concentration in the pit
Extra sugar used in the fermentation process
3) bacterial inoculants
Speeds up the fermentation process and reduces the ph within the pit
Can do this more rapidly than acids
Aid in the preservation of protein
4) enzymes
Added to silage in order to break down grass fibres
Breakdown of grass fibres provides additional carbohydrates in the form of sugar for fermentation
What is haylage
The grass that has been cut and left to dry out before baling
The moisture levels in the grass is less than silage but higher than hay - approx 60%
What should you do when producing haylage
Close of fields to livestock 6-8 weeks before cutting
Fertilise pasture with nitrogen fertiliser
Cut grass with conditioner mower since reduces the moisture content faster
Cut a height of 8-10cm above the ground to avoid soil contamination
Ted grass twice a day for 2 days to speed up drying
Bake with a baler and warp with a 6-8 layer of Platic
Stored similar to silage bales prefer under cover and on flat surface
Production of pit silage
3 concrete walls And a concrete base
Storage tank for effluent and channels to bring effluent from the pit to the tank
Tank should be leak proof the prevent pollution
Closed of the livestock 6 weeks before cutting.
Grass mowed into swathes and left to wilt
Picked up by forage harvester
Brought to the silage pit and heaped.
Tractor is used to roll over the layer of grass to remove any air. If additives are used they should be added to each layer rolled
Once air is removed the pit is sealed with heavy duty black polythene sheeting which keeps the pit airtight to allow anaerobic respiration take place
The polythene is weighed down to keep in place
Polythene should be inspected after 2-3 weeks and tightened
Production of round bale silage
Grass for round bales is mowed and wilted for 1-2 days - 30% DM
Swathes of grass collected by baker and turned into bales
Wrapped in polythene by the wrapper.
Bales transported to where they are stored. Care should be take to rodent damage or tears to the polythene
Bales stores standing on the flat part . This has a thicker later of polythene and less likely to burst
Bales should not be stored closer than 20m from a watercourse and should not be stacked no more than two bales high
What are 4 advantages of round bale silage
Excess round bales can be sold
Less expensive on smaller farms where silage pit cannot be constructed - low transport and storage cost
Flexible storage: bales can be stored on the field or easily transported to any location on farm
Less dependant on weather conditions
What are 3 disadvantages of round bale silage
High unit cost
Not suitable for very wet silage
Prone to damage if not properly handled
