Articles
Lactobacillus buchneri for silage aerobic stability
Lactobacillus buchneri is a bacterial inoculant approved for use in grass silages, corn silage, legume silage and high moisture grains. Lactobacillus buchneri has been demonstrated to improve aerobic stability of silages by reducing the growth of yeasts.
Fall Forage Rye for Dairy Heifers and Dry Cows
Introduction Many dairy and heifer rearing operations are looking for increased feed production on a limited acreage for their operation. Planting fall grain rye and harvesting the crop as forage the following spring can increase forage yield per acre and reduce forage production costs. Double cropping fall grain rye following soybean or early corn silage […]
White clover for Wisconsin pastures
White clover has been described as the “key to the international competitive advantage of New Zealand’s pastoral industries”. World wide, it is recognized for its high forage quality, ability to support high levels of intake by livestock, and capacity to fix nitrogen. White clover is often thought of as the ideal pasture plant because when […]
NDF Digestibility: Reference Values for Forages, Byproducts and Total Mixed Rations
Numerous forage testing laboratories evaluate forages, byproduct feeds and total mixed rations for neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD). Evaluation of forages and other feedstuffs for NDFD is being conducted to aid prediction of feed energy content and animal performance.
Heat Damaged Forages: Effects on Forage Quality
Traditionally, heat damage in forages has been associated primarily with alterations in forage protein quality as a result of Maillard reactions. A Maillard reaction is a heat-induced chemical reaction between protein (amino acids) and sugars.
The Long and Short of Alfalfa Cutting Height
Current recommendations regarding cutting height of alfalfa are designed to maximize yield while maintaining high quality forages and stand longevity. Forage growers frequently cut forages at a height of 3-inches or more. However, recent reports indicate that there may be an advantage to cutting alfalfa closer, leaving an inch or less of stubble height (@griculture […]
The relationship between corn grain yield and forage yield: Effect of moisture, hybrid and environment
Understanding the relationship between corn grain and forage yield is important to dairymen and grain farmers who often contract with each other for corn silage production.
Heaving in Alfalfa Fields
Heaving is a problem in some alfalfa stands each year in the Midwest. Heaving occurs on heavy soils that have high moisture contents. Repeated freezing and thawing causes soil expansion and contraction that pushes the tap-rooted plants (and fence posts) out of the soil. The need to push against something is why grasses with fibrous […]
Sweet Corn Waste: Forage Quality and Fermentation Characteristics
Sweet corn is enjoyed by people across the United States. Some sweet corn is harvested and sold directly to the consumer (i.e. corn on the cob). The rest of the sweet corn is processed, packaged and/or combined with other food products through a processor. Sweet corn production produces byproducts that can be fed to livestock. They include sweet corn stalks (stalklage left on the field after harvest), sweet corn silage (from bypassed acres that were not harvested), and corn canning factory waste (sweet corn waste).
Planting Corn in June and July! – What can you expect?
Unprecedented rainfall continues to cause flooding and ponding leading to problems for corn establishment on 5 to 10% of planted acres in southern Wisconsin. Flooded and ponded areas have existed long enough now so that plants have been killed and areas need to be replanted.
