Browsing by Subject "Hay waste"

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    The Effect Of Alfalfa Cultivar And Round Bale Wrap-Type And Outdoor Storage Length On Dry Matter, Forage Quality, Beef Cattle Preference, And Hay Waste
    (2019-08) Reiter, Amanda
    Large round bales are commonly fed to livestock; however, it has been well documented that outdoor storage can negatively impact dry matter (DM) and forage quality. These factors, in addition to mold growth, can influence dry matter intake (DMI) and hay waste by livestock animals. To combat this, new wrap-types and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars have been introduced but these technologies are not well understood. The objectives of this research were to evaluate time required to wrap large round bales, determine changes in DM and forage quality, and examine the economics of reduce-lignin and reference alfalfa hay wrapped in twine, net wrap and B-Wrap while in outdoor storage. Then to determine preference of beef cattle and hay waste when alfalfa hay had been stored in the different wrap-types. Hay was baled into 24 large round bales; 12 bales each of reduced-lignin and reference alfalfa. Within each cultivar, four replicates were bound with each wrap-type. Using stopwatches, time to bind each bale was recorded. At the time of harvest and every 90 days (±3 days) for 365 days, individual bales were weighed and cored to determine DM loss and changes in forage quality. Twine required the most time to wrap a bale (56 seconds) compared to B-Wrap (28 seconds) and net wrap (18 seconds; P < 0.01). Alfalfa cultivar had minimal effects on the parameters measured; therefore, the interaction of wrap type and storage length was reported. After 365 days in outdoor storage, DM losses were 7% for twine wrapped bales, 5% for net wrap bales, while B-Wrap bales maintained DM. Changes in forage quality were commonly observed at ≥180 days of storage with a dilution of nonstructural carbohydrates and a concentration of insoluble fiber components. B-Wrap bales had a higher dollar value compared to net wrap and twines wrapped bales at 180 and 270 days in storage. Then, alfalfa hay (n=24) stored outdoors for 15 months in plastic twine, net wrap, and B-Wrap. After the storage period, round bales were fed in a switchback design to 18 Angus cow-calf pairs. Pairs had ad libitum access to three round bales, one of each wrap-type, in individual feeders for 48-hour periods (n=8). Feeders were weighed and waste surrounding feeders was collected at 24 and 48 h to calculate DMI and hay waste. Total DMI, and DMI during the first 24 hours, were greater in B-Wrap bales compared to twine wrapped bales indicating the cattle preferred hay wrapped in B-Wrap. Net wrapped bales resulted in similar forage quality and DMI to both B-Wrap and twine wrapped bales. However, no difference in hay waste were observed between the wrap-types. These results indicate that B-Wrap appears to shed precipitation better resulting in a conservation of DM and forage quality compared to twine and net wrap while also being preferentially consumed over twine wrap.
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    Maximizing Equine Forage Utilization through the Reduction of Hay Waste and Grazing Alternative Pasture Species
    (2015-05) Grev, Amanda
    Hay waste during feeding represents a costly expense for horse owners. The objectives of this study were to determine hay waste, herd bodyweight (BW) change, hay intake, and economics of small square-bale feeders used in outdoor feeding of adult horses. Feeder designs included a hayrack, slat feeder, basket feeder, and a no-feeder control. Feeders were placed in separate outdoor dirt paddocks. Twelve adult horses were divided into four groups and rotated through the paddocks in a Latin square design. Horses were weighed immediately before and after each rotation. Horses were fed grass hay at 2.5% of the herd BW split evenly at 0800 and 1600 hours. Waste hay and orts were collected daily before each feeding. The number of months to repay the feeder cost (payback) was calculated using hay valued at $250/ton, and improved efficiency over the no-feeder control. Mean hay waste was 13, 5, 3, and 1%, for the no-feeder control, hayrack, basket feeder, and slat feeder, respectively. The hayrack, basket feeder, and slat feeder paid for themselves in 12, 11, and 9 months, respectively. Herds gained 10 and 7 kg when feeding from the basket feeder and hayrack, and lost 3 and 11 kg when feeding from the slat feeder and no-feeder control (P ≤ 0.0015). Estimated hay intake was 2.4% BW for the basket feeder and hayrack and 2.2% BW for the slat feeder and no-feeder control (P < 0.0001). Small square-bale feeder design affected hay waste, hay intake, herd BW change, and payback. Annual grasses can serve as emergency forage but have not been evaluated under horse grazing. The objectives of this study were to evaluate annual grasses for yield, forage nutritive value, and preference under horse (Equus caballus L.) grazing at two maturities during the spring and fall. Spring grasses were planted on May 8, 2013 and April 22, 2014 in a randomized complete block (RCB) with eight replicates. Fall grasses were planted on August 1, 2013 and August 5, 2014 in a RCB with six replicates. Beginning in June and September of each year, adult horses grazed half of the replicates for four hours at an immature stage. Approximately one week later, horses grazed the remaining plots at a mature stage. Plots were mowed and grazing was repeated when annual grasses regrew to the target maturities. Although spring and forage oat (Avena sativa L.) and winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) often had the highest yields (≥ 3.9 t ha-1; P ≤ 0.0455) across seasons and maturities, they were among the least preferred annual grasses (≤ 28%; P ≤ 0.0498). Across seasons and maturities, annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) and winter and spring wheat (Tricum aestivum L.) were the most preferred annual grasses with ≥ 45% removal (P ≤ 0.0370). Among these highly preferred grasses, annual ryegrass was typically higher yielding (≥ 4.7 t ha-1), while winter and spring wheat were among the lowest yielding species (≤ 6.4 t ha-1; P ≤ 0.0455). Although differences were observed, all annual grasses resulted in ≥ 15% crude protein (CP), ≤ 59% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), ≤ 17% nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC), and ≥ 2.05 Mcal kg-1 equine digestible energy (DE). Annual ryegrass appears to be a viable option for horse owners looking to extend the grazing season or provide emergency pasture forage.