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Keys to Success with Baleage Dennis Hancock, PhD. Extension Forage Specialist UGA Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Dennis Hancock, PhD. Extension Forage Specialist UGA Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Slide 2 Less dependent on weather Makes use of some forages that other-wise wouldnt work. Silage & Haylage SILAGE - Forage that has undergone anaerobic fermentation Slide 3 Baled Silage Storage 4-10% loss Baling 2-5% loss Feeding Minimal loss Feeding Wilting 2-5% loss Fewer Losses Accumulate With Each Step End Result: 90% of Original DM Can be more efficient Slide 4 Slide 5 Forage Type CP TDN NDF Fresh-Cut Crop 23 7038 Baled Silage 20 6642 Well-cured hay 17 6246 Rain damaged hay 15 5754 Alfalfa Quality & Weather Slide 6 Quality Advantages Lowered risk of rain damage Less shatter loss Higher forage quality 1 Lower NDF, ADF, ADL Higher CP Increased digestibility 1 Han, et al. 2005; Hancock and Collins, 2006. Slide 7 Quality of Silage Garbage in - garbage out forage maturity species Typically better than hay But, theres nothing magical about wrapping it in plastic! Garbage in - garbage out forage maturity species Typically better than hay But, theres nothing magical about wrapping it in plastic! Slide 8 Details Slide 9 1: Cut down no more than you can handle. Cut mid-afternoon on one day, bale & wrap the next day. Amount cut = how much can be baled and wrapped the next day. Bales should be wrapped w/in 12 hrs of baling. Slide 10 Consider: Cost, Labor, Speed, Volume 2: Choose the right bale wrapper. Slide 11 Wrapper Styles 3 point hitch ($3,000 - $14,000) individual ($5,000 - $18,000) in-line ($13,000 - $24,000) Wrapper Styles 3 point hitch ($3,000 - $14,000) individual ($5,000 - $18,000) in-line ($13,000 - $24,000) Wrapper Costs Slide 12 Baled Silage Costs Plastic Cost: $4.00 - $6.00/ton DM Wrapper cost: $2.00 - $5.00/ton DM Fuel & Repairs: $0.50 - $5.00/ton DM Labor: $0.75 - $2.00/ton DM Slide 13 Alfalfa Baled Silage Costs 2009 (projected) Cost Per Ton $4.12 Breakeven Cost: $113.23 Slide 14 Slide 15 Own for Own Use 3: Explore your options. Custom Hire Own & Custom on the Side Slide 16 4. Bale at the right range of moisture Ideal Range, 50-65% Moisture Rule of thumb: bale when the forage is no longer wet enough to wring juice out of a handful. Rule of thumb: bale when the forage is no longer wet enough to wring juice out of a handful. Poor Fermentation Toxic Potential (Clostridial, Listeriosis) 70% 40% Moisture Slide 17 Silage Fermentation Lactic acid bacteriaAcetic acid bacteria Silage pH pH 6.0 pH 4.2 pH 3.8 1 2 3 4 7 14 20 28 Days after ensiling Slide 18 Silage pH pH Sorghum- sudan Alfalfa Slide 19 Maximize bale size match to tractor dense bales 4x 5 bale is most popular 900-1300 lbs, depending on %M square edges Use plastic twine or net sisal twine degrades plastic Maximize bale size match to tractor dense bales 4x 5 bale is most popular 900-1300 lbs, depending on %M square edges Use plastic twine or net sisal twine degrades plastic 5. Make good bales Slide 20 Wrap as soon as possible within 12 hours maximum Wrap at the storage site reduces handling reduces risk of spoilage 6. Choose an appropriate site for wrapping Slide 21 7. Apply enough plastic but no more. Slide 22 Application Amount Inline Wrapper Six-Eight layers (+ double on joints) 12.5 16.7% overlap two rolls rotating around bales Pre-stretched to 50-70% Tacky side towards the bale 60-80+ bales per hour Six-Eight layers (+ double on joints) 12.5 16.7% overlap two rolls rotating around bales Pre-stretched to 50-70% Tacky side towards the bale 60-80+ bales per hour Slide 23 Four layers (2 + 2 system) 50% overlap two full bale rotations 15-40 bales per hour $2.75 4.00 per bale Four layers (2 + 2 system) 50% overlap two full bale rotations 15-40 bales per hour $2.75 4.00 per bale Application Amount Ind. Wrapper Slide 24 Storage Treatment Consumption 2 layers53% 2 layers53% 4 layers 84% 4 layers 84% 6 layers 88% 6 layers 88% Hay44% Hay44% Alfalfa silage & hay 2, 4, or 6 layers of film 2 layers Hay 4 layers 6 layers Slide 25 Slide 26 8. Feed it in an appropriate way. Match quality to animals needing that quality Use a ring (or cone) feeder OK for mixed rations Bale grinder May need to be sliced Match quality to animals needing that quality Use a ring (or cone) feeder OK for mixed rations Bale grinder May need to be sliced Slide 27 9. Feed the bales within 9 months. Bales will squat and be difficult to handle. Plastic will deteriorate over time. Bales will begin to spoil. Bales will squat and be difficult to handle. Plastic will deteriorate over time. Bales will begin to spoil. Slide 28 Recycling is not currently an option Reduce the bulk to aid in handling 10. Have a plan for handling the plastic. Slide 29 Resources Slide 30 Questions? www.georgiaforages.com 1-800-ASK-UGA1 www.georgiaforages.com 1-800-ASK-UGA1