Evaluation of Dewatering and Wilting as Moisture Reduction Methods for Hay-Crop Silage
1969
Derbyshire, J. C. | Gordon, C. H. | Holdren, R. D. | Memear, J. R.
The wilting and dewatering methods of reducing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) moisture prior to ensiling were compared with the direct-cut harvesting procedure. Field dry matter losses from wilting were essentially zero and were high for the dewatering method. Because of large storage losses of direct-cut silage, total dry matter losses from the field to the cow were similar for the two nonwilted methods but five times greater than for wilting. Silage temperatures were similar for the three harvesting systems, but silage dry matter bulk density was greatest for the wilted method. Both methods of reducing forage moisture reduced the percentage of the more soluble plant fractions. These differences were not as marked after fermentation. Milking cow response was similar on the three silages in spite of small differences in energy consumption. Wilting appeared superior particularly when animal product per unit of crop land is dominant.
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