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Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 42 No. 8 1394-1395
© 1959 by American Dairy Science Association ®
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Effect on Silage of Chopping and Bruising the Forage1

C. H. Gordon, H. G. Wiseman, J. C. Derbyshire and W. C. Jacobson

Dairy Cattle Research Branch, Animal Husbandry Research Division, ARS, Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Md.

D. T. Black

Harvesting and Farm Processing Branch, Agricultural Engineering Research Division, ARS, USDA, Beltsville, Md.

ABSTRACT

A study was begun in 1958 in which the value of various forages for silage was estimated in 1-qt. jar silos. During the course of this work it was found that the quality of silage produced could be markedly improved by finer chopping and/or grinding, even though the extent of air exclusion and density were constant. This report consists of the preliminary results of a study of the conditions under which the same factor might influence the silage obtained in larger silos.

Two harvesting methods were used which were intended to provide extremes of conditions for physical treatment and allow observations of their effects, if any. The harvesting methods were: 1. Chopped with a forage harvester set for a 3-in. cut. 2. Chopped with a harvester set set for a 5/16-in. cut and this followed by the bruising provided by a Silorator. This reduced the forage to an almost pulpy consistency and is referred to as "bruised." No wilting was involved with either method.

One load of third-cutting alfalfa was harvested by each of the two methods in the morning of September 3 and again in the afternoon. Two 4- by 8-ft. steel silos were filled from each load by a uniform procedure consisting of tramping, weighting with 500 lb. of brick, and sealing with a steel cover and rubber gasket.

FOOTNOTES

1 Associated with graduate studies, undertaken by C. H. Gordon at the University of Maryland, Agronomy Department, College Park, Maryland.






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