Your largest feed expense is stored forage. Your hay and silage is worth more than ever before. Efforts to improve your management of forage storage will result in a good return on your investment.
What is the New Normal for forage cost? The average hay price has increased for all hay types. Fair quality grass hay is $120 - $150 per ton and premium quality alfalfa hay is $200 - $300 per ton. Current corn price dictates that corn silage should be valued at $60 to $70 per ton. There are several reasons for increased forage cost listed below.
- 2012 was the smallest hay crop in 22 years
- the conversion of hay and pasture to row crops
- increased demand for hay in the southwest and southeast
- high corn price equates to high corn silage cost
- increasing harvest cost due to high fuel cost
USDA estimates that forage DM loss can be as high as 50% under the poorest conditions. From what I observe on many farms and ranches, we commonly accept 15% to 20% DM loss as acceptable and normal. We are at a New Normal with all aspects of livestock production, and at current forage costs, we need a New Normal in what we accept for DM loss. Evaluate these 3 areas in your forage program to reduce DM loss in your hay and silage.
- In-Field Loss
- Harvest and Storage Loss
- Feed out losses
Decreasing the amount of dry matter loss associated with hay and silage can greatly improve your income potential. Where can DM loss occur and what is the benefit of using a preservative?
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Hay |
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Common Challenges |
DM and Nutrient Loss |
Preservative Benefit |
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Rained on hay |
Leaching of sugars and spoilage |
Bale at higher moisture levels |
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Hay getting too dry causing leaf shatter |
Most of the protein and sugars are in the leaf |
Bale at higher moisture levels |
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Excessive bale heating |
Heat produced is burning up carbohydrate and reducing available protein |
Reduces heat production |
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Hay losing color |
Heating causes a browning |
Reduces heat production and helps retain green color |
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Hay with musty odor |
Yeast and mold growth due to excessive heating |
Inhibits yeast and mold growth |
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Silage |
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Common Challenges |
DM and Nutrient Loss |
Preservative Benefit |
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Too dry and difficult to pack |
Excessive oxygen remaining in silage causing heating and carbohydrate loss in early fermentation |
Eliminates oxygen Drops pH quickly Faster fermentation Inhibits yeast growth |
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Too wet |
Seepage resulting in loss of water soluble carbohydrate |
Drops pH quickly which saves the remaining water soluble carbohydrate for fermentation |
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Delivery rate too fast |
Packing equipment cannot keep up resulting in excessive oxygen remaining in the silage |
Eliminates oxygen Drops pH quickly Faster fermentation Inhibits yeast growth
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Managing the feeding face for bunk stability |
50% of DM loss can occur at feed out when the silage is exposed to oxygen |
Improved early fermentation results in lower yeast silage that is more bunk stable. |
Not all forage treatment products are created equal. Preservatives are generally considered to be chemical products and often used on dry hay. Their main mode of action is changing the environment in the hay bale or silage. The most common preservatives are organic acids such as propionic, acetic and citric acids. They are applied at 5-15 lbs. per ton depending on hay moisture. The mode of action is lowering pH to inhibit spoilage organisms. Preservative such as BulletProof® uses oxygen scavenging technology to inhibit spoilage organisms. It is applied at 2-3 lbs. per ton depending on hay moisture. You need to consider application rate and total cost per treated ton of hay when making comparisons.
The highest feed expenditure you have is your stored forage. Using a preservative to reduce DM and nutrient loss will have a significant positive impact on your income over feed cost. You will have more forage available and forage quality should be improved.
