A3o— Lancaster Famine, Saturday, July 16,1953
Forages provide lower-cost nutrients in ration
DEKALB, 11. Economic
studies show forages to be un
derpriced relative to feed grains
and supplements, considering
nutrient content alone. It is
recognized that, except for range
and pasture, forages present a
greater challenge in terms of
storage and handling; so the net
difference is less. Regardless, as
grain and/or supplement prices
increase, forages become more
attractive to livestock feeders and
dairymen.
Once in the feedbunk, the worth
of an individual forage, whether
bay, silage, haylage, cubes, or
whatever, depends on its quality.
Everybody recognizes forage
'quality when they see it. Or do
they? Even experts have trouble
defining forage quality. For our
purposes, the value of a forage for
meat, milk, or wool production
depends on nutrient availability
per unit of forage consumed and
how much of it an animal eats.
Every animal has a given
requirement for energy to
maintain body functions. Any
energy remaining after these
maintenance requirements are
met is used to produce meat, milk,
etc. The greater the available
energy, the greater the produc
tion; up to the capacity of the
animal to eat and digest feedstuffs.
Animals will eat more of a high
quality forage and they’ll derive
more energy from every mouthful,
but they do have a capacity limit.
4-H’ers Sponsor Fair
LEESPORT The Berks family Olympics will occur at 7
County 4-H Fair will take place p.m.
Aug. 4,5, and 6at the 4-H Com- Friday’s list includes a fish
munity Center Building. rodeo, a talent contest, 4-H Seeing
The time for setting up exhibits Eye Puppy demonstrations and a
is from 10:30 a.m. to noon Thur- hoedown and modern dance.
sday.
Some of Thursday’s featured A pig roast will take place from
events include a watermelon 8:30 to 7 p.m. Friday,
eating and seed spitting contest, Preregistration is necessary,
laugh olymipics, a bale throwing < Saturday will feature the Horse
contest and a scavenger hunt. 4-H Clubs Round-Up.
No cow can eat 100 pounds of bay in
a day, no matter how good the
quality. High production requires
that part of the total energy come
from more concentrated nutrient
sources the grains. But with a
high quality forage, less grain is
required to provide the same total
energy. The value of that high
quality forage, then, lies in its
ability to provide more lower-cost
nutrients in the total ration. As
forage quality declines, animals
will eat less and the nutrient
contribution will be reduced
leading to either a reduction in
energy available for production or
to increased need for concentrated
nutrient sources If production is to
be maintained.
Alfalfa is the most popular,
mechanically harvested, perennial
forage crop in the world. Let’s take
a look at alfalfa harvest
management in relation to quality.
Every alfalfa grower, concerned
with maximizing return, has to
make quality-related harvest
decisions.
Maximum alfalfa yields
generally occur from harvesting
near the full bloom stage. Highest
quality, however, is achieved at
the more immature pre-bud stage.
Most growers compromise bet
ween highest yield and highest
quality and settle on a harvest
stage best identified as "first
bloom." Unless there is a special
need or market for maximum
quality or medium to low quality
forage, fh»g stage is as near right earliest harvest as the stand will chemical applications that hasten
as we can get with alfalfa. be weakened by taking every moisture loss fromi alfalfa stems.
By selecting varieties that differ cutting at an early bud stage. allowing pickup and storage a day
a few days in the time we take to Weather conditions may cause w two earlier than normal,
start htonrninn o ne can spread unavoidable harvest delays, which Engineers are reporting some
harvest time and get to more of the have to be accepted as part id any success with a squeezing process
crop at near-optimum stage. If forage production program. There which extracts a valuable high
large acreages are involved, it are some ways of coping with protein, juice, leaving a very
may be necessary to start har- weather. Although not widely used digestible residue which can be
vesting a few days early —at early as yet, certain preservatives allow ensiled or dried and utilized as
—to mid-bud stage. If you do this, higher moisture hay storage. Also, forage. The process can virtually
switch from field to field for the there are some promising eliminate weather damage.
Milton Hershey School Farms 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. July 19
youngs
Dairymen are challenged to ALKA-CULTURE.and ALKA II are
develop feeding systems to capitalize special combinations of buffering
on the high genetic ability of today's ingredients plus methionine and
dairy cows. These systems include yeast culture. They buffer the rumen
the use of high-moisture, fermented and other parts of the digestive tract
feeds, high-moisture, high-energy to help maintain a strong appetite
grains, and high-energy dry grain and increase fiber digestion to im
rations. prove fat test.
Regular use of ALKA-CULTURE
or ALKA II helps cows reach peak
production sooner and helps keep pro
duction higher throughout lactation.
Your young's representative has
all of the details on ALKA-CULTURE
and ALKA 11. If you don't know the
name of the representative nearest
you, write or call young's, inc., P.O.
Box 71, Roaring Spring, PA 16673
Phone; (814) 793-3701.
These types of rations will pro
duce more acid than cows can
neutralize naturally. This increased
acid production results in a lowering
of rumen pH -- acidosis.
Without adequate buffering,
cows may eat less and use feed less
efficiently. As a result, production
can suffer.
©1963 young's
I
Tl
ALKA-CULTURE» or ALKA II
Over 80 years of service to the dairy and livestock producer.
®. youngfc
Livestock Nutritional Services
STOP BY OUR BOOTH DURING YOUR VISIT TO
FORAGE & DAIRY DAY JULY 19.
MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL FARMS
it is - - or could become a problem
need young's . . .