E24-Uincaster Farming, Saturday, March 6 1993 Livestock Notes On-farm Composting Handbook Available By Kenneth B, Kephart On-Farm Composting, a 186-page manual researched and written by a team of scientists, engineers, farmers, and manufac turers, is available for $lO.OO from Penn State’s Publications Distri bution Center. As manure odor problems con tinue to mount in Pennsylvania, it appears that composting may offer a partial solution for some lives tock producers. Composting is the aerobic decomposition of organic materials. Mixtures of manure and dry material, such as straw, com post easily. During the process, temperatures of 120-140 degrees F are reached, killing pathogens and creating a low-odor product This is important at the time of land application since odor prob lems with raw manure are maxim ized when raw manure is surface spread on Helds. In addition, com posted manure serves as an excellent soil conditioner. Handling Low Quality Corn MATT ANTOS Eastern Field Agronomist Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. The summer of 1992 coupled one of the coolest and cloudiest growing seasons on record with a freeze in late September which left fields of com with immature grain and high moisture contents. Hardest hit were many parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, as well as most northern com growing areas. Wet fall weather eliminated any natural “dry down” and further restricted harvest activities lead ing to many reports of low quality or moldy com. The most common quality complaint centered on chaf fy grain with poor test weights. The most common molds reported were Cladosporium sp., Gibberella zeae, and Fusarium species. Cladosporium, a black mold (sapro phytic). was the most widely observed, according to area experts. It appears as a da'k, green-black mold found at the kernel base, and was most commonly associated with prematurely frozen com left to dry in the field. Clado sporium molds are not generally associated with the pro duction of poisons known as mycotoxins. Gibberella and Fusarium ear molds commonly referred to as white molds also have been reported but to a much lesser extent in harvested grains. These molds can pro duce mycotoxins such as DON (deoxynivalenol). zeara lenone. fumonisin and T-2, which can cause serious health problems in livestock consuming the grain. White molds appear as white-pink kernel discolorations. Gib berella starts at the tip of the car while Fusarium is scat tered throughout the ear and is generally associated with bird damage. Combine Adjustment Critical In areas where com remains to be harvested, special care should be taken when adjusting the combine to re duce cracked or broken seed coats. Excessive amounts of fines often can create conditions favorable for the contin ued development of molds in storage. For this reason, we recommend pre-cleaning low quality or moldy grain be fore drying or binning. Furthermore, caution should be taken in feeding fines screened from grain with signifi cant mold contamination. Under no circumstances should fines be fed to dairy cows, poultry or to young or preg nant animals before being tested for mycotoxins. Careful harvesting and cleaning are only the begin ning. The two most significant factors in reducing the growth and development of molds in stored grain are moisture content and grain temperature. Low quality or moldy grain should be dried quickly to a kernel moisture of 13 percent or lower to inhibit the growth of molds dur ing winter storage. Every effort should be made to market this grain before the onset of warmer temperatures. Monitor Storage Conditions Extending storage into the summer months will require grain moisture to be lowered an additional 1 percent be low winter storage levels, to 12 percent or less. Aerate to cool grain as soon as it is binned. Stored gram tempera ture should be maintained around 35-40 degrees F for safe winter storage. When possible, store low quality or The composting manual pro vides a wealth of details and draw ings to enable the producer to compost manure both effectively and economically. To order copies of On-Farm Composting (NRAES-54), send a check or money order for $lO.OO (payable to Penn State University) to: Publications Distribution Center, College of Agricultural Sciences, 112 Ag Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802. Research Briefs For Swine By Kenneth B. Kephart 1. Injecting zinc-arginine com plex into the testicle at four weeks, is effective at reducing testicular weight. Further, injected pigs are superior to knife-castrated boars in all carcass traits. But the com pound does not appear to be suit able for chemical castration, since boar odor is not reduced. 2. Supplementing sows with extra (90 to 100 mg/head/day) riboflavin during the first 12 days after breeding had no effect on number of pigs bom, stillboms, or Utter birth weight. 3. A single injection of 150 mg of iron dextran maintains optimal hemoglobin levels in the pig until weaning. An oral dose of 60 mg of iron does not adequately maintain hemoglobin. 4. High fiber diets for sows in gestation reduces stereotypical behavior (chewing, excess water consumption) and improves weaning weights of pigs. 5. Gilts housed in pens bedded with straw during gestation show no obvious behavioral differences when moved to a farrowing crate, compared to gilts housed in crates throughout gestation. 6. Sows housed in farrowing crates compared to those in open pens or walk-through crates spend more time sitting, drinking, chew ing, and lying on their udders behaviors associated with increased levels of frustration in the sow. 7. Use of a roller mill for pro cessing corn reduced stomach lesions and ulcerations in growing pigs compared to that of a hammer mill. Weight gain and feed effi ciency values are similar for both groups. 8. Pelleting feed increased sto mach lesions in growing pigs compared to that of meal feed regardless of initial particle size. Take a turn to perfect seeding depth, fast folding, easy transport Just turn the dial. With active hydraulics on John Deere 455 Folding Drills you’ll adjust opener down-pressure over die entire drill to precisely match field conditions. One quick turn, and you’ve improved penetration in tough soils and residue. And for a true, consistent furrow, each 1/4-inch offset double-disk opener’s pinch point is closer to where the blade n~~* meets the soil. The seed is 114 \ Pl ace( * front °f the opener fff \ bearing, so there are no SEE ONE OF THESE DEALERS FOR A DEMONSTRATION: c ADA™ CLUGSTON AG EVERGREEN EQUIPMENT INC. & juRF, INC. TRACTOR CO., INC. Mohnlon, PA Chambarsburg, PA Lebanon, PA "Vi 5*48+4391 717-263-4103 717-272-4641 bartron SUPPLY, INC. TunkhannocK, PA 717-638-4011 CARLYLE & MARTIN, INC. Hagerstown, MD 301-733-1873 CLUGSTON FARM MOMENT INC EQUIPMENT E SjS!S?JB 6 Naadmora, PA 301-452-5252 717-573-2215 The best compromise for optimiz ing performance and minimizing stomach irritation is a particle size between 600 and 900 microns. Sources 1. M.D. Ropp et al. 1991. 1991 Missouri Swine Day Report, pp 53-56. 2. S.L. Tilton et al. 1991. 1991 Missouri Swine Day Report, pp 61-63. 3. Cromwell, G.L. et al. 1992. J. Anim. Sci. 70 (Suppl 1):17. 4. Robert, S. et al. 1992. J. Anim. Sci. 70 (Suppl 1):158. 5. Friend, T.H. et al. 1992. J. Anim. Sci. 70 (Suppl 1):161, and Hsieh, M. et al. 1992. J. Anim. Sci. 70 (Suppl 1) :169. 6. Rudd, A.R.. et al. 1992. J. Anim. Sci. 70 (Suppl 1):168. 7. Wondra, KJ.. et al. 1992. J. Anim. Sci. 70 (Suppl 1):239. 8. Wondra. K.H.. et al. 1992. J. Anim. Sci. 70 (Suppl 1):239. Mold Problems on Corn Kenneth B. Kephart This year will go down as one of high com yields in Pennsylva nia. We got the com in the ground early, and we had plenty of rain. But we also had more than our share of cool weather. And as pro ducers are learning, much of the com hadn’t fully matured when the killing frosts hit. The drying process slows down drastically after the com stalk dies. DEERFIELD AG & TURF CENTER, INC, Wattontown, PA 717-538-3557 DUNKLE & GRIEB INC. Mill Hall, PA 717-726-3115 obstructions. You get accurate seed placement and a more uniform seeding depth. All this, pk easy-to-set depth-gauging press wheels. The 455 is available in 25-, 30-, and 35-foot working widths. The quick-folding design gets you from field to field fast and easy with a narrow transport width of just over 15 feet For perfect seeding depth and more, turn to the John Deere 455 Front-Folding Drill. If N| 111 FINCH SERVICES HANOVER INC. Hanover, PA 717-632-2345 A.B.C. GROFF, INC. New Holland, PA 717-354-4191 GUTSHALL’S INC. RD #2 Box 74-A Loyavlllo, PA So we’re left with lots of com, still in the field, that contains 25-35% moisture. That’s wet enough to support mold growth, which can lead to mycotoxin con tamination. In fact, we’ve had enough mild days this fall that mold is already a problem in a lot of com. If you’re feeding some of this com to growing pigs, you should be concerned. If you’re feeding it to sows, you should be worried sick. Abortions and drastic drops in milk production are two night mares that no one needs during a $4O hog market. What Should You Do? 1. Watch the pigs for symp toms. A sudden drop in feed intake, or any reproductive prob lems in the sow herd should make you suspicious. Also keep your eyes open for subtle changes like redness or swelling in the vulvas of young gilts. If you see any of these symptoms, avoid feeding the com to the breeding herd if possi ble. Sure, feeding contaminated com to a grower-finisher pig can be costly, but at least the effects are reversible. Once a sow aborts, you’re back to square one for it least another four months. 2. Consider having the com tested You can purchase test kits for var ious mycotoxins that will cost roughly $lO per test. As of GUTSHALL’S INC, Carllsla, PA 717-249-2313 KERMU K. KISTLER INC. Lynnport, PA 215-298-2011 LANDIS BROS. INC. Lancaster, PA 717-291-1046 LEHIGH AG EQUIPMENT Waseosvills, PA 215-398-2553 LONE MAPLE SALES & SERVICE Now Alexandria, PA 412-668-7172
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers