Page 10—Foraging Around, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 24, 1998
Specialist
Answers
Questions
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.)
Growers Comer is your oppor
tunity to ask questions and share tips
that lead to successful forage manage
ment.
Send your questions and/or tips to
PFGC News, C/O Dr. Marvin Hall,
Agronomy Dept. Penn State Univ.,
University Park, PA 16802. I’m
counting on you readers to make this
section of the news valuable to every
one. Send in those questions or tips!
Q. I’ve seen the
term Relative Feed
Value (RFV) in sever- 1
al fittAi J<l hiagazines :
lately. The articles
imply that RFV some
how is a measurement
of hay quality. What
is Relative Feed Val
eu and how is it mea
sured?
A. Relative Feed
Value is an index
which combines se
veral important nutri
tional factors that are
determined by forage
analyses into one
number for a quick,
easy, and effective
method of evaluating
forage quality. Nutri
tive evaluation of for
ages involves a num
ber of forage quality
analyses including
dry matter, crude pro
tein, acid detergent
fiber, neutral deter
gent fiber, calcium,
and phosphorus.
While these analyses
are important in
formulating diets,
they are confusing
when trying to quick
ly evaluate quality
differences in hay or
haylage. In several
states producers are
using RFV at hay auc
tions to compare hay
lots prior to purchase.
RFV is calculated by
combining the di
gestibility (DDM)
and potential intake
(DMI) of a forage into
one number
[RFV=(DDM x
DMI)/1.29]. The RFV
number is only an
index to use when
comparing similar
hay-lots (c.g. two dif
ferent loads of alfalfa
hay). The hay-lot with
a higher RFV is of
greater feed value re
lative to the other hay
lot with a lower RFV.
OMAHA, NEB. - Interest in for
ages, rangelands, and grasslands is
the only requirement to join thou
sands of forage producers, educators
and specialists Feb. 21-26 here at
the joint conference of the Society
for Range Management (SRM) and
the American Forage and Grassland
Council (AFGC).
These two international organi
zations are bringing together top
forage and range management
experts and producers from across
North’ America. The conference,
with its “Building on our Heritage”
theme, promises to take a close look
Kverneland excellence
in a whole new field
See our extensive family of hay tools which
includes disc mowers, rakes and tedders
Kverneland
- The Number One selling round bale wrapper in The
United States and the World!
- Keverneland pioneered the wrap system in 1986.
- Complete range of machines to suit every need:
three trailed models, two mounted self-loading,
three mounted conventional, and now an ultra high
capacity wrapper made expressly for large square
bales up to 4'x4'x6' in size
Ml®®®
Glenn Beidler
Freeburg, PA
717- 539-8993
1-800-774-0796
Joint SRM/AFGC Meeting In February
1-800-783-5276
Pickering Farm Rovendale Ag & MM Weaver & Son Sfankey Farms
Equipment Barn Equipment Leola, PA Equipment
Thompson, PA Watsontown, PA 717-656-2321 Kennedyville, MD
717-756-2641 717-538-9564 410-348-2470
at the role forages and rangelands
have played in North America and
look forward to the future of these
resources in the ever-changing
world of agriculture.
The joint meeting represents a
unique forum for an integrated pre
sentation of range and forage topics
through technical sessions, work
shops and symposia, student events
and competitions, tours, and a trade
show. Concurrent technical sessions
will include topics ranging from
ecosystem management to forage
evaluation and development of new
forage crops.
Kverneland Kidd KD 825 Silage Chopper
- PTO driven discharge conveyor decelerates the
chopped material ensuring an even and positive
flow of feed without an excess of dust or loss.
- Four other models are available for dry hay and
straw applications.
- Hydraulic bale lifter and slip clutch protected PTO
together provide safe, smooth, low torque starts.
Kverneland
W where farming means business
Several day-long symposia will
focus on such topics as anti-quality
compounds in forages and manage
ment of juniper species. Half-day
and full-day technical tours will
highlight range and forage research
conducted at the University of
Nebraska and provide behind-the
scenes views of habitat management
at a national wildlife refuge and a
world-class zoo.
A special “companion” program
will allow conference attendees to
experience some of Omaha’s many
attractions, including Boys’ Town,
the Old Market, and Joslyn Art
Museum.