Early Harvest Is Essential In Making Dairy-Quality Grass Hay MARVIN HALL Penn State Forage Specialist The use of perennial grasses for high-quality dairy feed throughout much of Pennsylvania is common. Unfortunately, the quality of the harvested forage is less than dairy quality. The key factor in harvesting dairy-quality forage is harvest man agement. Recent research conducted by Dr. Jerry Cherney at Cornell Univer sity showed that plant development varies with grass species, but forage quality decline was consistent across all species. In other words, the forage species is not as impor tant as timely harvest in obtaining high-quality forage. Reeds canarygrass, bromegrass, tall fescue, and timothy were har vested at various stages of develop ment and tested for quality. ASK US ABOUT EZ FLEX FINANCING PROGRAM WAIVER 0% MONTHS THE WRAPPER THAT WRAPS BALES OTHERS WONT A complete range of Round, Square & Rectangular Wrappers. Patented advantages like the unique “Deep Cradle” continuous full width belt, and fully supported turntable where four poly urethane wheels provide Tanco’s renowned even and balanced operation, even with overweight and misshapen bales. Quality wrapping and quality machines that has made Tanco among the World's leading manufacturers. Tube-Line Balewrapper For optimum speed and efficiency patented Tube-Line Wrappers are the answer! Tube-Line Wrappers wrap a continuous row of bales. The airtight application of stretch wrap film retains moisture balance as haylage matures and prevents air infiltration. The shrink wrap also prevents wind damage and accommodates variation in bale size and shape without air gaps. . . .. . . .. .. .. i . . r- . Tube-Line wrappers for all round bales or large square Long sem silage is better used in the animals digestive system^ Feeding bales are availa ££ (n either manual or full aut y oma H tlc high quality haylage from wrapped bales can reduce or eliminate feeding models grain while retaining or increasing weight gams or milk production. AG WRAP BALE WRAPPER The ECO 4-5 Pull Behind Wrapper For Use On Small Tractors OF PAYMENTS UNTIL NOV. or LOW RATE FINANCING 5.75% Foraging Around, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 22, 2000—Page 1 According to Dr. Cherney, the research showed that fiber digestion and other quality parameters decline with increased maturity. The magnitude and rate of quality decline with maturity are much more important than quality differ ences between individual species. Cherney also suggested that produc ers should consider harvesting their pure grass stands in the spring for dairy feed before they harvest alfal fa, in order to produce acceptable grass quality. MONTHS 7.75% It takes a quality product to do quality work. MONTHS 8.5% MONTHS Wraps Bales up to 5 ft. x 5 1/2 ft. • 3-Pomt Hitch • Hydraulic requirement 4 GPM - 2 remotes • Pre-stretcher for plastic • One-man operation In summary, the use of cool-sea son grasses for dairy-quality feed requires harvesting the grasses ear lier than normal. Delay in grass har vest and not grass species is the major factor in producing low quali ty grass hay or silage. Consider har vesting grasses before you would normally harvest alfalfa to obtain high quality forage that is suitable for dairy animals. 15, 2000 • Wrap on the move • Transport bales to storage • Picks bale up, wraps them all hydraulically • Built in U.S.A 7
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