1. Role of Forage in Nutrition Natural feed of all herbivorous animals. –Provide a source of energy, protein and fiber etc. Converts poorly digested feedstuffs to highly digestible feeds in the human food chain Necessary for proper functioning of the digestive system of all herbivores especially ruminants –Supplying nutrients for microbial fermentation –Stimulatory effect Muscle tone –Passage rate –Maintenance of epithelium

2. Forage Defined Vegetable material in a fresh, dried or ensiled state which is fed to livestock. Average fiber content in dry state = 18% Bulky feed with lower energy content concentrates. Forage is used interchangeably with roughage. Lower digestibility than concentrates. Protein content varies from +20 % to 3 %. Forages are generally higher in Calcium and Potassium but lower in Phosphorus than conc. [ ] Higher in fat soluble vitamins than [ ].

3. % of Feeds for Different Classes of U.S. Livestock 1 (Average) Class of AnimalConcentrates (%) Roughages (%) Beef 15.584.5 Dairy 41.358.7 Sheep and goats 6.293.8 Swine 95.74.3 Horses & Mules 27.073.0 Poultry 100.00.0 All livestock 38.361.7 1 USDA Economic Research Service data for feed years 1983-84.

4. Forage Types Hay –Alfalfa –Clover –Grasses Timothy Bermuda Brome –Stover Corn Cottonseed Hulls Pasture –Permanent –Rotational 200-400# beef/y –Intensive 600# of beef/y –Range Silage –Corn –Milo Haylage –Alfalfa –Grass –Cereal Grains

5. Hay Defined: –Forage harvested during the growing period and preserved by drying for subsequent use. Magnitude and importance –60+ million acres nationwide –150 million tons –$10 billion annual crop Economics loss from poor hay making. (Billions)

6. Hay as an Energy Source ItemAlfalfa mature Alfalfa mid-bloom Alfalfa early bloom Analysis, DM basis % Crude Protein (CP) TDN DM 12.9 50 17.0 58 18 60 Value of 100 DM, $ CP Value TDN Value Total Value 2.19 2.80 4.99 2.89 3.25 6.13 3.06 3.36 6.42 Total Value/acre $ 5 tons of Hay 8 tons of Hay 449 719 552 883 578 924

7. Feedlot Performance Item All Forage DietAll Conc.[] diet Daily feed intake 23.316.0 Feed intake % of Body Wt 3.232.15 Avg. daily gain 2.32.8 Feed gain ratio 10.065.71 Average carcass grade Low choiceMed. choice Dressing percentage 55.459.9 Marbling score Abundant Rib eye area (sq. in.) 11.010.6 Fat over rib (in.).37.67 Taste panel evaluation 7.67.2

8. Feedlot performance: Hi energy versus all Forage ration ItemCalvesYearling Hi-EnergyAll-ForageHi-EnergyAll-Forage LBS. Avg. initial wt. 488492670672 Avg. final wt.1042105311651147 Avg. daily gain 2.842.333.072.31

9. Feed Fats Carbohydrates Proteins Fatty acids|Glycerol Glucose Amino Acids Glycolysis Pyruvate Acetyl CoA Kreb Cycle Urea Cycle Urea excreted in urine Transamination Electron Transport System Energy & Work CoA ATPADP 2CO 2 H+H+ H2OH2O Glycogen

10. Gross Energy Digestible Energy (DE) (TDN) Metabolizable Energy (ME) Net Energy (NE) Urinary & Combustible Energy Heat Increment Net Energy Maintenance (Ne m ) Net Energy Production (Ne l )

11. Proximate Analysis Moisture –Dilute nutrient concentration Crude Protein –Quality of Forage Crude Fiber –Structural Carbohydrates, Hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin –Negatively correlated to Nutritive value (less digestible) Crude Fat –Fats and lipids in forage 2.25 times higher in energy than carbohydrates and protein and are highly digestible Ash Nitrogen-Free Extract –Calculated

12. Chemical Analysis – Detergent Analysis System Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) –The lower the value the more the animal will eat –Cell wall material –Comprised of: Hemicellulose Cellulose Lignin Lignified N Insoluble Ash Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) –The lower the value the more the animal will eat –Highly indigestible plant material in forage –Comprised of: Cellulose Lignin Insoluble Ash

13. Proximate Analysis Van Soest Method Nitrogen free extract Crude Fiber Soluble proteins, lipids, and minerals Sugars, starches, and pectins Hemicellulose Cellulose Lignin Soluble Cell contents Acid Detergent fiber Neutral detergent fiber

14. Effects of Quality of Alfalfa Hay on performance of Lactating Cows Stage of Harvest Composition CPNDFADFDDMDMI4%FCM (%) (%)BWLbs./day Pre- bloom 21.140.530.262.72.0887.1 Early Bloom 18.942.033.061.61.9777.2 Mid Bloom 14.752.538.054.81.4866.2 Full Bloom 16.359.545.952.91.4264.7

15. Effect of 5 Different Qualities of Hay on Daily Feed Cost 1200 cow herd Hay Quality Description CP (%) DM intake (Tons) Conc. [ ] Purchased (lbs.) Purchased Feed Cost ($) Early cut Legume 212.17531947.40 Legume 182.077331176.20 Mixed, Mainly Legume 15.51.919771386.80 Mixed, Mainly Grass 121.841,1581608.40 Grass 101.771,2781737.80

16. Effect of Quality of Fescue Hay on Cattle Gains Composition Stage of Harvest Lbs. Harvested 1 st cutting CP (%) Digestibility ( %) Intake Per Animal (Lbs.DM) Lb of Hay/ Lb of Gain (Lb.) Gain/Head/ Day (lb.) Late Boot to Head 1,33413.86813.010.11.39 Early bloom 1,38810.26611.713.50.97 Early milk 2,8237.6568.622.50.42

17. Relative Feed Value (RFV) Uses NDF and ADF values to compute an index to compare all types of forages. RFV = % DDM X % DMI / 1.29 Where –% DDM = 88.9 – (ADF % X 0.779) –% DMI = 120 / % NDF

18. Relative Feed Values of Various Forages ForageCPADFNDFRFV Alf., pre bloom 232838164 Alf. bud 203040152 Alf. mid bloom 173546125 Alf. mature 154153100 Brome, late veg. 14356391 Bermuda, late 8437866 Orchard Grass,early 183155109 Orchard Grass, early B 15346195 Wheat Straw 4548551 Source: Holland and Kezar 1990.

19. Effect of NDF Content of Forage on DMI Forage Quality% NDF (Dry Matter Basis) DMI as Percent of Body Weight Excellent 383.16 403.00 422.86 442.73 462.61 482.50 502.40 522.31 542.22 Source:Van Soest and Mertens.1985.

20. % Change in Alfalfa Composition at Different Maturities Harvest Date LeafStem CelluloseLigninCelluloseLignin April 22 7.12.4311.01.80 April 28 7.02.5110.22.10 May 5 6.92.8315.23.76 May 13 7.12.3716.64.73 May 22 7.12.8522.56.77 June 4 7.62.8223.58.79 Source:Burritt et.al. 1984

21. High Moisture Feeds Silage –Corn –Hay High Moisture Grains Green chop Baglage

22. Composition of Various Silages Type of Silage Analyses on a Dry Matter Basis Crude Protein (%) TDN (%) Ca (%) P (%) Corn8.368.00.310.27 Milo7.955.00.340.19 Oats10.057.00.470.33 Alfalfa17.459.01.750.27 Forage Sorghum 9.257.90.300.24

23. Corn Silage – Excellent Energy Source 30-35 % Dry Matter 8-9 % Crude Protein pH<4.2 Requires 2-3 weeks for the ensiling process Length of cut 3/8 of an inch theoretical cut Utilizes entire plant which increases land utilization Must be made at proper maturity- Black layer present on kernel Proper oxygen free storage essential- hard packed.

24. Corn Silage – cont’d Complex sugars and carbohydrates are broken down into lactic acid, acetic acid, and small amount of alcohols and other acids Small quantities of proteins are broken down into ammonia, amino acids, amines and amides Acidity reaches levels where the ensiling bacteria die ending the process. Molds and yeast growth are inhibited unless air is re-introduced. (Secondary fermentation)

25. High Moisture Corn - Barley Advantages –22-32 % moisture –Reduce drying cost –Harvest earlier –Later maturing – Higher producing yields –Increased feeding value Disadvantage –Large inventory of high moisture grain –Limits market flexibility –May freeze or cause fly problem in warmer months –Handling