1. Keys to Success with Baleage Dennis Hancock, PhD. Extension Forage Specialist UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Dennis Hancock, PhD. Extension Forage Specialist UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences

2. Less dependent on weather Makes use of some forages that other-wise wouldn’t work. Silage & Haylage SILAGE - Forage that has undergone anaerobic fermentation

3. Baled Silage Storage 4-10% loss Baling 2-5% loss Feeding Minimal loss Feeding Wilting 2-5% loss Fewer Losses Accumulate With Each Step End Result: 90% of Original DM Can be more efficient…

5. Forage Type CP TDN NDF Fresh-Cut Crop 23 7038 Baled Silage 20 6642 Well-cured hay 17 6246 Rain damaged hay 15 5754 Alfalfa Quality & Weather

6. Quality Advantages Lowered risk of rain damage Less shatter loss Higher forage quality 1  Lower NDF, ADF, ADL  Higher CP  Increased digestibility 1 Han, et al. 2005; Hancock and Collins, 2006.

7. Quality of Silage “Garbage in - garbage out”  forage maturity  species Typically better than hay  But, there’s nothing magical about wrapping it in plastic! “Garbage in - garbage out”  forage maturity  species Typically better than hay  But, there’s nothing magical about wrapping it in plastic!

8. Details

9. 1: Cut down no more than you can handle. Cut mid-afternoon on one day, bale & wrap the next day. Amount cut = how much can be baled and wrapped the next day. Bales should be wrapped w/in 12 hrs of baling.

10. Consider: Cost, Labor, Speed, Volume 2: Choose the right bale wrapper.

11. Wrapper Styles 3 point hitch ($3,000 - $14,000) individual ($5,000 - $18,000) in-line ($13,000 - $24,000) Wrapper Styles 3 point hitch ($3,000 - $14,000) individual ($5,000 - $18,000) in-line ($13,000 - $24,000) Wrapper Costs

12. Baled Silage Costs Plastic Cost: $4.00 - $6.00/ton DM Wrapper cost: $2.00 - $5.00/ton DM Fuel & Repairs: $0.50 - $5.00/ton DM Labor: $0.75 - $2.00/ton DM

13. Alfalfa Baled Silage Costs – 2009 (projected) Cost Per Ton $4.12 Breakeven Cost: $113.23

15. Own for Own Use 3: Explore your options. Custom Hire Own & Custom on the Side

16. 4. Bale at the right range of moisture Ideal Range, 50-65% Moisture Rule of thumb: bale when the forage is no longer wet enough to wring juice out of a handful. Rule of thumb: bale when the forage is no longer wet enough to wring juice out of a handful. Poor Fermentation Toxic Potential (Clostridial, Listeriosis) 70% 40% Moisture

17. Silage Fermentation Lactic acid bacteriaAcetic acid bacteria Silage pH pH 6.0 pH 4.2 pH 3.8 1 2 3 4 7 14 20 28 Days after ensiling

18. Silage pH pH Sorghum- sudan Alfalfa

19. Maximize bale size  match to tractor  dense bales  4’x 5’ bale is most popular  900-1300 lbs, depending on %M  square edges Use plastic twine or net  sisal twine degrades plastic Maximize bale size  match to tractor  dense bales  4’x 5’ bale is most popular  900-1300 lbs, depending on %M  square edges Use plastic twine or net  sisal twine degrades plastic 5. Make good bales

20. Wrap as soon as possible  within 12 hours maximum Wrap at the storage site  reduces handling  reduces risk of spoilage 6. Choose an appropriate site for wrapping

21. 7. Apply enough plastic but no more.

22. Application Amount – Inline Wrapper Six-Eight layers (+ double on joints)  12.5 – 16.7% overlap  two rolls rotating around bales Pre-stretched to 50-70% Tacky side towards the bale 60-80+ bales per hour Six-Eight layers (+ double on joints)  12.5 – 16.7% overlap  two rolls rotating around bales Pre-stretched to 50-70% Tacky side towards the bale 60-80+ bales per hour

23. Four layers (2 + 2 system)  50% overlap  two full bale rotations 15-40 bales per hour $2.75 – 4.00 per bale Four layers (2 + 2 system)  50% overlap  two full bale rotations 15-40 bales per hour $2.75 – 4.00 per bale Application Amount – Ind. Wrapper

24. Storage Treatment Consumption 2 layers53% 2 layers53% 4 layers 84% 4 layers 84% 6 layers 88% 6 layers 88% Hay44% Hay44% Alfalfa silage & hay 2, 4, or 6 layers of film 2 layers Hay 4 layers 6 layers

26. 8. Feed it in an appropriate way. Match quality to animals needing that quality Use a ring (or cone) feeder OK for mixed rations  Bale grinder  May need to be sliced Match quality to animals needing that quality Use a ring (or cone) feeder OK for mixed rations  Bale grinder  May need to be sliced

27. 9. Feed the bales within 9 months. Bales will squat and be difficult to handle. Plastic will deteriorate over time. Bales will begin to spoil. Bales will squat and be difficult to handle. Plastic will deteriorate over time. Bales will begin to spoil.

28. Recycling is not currently an option Reduce the bulk to aid in handling 10. Have a plan for handling the plastic.

29. Resources

30. Questions? www.georgiaforages.com 1-800-ASK-UGA1 www.georgiaforages.com 1-800-ASK-UGA1