Coping With Catastrophic Ensiled Forage Losses

Case Studies

Abstract

Providing cattle the highest quality ensiled forages and grains possible for maximum milk and beef productivity is a goal for most crop growers and cattle feeders.

Pre-harvest weather related catastrophes such as flood, drought, wind, hail, and early frost can jeopardize this feeding goal, causing yield losses and reduction of nutrient quality of forages and grains. Harvest delays due to rainy seasons present another reason why quality crops may become less than ideal when fed out of the silo. These situations are out of the manager's control.

Post-harvest silage catastrophes within manager control include the ensiling of quality crops with less than ideal ensiling management practices. This includes situations where crops are ensiled with improper moisture, maturity, packing, sealing, and feedout management.

Aerobically unstable or Clostridial silages are the most common result when dealing with pre- and post-harvest catastrophes. Managing weather damaged crops prior to harvest and dealing with post-ensiling challenges requires managers to work with the principles of fermentation. ^2,5