• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 1998

A field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of mechanical and chemical drying agents at mowing on the field drying rate and hay quality of orchardgrass dominant pasture plants. The mower conditioner /chemical drying agent ($K_2CO_3$ 2% conditioning, $K_2CO_3$ 2% + conditioning and control) were treated at different harvest stages (late boot, heading and bloom stage) for hastening hay manufacture in 1996. After field dry, four square bales were made by hay baler, and the visual estimation and nutritive value of hay were evaluated after storing two months. The field drying rate of pasture plants was higher with delayed stage of harvest, and mechanical and mechanical + chemical, but chemical alone was very low. In mower conditioning, the duration of field dry was shortened by 0.5 to 1 day compared with $K_2CO_3$ and 1.5 to 2 days compared with control. The dry matter loss of hay was reduced by late harvest and mechanical, and mechanical + chemical, but the score by chemical alone was very low. The visual score (leafiness, green color, odor and softness) of hay after storage was high in mechanical and mechanical + chemical, but the score by chemical alone was very low. Nutritive value (ADF, NDF, digestibility, and relative feed value) of hay was also high with treatment of mechanical and mechanical + chemical, but the quality by chemical alone was similar compared with control. The quality of hay was very low when harvested at bloom stage. In conclusion, mower conditioning can enhance the field drying rate of orchardgrass dominant pasture plants, however the drying efficiency of chemical drying agent was very low. Harvesting at early heading to heading stage was recommened for manufacture of high quality hay.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1116-1124
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• 2005

The influence of fiber content of hay (low-fiber 47% NDF and high-fiber 62% NDF of DM) and concentrate level (high 50% and low 20% of ration DM) on chewing activity, passage rate and nutrient digestibility were tested on four restrict-fed (11.1 to 13.7 kg DM/d) Holstein cows in late lactation. Aspects of ruminal fermentation and digesta particle size distribution were also investigated on two ruminally cannulated (100 mm i.d.) cows of the same group of animals. All digestion parameters studied were more affected by the fiber content of the hay and its ratio to non structural carbohydrates than by the concentrate level. Giving a diet of high-fiber (62% NDF) hay and low concentrate level (20%) increased chewing activity but decreased solid passage rate and total digestibility of nutrients due to a limited availability of fermentable OM in the late cut fiber rich hay. A supplementation of high-fiber hay with 50% concentrate in the diet seems to improve the ruminal digestion of cell contents, whilst a depression of the ruminal fiber digestibility was not completely avoided. Giving a diet of low-fiber (47% NDF) hay and high concentrate level (50%) reduced markedly the chewing and rumination activity, affected negatively the rumen conditions and, consequently, the ruminal digestion of fiber. A reduction of the concentrate level from 50 to 20% in the diet of low-fiber hay improved the rumen conditions as reflected by an increase of the ruminal solid passage rate and of fiber digestibility and in a decrease of the concentration of large particles and of the mean particle size of the rumen digesta and of the faeces. Generally, it can be summarised that, (i) concentrate supplementation is not a strategy to overcome limitations of low quality (fiber-rich) hay, and (ii) increase of the roughage quality is an effective strategy in ruminant nutrition, especially when concentrate availability for ruminants is limited.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.1109-1112
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• 2000

A field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of mechanical and chemical conditioning at mowing on field drying rate and quality of grass hay in 1996. Mower conditioner and/or chemical drying agent $(K_2CO_3)$ were used at different harvest stages (late boot, heading and bloom stages) for hastening hay-making. After field drying, square bales were made by hay baler, and the visual estimation and nutritive value of hay were evaluated after storing two months. In mower conditioning, the duration of field drying was shortened by 0.5 to 1 day compared with drying agent, and by 1 to 2 days compared with control. The drying matter loss of hay was reduced by late harvest and mechanical conditioning. The visual score (leafiness, green color, odor and softness), and acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), in vitro dry matter digestibllity (IVDMD), and relative feed value (RFV) of hay were improved with mechanical conditioning, but chemical alone had little effect on quality. The quality of hay harvested at bloom stage was much lower than that of hay harvested at late boot and heading stage. In conclusion, mower conditioning can enhance the field drying rate of grass hay, however the drying efficiency of chemical drying agent is very low. Also the effects of chemical/mechanical combined conditioning are very similar compared with mechanical conditioning alone. Harvesting at late boot to heading stage is recommended for the production of high quality hay.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2020

This study was conducted to evaluate feed value of imported hays and examine current situation of species and hay grade. To evaluate the quality of the imported hay, 133 pieces including 9 species of roughage types were collected at the national hay importers, the TMR companies and livestock farms from 2016 to 2018. The quality grades of imported hay were 3~4 and most imported hay were considered to had low. The ADF, Ash, TDN and DDM in feed composition of alfalfa by quality grades presented significant differences(p<0.05). The quality grade on alfalfa was not similar to the actual quality grades calculated through feed composition. The feed composition of grasses by quality degrees presented significant differences in all contents except DM and CP (p<0.05). As the distributed grasses of the unmarked quality grade was low quality and accounted for 49%, it is urgent to present quality standards based on feed composition. As these results, the grades of imported hays were lower than the marked quality grades. Therefore, the imported roughage's(hay) price that considered to only quality grades on the marked imported roughages(hay) package can cause a loss to the livestock farms as economic damage. An institutional arrangement should be established to review the quality grades of imported hay.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.109-114
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• 2001

The object of this experiment was to evaluate nutritive value of roughage which was collected by Woosung Feed Co., Ltd. in Korea in 1999-2000. Nineteen kinds of roughage(l32 samples) were collected by Woosung Feed Co., Ltd. and their chemical composition, ADF, NDF, Ca and P. were analysed. In addition, their DMD, DMI, WV and hay grades were calculated based on analysed values. The CP content of roughage was ranged from 17.35%(alfalfa hay) to 4.00%(Italian ryegrass hay), and ten kinds of roughage under six percentages were observed. The NDF content of roughage was ranged from 47.50%(sugarcane leaf) to 78.84%(orchardgrass hay), and eight kinds of roughage above seventy percentages were observed. The DMD of roughage was ranged from 66.38%(beet pulp) to 50.95%(orchardgrass hay). The WV of roughage was ranged from 60.1 l(orchardgrass hay) to 125.07(sugarcane leaf). In hay grade of roughage, the first grade was assigned to sugarcane leaf only and the third grade and fourth grade were assigned to four kinds of roughage each. Bermudagrass straw received the fifth grade, and the nine kinds of roughage received the poor grades. As shown in the above results, nineteen kinds of roughage were mostly low in crude protein contents and dry matter digestibility, but they were high in fibrous contents. Futhermore, while only one kind of roughage was evaluated as obtaining the first grade, nine kinds of roughage were evaluated as the poor grade. Hence, we know that roughage which was collected in Korea was mostly low in their quality and that there was significant difference in their feed value among those roughage(P<0.05). Therefore, it is necessary to mark the hay quality for purpose of distributive circulation of roughage. (Key words : Roughages, Nutritive value, DMD. RFV. Hay grade)

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.77-84
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• 1989

Twenty-four Hereford steers, 22 months old and a mean liveweight (${\pm}\;s.e.$) of $250\;{\pm}\;7\;kg$ were used in an experiment to evaluate over 42 days two rates of copra meal supplementation to cattle on a low N ($8.6\;{\pm}\;0.9$ g N/kg dry matter (DM)), low digestible ($45\;{\pm}\;5.2%$ DM) native pasture hay. Steers given the two rates (500, 1000 g/steer/day; i.e. 500C, 1000C) were compared to steers on a non-supplemental diet and to the effects on steers of supplemental urea (30g/steer/day; 30U) or with copra meal (500 g/steer/day; 500C.U), or of cottonseed meal (500 g/steer/day; 500S). Liveweight change was increased (P<0.01) by all of the supplements except by supplemental urea. The most effective treatment, 1000C, increased significantly (P<0.01) liveweight change (946 g/day) in steers above all supplements except those steers given 500C.U (718 g/day). Hay intake per unit liveweight was increased (P<0.05) by 7% by the 30U and 500C.U treatment, and by 9% by 500C; this group having the highest supplements, being greatest (P<0.05) for the 1000C group (6.0 g feed intake/g gain) and least for the 500S supplemented group (11.5 g/g gain). Efficiency was lowest (18.6 g/g gain) for the non-supplemented steers on the basal hay diet. Copra meal N was less degradable (i.e. 29%) in nylon bags over 15 hours in the rumen than was cottonseed meal N (37%), and rumen ammonia concentrations were lower (P<0.05) in cattle supplemented with copra meal (25, 27 mg N/L) than in cattle given urea (36 mg N/L) or cottonseed meal (39 mg N/L). It is concluded that copra meal at a daily rate of 500 g/head, and with rumen soluble nitrogen from urea, is an effective supplement for improving growth of cattle on a low quality forage.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 1999

A field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of chemical /mechanical treatments at mowing on the field drying rate and hay quality of rye (Secale cereale L.). The chemical drying agent/mower conditioner ($K_2CO_3$ 2%, conditioning, $K_2CO_3$ 2% + conditioning and control) were treated at different harvest stage (late boot, heading and bloom stage) for hastening hay-making in the spring of 1996. After field dry, square bales were made by hay baler, and the dry matter(DM) loss, visual estimation and nutritive value of rye hay were evaluated after storing two months. The field drying rate of rye was higher with delayed stage of harvest, and mechanical and chemical + mechanical treatment, but the effectiveness of chemical alone was very low. With mower conditioning, the duration of field dry was shortened by 1.5 to 2 days compared with control. The DM loss of rye hay was reduced by late harvest and mechanical, and chemical + mechanical combined treatment, but the efficiency by chemical alone was very low. The visual score (Ieafiness, green color, odor and softness) of hay after storing was high in mechanical and chemical + mechanical, but the score by chemical alone was very low. The nutritive value (ADF, NDF, digestibility, and relative feed value) of hay was also high with treatment of mechanical and chemical + mechanical, but the quality by chemical alone was similar compared with control. The quality of hay was very low when harvested at bloom stage. In conclusion, mower conditioning can enhance the field drying rate of rye, but the drying effectiveness of chemical drying agent was very low. The effect of chemical/mechanical combined treatment was very similar when compared with mechanical alone. Harvest at early heading to heading stage was recommended for high quality rye hay.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2001

A field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of chemical/mechanical treatments at mowing on the field drying rate and hay quality of alfalfa(Medicago sativa L., cv. Vernal) and spring oats(Avena satvia L., cv. Swan). The chemical drying agent of 2% $K_2CO_3$, mechanical mower conditioning, and no treatment(control) were treated for hastening hay-making in the spring of 1997. The forages were harvested at early bloom stage in alfalfa and heading stage in oats. After field dry, square bales were made by hay baler, and the dry matter(DM) loss, visual estimation and nutritive value of hay were evaluated after storing two months. The field drying rates of alfalfa and oats were high at mechanical treatment, but the drying effectiveness of chemical agents alone was very low. With mower conditioning, the duration of field dry was shortened by 1 day compared with control. therefore, mower conditioning enhance the field drying rate of alfalfa and oats. The DM loss of alfalfa and oats hay was reduced by mechanical treatment, but the efficiency by chemical alone was low. The visual score(leafiness, green color, odor and softness) of hay at mechanical treatment was slightly higher than that of chemical and control. The nutritive value(ADF, NDF, in vitro digestibility, and relative feed value) of hay was also high with treatment of mechanical, but those of chemical alone were similar compared with control. The nutritive value of hay after two months in both alfalfa and oats was decreased when compared with at harvest.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2000

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate chemical composition, dry matter(DM) digestibility, DM intake, relative feed value(RFV) and hay grade of imported roughage which was collected by wholesale dealer at Chungnam province in 1999. Experimental roughages includes 8 kinds of imported hays(com stover bale, tall fescue straw, green cell, bermudagrass straw, reed camarygrass straw, alfalfa bale, sugarcane bale and oat hay) and mixture hay(contro1) which was harvested at Chungnam National University experimental field. Compared with mixture hay(contro1) except for alfalfa bale, crude protein of most imported roughage was low, but NDF, ADF, cellulose and lignin compound were high. Futhermore, DM digestibility, DM intake, RFV and hay grade of imported roughage except for alfalfa bale was significantly lower than those of mixture hay(control)(P<0.05). Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the economic value in the aspect of quality for the imported roughages. (Key words : Imported roughage, RFV, Hay grade, Nutritive value)

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.1005-1015
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• 2009

Two experiments were carried out to determine the utility of sainfoin hay, a temperate tanniferous forage legume, as a dietary supplement for grass-fed cows. The condensed tannins (CT) of sainfoin might counteract the typical metabolic ammonia load of cows in intensive grazing systems. Furthermore, the physical fibrousness of sainfoin might improve ruminal pH stability. In the preliminary experiment, the eating rate of non-lactating Holstein cows of two tanniferous hays, sainfoin and birdsfoot trefoil, was compared to that of a grass-clover hay after specific periods of time (n = 4). The eating rate of sainfoin was superior to that of the other forages. In the main experiment, designed as a replicated 3${\times}$3 Latin square, six ruminally-cannulated, lactating Red Holstein cows received grass, concentrate and either no supplementation, 3 kg/d of grass hay or 3 kg/d of sainfoin hay (n = 6). Measured intakes of the grass hay and the sainfoin hay were 2.0 and 1.5 kg DM, and two cows entirely refused to eat the sainfoin hay and had to be excluded from data analysis. Grass DMI was similar for cows supplemented with sainfoin hay and cows fed only grass whereas intake of concentrate was higher (p<0.01) for the latter treatment. Continuous measurement of ruminal pH showed that the minimum pH at night tended to be lower (p<0.10) with grass-only feeding compared to sainfoin supplementation, but pH did not decline below the threshold of subacute acidosis for a longer period of time. The slightly higher intake of nitrogen (N) for cows supplemented with sainfoin hay (413 g/d) compared to cows fed only grass (399 g/d) was accompanied by an increased (p<0.05) fecal N excretion and a tendency for an increased (p<0.10) urinary N excretion. Ruminal ammonia concentration, as well as plasma and milk urea, were not affected by sainfoin supplementation. In conclusion, the lack of positive effects typical for CT might be explained either by the limited CT content of this plant species (55 g/kg DM) or the relatively low proportion of sainfoin in the total diet or both. Moreover, due to the unexpected low grass quality, the general ammonia load might have been too low for CT to have an impact.