PSII-15 Effect of ammoniation and harvest method on waste and consumption of corn residue bales fed to cows in a round bale feeder

Abstract

Abstract To determine the effects of harvest method and ammoniation (3.7% of DM) on the consumption and waste of baled corn residue, a 6 x 6 Latin square with a 3 x 2 factorial treatment structure was conducted. Six treatments consisted of either untreated or ammoniated residue, harvested one of three ways: conventional rake-and-bale (CONV), New Holland Cornrower with two rows of stem chopped into the windrow with tailings (2ROW), or EZ-Bale system (EZB) with a disengaged combine spreader and tailings dropped in a windrow. Open beef females (12 heifers and 30 cows) were stratified and blocked by age into 6 pens (7 hd/pen) such that each pen had similar total BW. One bale was fed to each pen over six, 7 d periods using round-bale ring feeders with closed bottom panels. Residue falling around (waste) and remaining in (orts) the feeder were weighed. There was a significant (P < 0.01) harvest method by ammoniation interaction for DMI (% BW) and a tendency (P = 0.07) for waste. Intake of non-ammoniated EZB (1.6%) was greater (P = 0.03) than CONV (1.3%) and 2ROW (1.4%) which did not differ (P = 0.80). Intake of ammoniated CONV (1.2%) and EZB (1.5%) did not differ (P = 0.45) from their non-ammoniated counterpart, but ammoniation increased intake of 2ROW (1.9%). Within the unammoniated residue, waste did not differ (P > 0.13) among harvest methods and was 17.8%, 23.4%, and 22.7% for EZB, CONV and 2ROW. Ammoniated EZB (16.3%) and CONV (21.8%) did not differ from each other or their unammoniated counterpart. However, waste (10.6%) of ammoniated 2ROW was less (P < 0.01) than non-ammoniated 2ROW. Ammoniation and, to a lesser extent, harvest method, can be used to increase intake and reduce waste of corn residue bales fed to cows.