Round Bales Research Articles

Influence of Feeding Frequency on Intake and Digestibility of Alfalfa Haylage

SUMMARY The study evaluated the effect of feeding frequency affects on dry matter (DM) intake and in vivo digestibility of alfalfa haylage fed to wether she ep in the quantity of 120 g DM kg 1 metabolic body weight (M 0.75 ) in 1, 2, 4 or 8 meals d -1 . Altering the feeding from a customary frequency of twice to several times d -1 has a stabilizing effect upon ruminal fermentation patter n by avoiding the two main peaks of fermentation. This is one of the reasons that more frequent feedings increase forage ad libitum intake in ruminants (Nocek and Braund, 1985) and production (Nocek and Braund, 1985) while the digestibility effect varies (Ulyatt et al., 1984). Alfalfa haylage was harvested at the beginning of f lowering (30% of plants in bloom phase), wilted, baled in round bales and wrapped wi th plastic. In vivo DM digestibility and voluntary DM intake was measured as previously described (Vrani c et al., 2007) in 4x4 latin square design with 4 wether Suffolk sheep. The DM contents of feed and faeces were determined by oven drying at 60oC. Samples were milled to pass 1 mm screed, than scan with NIRS Foss instrument (Model 6500). The results were analysed using mixed model procedures (SAS 1999). Alfalfa haylage has 4.8 pH, 759 g DM kg -1 fresh sample, 128 g SP kg -1 DM and 512 g NDF kg -1 DM. Higher feeding frequency (2, 4 or 8 meals d -1 ) increased haylage ad libitum DM intake (g kg -1 M 0.75 ) (P<0.05) in comparison with 1 meal d -1 . This agrees with previous results (Richard et al., 1989; Nocek and Braund, 1985). No differences in f eed intake were recorded among 2, 4 or 8 meals d -1 . DM in vivo digestibility was higher only for 4 meald d -1 (493 g kg1 DM) in comparison with 8-meals d-1 (428 g kg-1 DM) with no other differences in digestibility among feeding treatments which agrees with previous results by published by Ulyatt et al. (1984). REFERENCES

Round-bale feeder design affects hay waste and economics during horse feeding1,2

Many horse owners find round bales convenient, less labor intensive, and more affordable than other hay types, but report an inability to control horse BW gain and excessive hay waste. The objectives were to compare hay waste, hay intake, and payback of 9 round-bale feeders and a no-feeder control when used during horse feeding. Nine round-bale feeders were tested: Cinch Net, Cone, Covered Cradle, Hayhut, Hay Sleigh, Ring, Tombstone, Tombstone Saver, and Waste Less. Each feeder design was placed on the ground in a dirt paddock. Five groups of 5 horses were fed in rotation for a 4-d period with each feeder. Every fourth day, groups were rotated among paddocks and a new round bale was placed in each feeder. In the 5 paddocks used, 5 feeders were installed for d 1 through 20, and the remaining 4 feeders and no-feeder control were installed for d 21 through 40. Groups of horses were sequentially assigned to feeders using two 5 × 5 Latin squares, the first for d 1 through 20, the second for d 21 through 40. Horse groups of similar age, BW, breed, and sex were formed from 25 Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred geldings and open mares (means: 11 yr; 541 kg of BW). Hay on the ground surrounding the feeder was collected daily, dried, and weighed. The total amount of hay removed around each feeder for a 4-d period was considered waste. Dry matter intake was estimated as the difference between hay disappearance and waste. Number of months for the reduction in waste to repay feeder cost (payback) were calculated using hay valued at $110/t, and improved feeder efficiency over the control. Feeder design did not affect hay intake (P > 0.05); all feeders resulted in an estimated hay intake of 2.0 to 2.4% BW; the no-feeder control resulted in a reduced intake of 1.3% BW (P = 0.001). Mean percentage of hay waste differed among feeders (P < 0.001): Waste Less, 5%; Cinch Net, 6%; Hayhut, 9%; Covered Cradle, 11%; Tombstone Saver, 13%; Tombstone, Cone, and Ring, 19%; Hay Sleigh, 33%; and no-feeder control, 57%. Feeder design also affected payback (P < 0.01). The Cinch Net paid for itself in less than 1 mo; Tombstone and Ring, 2 mo; Hayhut and Tombstone Saver, 4 mo; Hay Sleigh, 5 mo; Waste Less, 8 mo; Cone, 9 mo; and Covered Cradle, 20 mo. Round-bale feeder design affected hay waste and payback, but not estimated hay intake or BW change during horse feeding.

Design, modeling, and analysis of a feedstock logistics system

Given the location of a bio-energy plant for the conversion of biomass to bio-energy, a feedstock logistics system that relies on the use of satellite storage locations (SSLs) for temporary storage and loading of round bales is proposed. Three equipment systems are considered for handling biomass at the SSLs, and they are either placed permanently or are mobile and thereby travel from one SSL to another. A mathematical programming-based approach is utilized to determine SSLs and equipment routes in order to minimize the total cost. The use of a Side-loading Rack System results in average savings of 21.3% over a Densification System while a Rear-loading Rack System is more expensive to operate than either of the other equipment systems. The utilization of mobile equipment results in average savings of 14.8% over the equipment placed permanently. Furthermore, the Densification System is not justifiable for transportation distances less than 81km.

Effect of winter feeding system on beef cow performance, reproductive efficiency, and system cost

A 3-yr study was conducted to evaluate the effects of winter feeding systems on beef cow performance, reproductive efficiency, and system cost. Winter feeding systems were (i) swath grazing (SG) windrowed whole-plant barley [TDN = 62.4, CP = 13.4 (% DM)] in field paddocks; (ii) bale grazing (BG) barley hay round bales [TDN = 66.6, CP = 13.1 (% DM)] in field paddocks; (iii) straw-chaff grazing (STCH) barley crop residue piles [TDN = 46.8, CP = 9.8 (% DM)] in field; and (iv) drylot feeding (DL) barley hay round bales [TDN = 67.9, CP = 13.0 (% DM)] in bale feeders in pens. The study was conducted over 3 production cycles with spring-calving beef cows [yr 1 (78 d), n = 180, BW = 630.5 ± 3.9 kg; yr 2 (21 d), n = 180, BW = 598.6 ± 7.7 kg; yr 3 (36 d), n = 120, BW = 644.0 ± 5.0 kg]. Cows were allocated swaths, bales, and crop residue piles on a 3-d basis to manage DMI and feed waste. Dry matter and TDN intakes were 17 and 23% lower (P < 0.01) in yr 1 compared with yr 2 and 3. Cows consuming SG or STCH had lower (P < 0.01) DMI compared with BG- or DL-fed cows. Nutritive value of barley forage in all systems was sufficient, allowing for minimal or no BW change. Bale grazing, SG, and STCH systems had no effect (P > 0.05) on cow reproductive performance. In yr 1, in the first 21 d, cows maintained BW and BCS with DL compared with SG, BG, and STCH cows. However, SG, BG, and STCH cows gained BW linearly (r = 0.58, P = 0.09) from d 22 to 76 of the feeding trial. Cows in drylot pens fed round bale hay gained more BW than did cows in field paddocks grazing either round bales (P < 0.05; yr 3) or swaths (P < 0.05; yr 2, yr 3). In yr 1 after 78 d, SG cows had lower BW and BCS (P < 0.05) than did DL cows; however, cows in all systems gained BW in yr 2 and 3. Averaged over 3 yr, winter feeding system costs were 8 and 29% lower for BG and SG, respectively, compared with the DL system. This research indicates that bale grazing or swath grazing systems can be effective alternatives to reduce winter feeding costs.

Comparison of Hay or Round Bale Silage as a Means to Conserve Forage

Florida’s climate makes conserving forages for later feeding challenging. Traditional hay harvest systems require optimal cutting, drying, and baling weather conditions. The use of round bale silage overcomes several of the challenges to hay production in Florida and offer an attractive compliment to traditional hay harvest systems. Learn more in this 6-page fact sheet written by Matt Hersom, Todd Thrift, and Joel Yelich, and published by the UF Department of Animal Science, August 2011. (Photo: Thomas Wright, UF/IFAS) AN266/AN266: Comparison of Hay or Round Bale Silage as a Means to Conserve Forage (ufl.edu)

The Effect of Harvest Moisture and Bale Wrapping on Forage Quality, Temperature, and Mold in Orchardgrass Hay

Effects of harvest moisture and bale wrapping on forage quality and mold formation in orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.) hay have not been investigated. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of initial bale moisture and plastic wrapping on temperature, forage quality (protein, fiber components, and digestible energy), and mold formation in large round-baled orchardgrass hay. In all, 40 round bales of mature orchardgrass hay measuring 1.2 × 1.5 m 2 were baled at three different moisture ranges (eight bales per treatment): 124 to 166 g/kg (low moisture); 180 to 232 g/kg (intermediate moisture); and 259 to 337 g/kg (high moisture). Selected bales within each moisture range were individually wrapped in plastic (16 bales), and temperature sensors were placed in each bale for up to 10 weeks. The lowest ( P ≤ .01) maximum temperature and heating degree-day accumulations were observed when initial bale moisture content was 124 g/kg or when hay was wrapped, regardless of initial moisture content. In 2008 and 2009, all wrapped hays resulted in similar forage quality ( P ≤ .14) and mold counts ( P = .94) compared with 124 g/kg moisture hay. Hay baled at 166 g/kg resulted in fiber ( P ≥ .82) and mold ( P = .21) components similar to higher moisture bales. Mold counts for hay baled at 166 g/kg and 124 g/kg moisture were 24.8 × 10 6 and 2.7 × 10 4 CFU/g, respectively, demonstrating that large round bales are prone to molding at relatively low moisture concentrations. Maintenance of forage quality and reduction in mold growth were achieved by baling dry (124 g/kg moisture) or wrapping round bales of orchardgrass hay up to 337 g/kg moisture.

Sensors connection for yield determination on round balers with variable chamber

The main aim of this article is to present a technical solution for straw and forage yield mapping when using round balers with variable chamber for harvest. The yield measurement is based on monitoring of instantaneous position of a tension roller mechanism for press chamber circular belt. Wheat straw was harvested &amp;ndash; baled, during our trial measurements. The acreage of the trial field was 12 ha. Calibration of the measuring system showed a strong dependence of the tension roller position on the amount of pressed straw (R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.99). Geostatistical evaluation confirms a spatial relationship of measured data sets with a moderate spatial dependence. Finally, yield map of straw was created

흙먼지 분리기 용이한 원형베일 세절 조사료의 사이클론 이송장치 개발

This study developed the cyclone conveying system using roughage cutter for the round bale reported in the previous papers. Performance tests were conducted whether it can easily separate dust from roughage such as rice straws and it can transport roughages from cutter to TMR mixer. In addition, the airflow patterns in the cyclone conveying system were investigated using CFD code (FLUENT 6.2) for various velocities of dust collection fan. The cyclone conveying system was designed based on dried rice straws with a diameter of 1,340 mm, a cylinder length of 1,220 mm, a cone length of 850 mm and the current velocity of the dust collection fan was 15~20 m/s. It was found that transporting of roughage from cutter to TMR mixer and the separation of dust were satisfactory, and the dust removal rate of rice straws was around 31.9%. CFD analysis showed that, at the blowing fan velocity of 11.6 m/s, the airflow velocity inside the dust collector increased as velocity of the dust collection fan increased, but the airflow patterns inside the dust collector were all much the same.

Chopping of whole-crop barley silage improves intake and live-weight gain of young dairy steers

This experiment evaluated the effect of chopping whole-crop barley silage on intake, diet selection and live-weight gain in young dairy steers. Whole-crop barley harvested at the dough stage of maturity and preserved as round bale silage was fed ad libitum in its long form or precision-chopped to 63 pen-housed dairy steers (average weight 173, s.d. 39kg). In addition, each animal received 0.6kg of soybean meal, 0.4kg of barley grain and 0.08kg of mineral feed daily. Chopping increased dry matter intake of whole-crop barley silage by 23% and live-weight gain by 22%. Higher concentrations of starch in the orts from steers when fed unchopped silage reflected sorting against grain, probably caused by long awns in the unchopped silage, which were not present in the chopped silage. No sorting against grain occurred in the chopped silage. Chopping increased intake of whole-crop barley silage and live-weight gain of young dairy steers, probably due to negative effects of long awns in the unchopped whole-crop barley silage on intake.

Forage conservation efficiency and lactation response to bahiagrass conserved as barn-stored hay, outdoor-stored hay, or baleage

A study was conducted to determine the effect of conserving bahiagrass as outdoor-stored hay (OSH), barn-stored hay (BSH), or baleage (BAL) on storage losses and lactation performance by Holstein cows. For baleage production, bahiagrass forage was cut and allowed to dry for 20h in windrows, baled (1.2×1.4m), and individually wrapped with white stretch film. Forage cut on the same day was dried to hay stage, baled (1.2×1.6m round bales), and stored either outdoors (OSH) or in an enclosed hay barn (BSH). Bales were core sampled and weighed at harvest and again following a 6-mo storage period. At the end of the storage period, 30 multiparous mid-lactation Holstein cows [39.2±5.6kg of 3.5% fat-corrected milk and 142±27 d in milk (DIM)] were stratified according to milk yield and DIM and randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 forage conservation treatments. Cows were trained to Calan feeding gates and were offered a common partial mixed ration in a 10-d covariate period followed by a 42-d treatment feeding period. Forage dry matter losses were highest for OSH, but were similar between BSH and baleage. Conservation method had little effect on poststorage crude protein levels, but acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber concentrations were higher in OSH than in either BSH or BAL, which resulted in a 12.8% depression in net energy for OSH compared with the other treatments. Dry matter intake (20.5 vs. 22.1kg/d) and milk yield (28.2 vs. 30.2kg/d) tended to be lower for OSH than for BSH. Lactation performance was similar between BSH and BAL: 29.6 versus 28.7kg/d of fat-corrected milk, respectively. No differences in milk composition, feed efficiency, body weight, or body condition score change related to conservation system were observed. In this study, dry matter losses and lactation performance from bahiagrass conserved as baleage were similar to that of similar forage stored indoors as hay, whereas hay stored outside resulted in less satisfactory forage quality.

Effect of ensiled hop (Humulus lupulus L.) residues on plasma acetate turnover rate in sheep

An isotope dilution method using [1-(13)C]sodium acetate was applied to determine the effect of feeding ensiled hop (Humulus lupulus L.) residues on plasma acetate turnover rate in six adult crossbred sheep. The sheep were fed 63 g/kg body weight (BW)(0.75)/day of either mixed hay of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) and round bale silage at 3:1 ratio (Hay-diet), or another where round bale silage was replaced by ensiled hop residues (Hop-diet) with a crossover design each of a 3-week period. The isotope dilution method was performed on day 21 of each dietary treatment. Dry matter digestibility was similar between diets, and nitrogen (N) digestibility was lower (P = 0.001) for Hop-diet than Hay-diet. However, N retention did not differ between diets. Plasma acetate concentration was lower (P = 0.04) for Hop-diet than Hay-diet, and the turnover rate of plasma acetate did not differ between diets. Plasma concentration of lactate and non-esterified fatty acids were similar between diets. Hop-diet was found almost comparable to Hay-diet on plasma acetate turnover rate in the present experimental conditions. Therefore, it could be concluded that hop residues partially could be used as an alternative to traditionally used round bale silage for rearing sheep.

Experimental study on baling rice straw silage

Abstract: For resolving harvesting technology of fresh rice straw silage and plugging of the round steel-roll baler in China, experimental researches were carried out. For harvesting technology, baling silage and chopping silage were experimented. For the round baler, three kinds of feeding rolls equipped for enhancing feeding capability were experimented separately by reliability. Experimental results indicate: harvesting technology of baling fresh rice straw as silage is practicable; slicing-disc feeding rolls can be used to the baler to resolve plugging in straw-baling course. And through further experiments by reliability and density, optimal structure of the feeding roll is obtained: big and small slicing-discs arranged in interval and inclination, distance between slicing-discs being 30–40 mm. Keywords: silage harvesting, rice straw, round baler, feeding mechanism DOI: 10.3965/j.issn.1934-6344.2011.01.020-025 Citation: Wang Defu, Dennis R.Buckmaster, Jiang Yiyuan, Hua Jinling. Experimental study on baling rice straw silage. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2011; 4(1): 20 <span style=font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family:

Evaluation of two round baling systems for harvesting understory biomass

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and to estimate costs of two round baling systems for harvesting understory biomass. One system was a cutter-shredder-baler prototype (Bio-baler). The other system required two successive operations. The first operation was cutting and shredding with a Supertrak tractor equipped with a Fecon mulcher head. The second operation was baling with a Claas baler. The machines were evaluated in three different pine stands on the Osceola National Forest in Florida, United States. Data collection included time study, fuel consumption and bale measurements. Material was collected from a sample of bales for heat and moisture content determination. On the most representative site (Site 2), the Bio-baler recovered 8.05 green t ha −1 while the mulcher and the Claas baler recovered 9.75 green t ha −1 (43 and 52 percent of original understory biomass, respectively). Productivity was 0.30 ha h −1 for the Bio-baler and 0.51 ha h −1 for the Claas baler. Density of the bales was 321 green kg m −3 for the Bio-baler and 373 green kg m −3 for the Claas baler. Average net heat content was 6263 MJ bale −1 for the Bio-baler and 6695 MJ bale −1 for the Claas baler with biomass containing 38 percent of moisture content on a wet basis. Cost per unit area was less with the Bio-baler (US$320.91 ha −1 ) than with the mulcher-baler system (US$336.62–US$596.77 ha −1 ).

Long-term Field Storage Examination of Rice Straw for Bio-ethanol Production

Outdoor field storage of round-baled rice straw to suppress the cost of producing bio-ethanol from rice straw was investigated. Harvested rice straw was dried, collected, compressed and packed into round bales (rolls) by a round baler. Usually, the rolls are stored in a warehouse, or outdoors wrapped in a film coat. However, these storage costs push up the price of the bio-ethanol produced and reduce energy efficiency. To avoid this, outdoor field storage of rice straw rolls with or without film wrapping (wrapped rolls or non-wrapped rolls) was investigated in this study. The rolls were stored for about 9 months, from 19 December 2008 to 9 September 2009, taking into consideration the supply of rice straw for demonstrating a bio-ethanol pilot plant throughout the year. No significant increase of temperature in each roll was observed during the storage term, even though an increase was reported in previous studies. However, the straw should be stocked for other seasons, and it is important to grasp any problems during the storage period. In this study, no significant change was observed in the non-wrapped rolls throughout the term, suggesting that non-film wrapping round-baled rice straw can be stored in fields outdoors.

Spring Harvest of Corn Stover

In spring 2009, a quantity of 42.1 Mg of corn stover, on a dry matter basis (DM), was harvested over 11.4 ha under no-till or minimum tillage management. The average harvested biomass (3.7 Mg ha-1) represented a recovery of 44% considering previous fall stover yield of 8.3 Mg ha-1 just prior to grain harvest. Corn stover was harvested with traditional hay making tools operated under two different sequences. The first sequence, called the fall plots, included mowing and raking in the fall, and raking once more and baling in the spring. The second sequence, called the spring plots, consisted in mowing, raking, and baling in the spring. Stover was packaged with three types of balers. Large square bales (LSB) were denser (150 kg DM m-3 from fall plots; 128 kg DM m-3 from spring plots) than large round bales (RB; 91 kg DM m-3 from fall plots; 98 kg DM m-3 from spring plots) and small square bales (SSB; 87 kg DM m-3 from spring plots only). The moisture content of spring harvested stover was very low, ranging from 5% to 18% (wet basis). Average values and standard deviation showed that moisture content was lower and more uniform from spring plots. The operating speed averaged 6.3 km h-1 for LSB, 4.4 km h-1 for RB, and 2.0 km h-1 for SSB. These speeds were slower than standard operating speeds in traditional crops such as hay and straw. Field efficiencies to harvest stover were also lower than standard values, from 43% to 60% for LSB and 52% to 54% for RB. Spring harvest of corn stover produced a very dry biomass which can be more useful than wet stover typical of fall harvest for some applications such as bedding and combustion. The fact that more than 50% of the original stover was not collected can be viewed positively for erosion control and soil protection.

Spatial Analysis to Site Satellite Storage Locations for Herbaceous Biomass in the Piedmont of the Southeast

Herbaceous biomass, harvested and handled as hay, has potential for bioenergy production. In the Upper Southeast, fields that cannot be competitively managed to produce another crop can produce an acceptable yield of switchgrass. Using a delayed harvest (crop is allowed to dry standing in the field), switchgrass can be harvested from production fields over a 6-month period. This gives a significant advantage over a crop residue, like corn stover, which is collected over a 5-week harvest season in the Midwest. The Southeast has the potential to be a major bioenergy production region. A land cover database, classified with 2006 aerial photography, was used to identify potential switchgrass fields within 48-km radii of Gretna and Keysville, two small towns in South Central Virginia. The total potential switchgrass production was then calculated for each area. A possible set of satellite storage locations (SSLs) for the temporary storage of round bales was generated using a raster-based approach. Transportation analysis was used to determine the travel distance from the SSLs to a hypothetical bioenergy plant. Within a 48-km radius of Gretna, it was determined that about 6.4% of the total land area could be attracted into production using a conservative assumption for change in existing land use. Using a more optimistic assumption, as much as 10.5% of the total land area could be attracted into production. For the 48-km radius around Keysville, the percentage ranged from 5.6% to 9.5%. Assuming an average yield of 11.2 Mg/ha, the area around Gretna could supply a bioenergy plant consuming from 61 up to 98 Mg/h (continuous operation, 47 wk/y). For Keysville, the size of plant that could be supplied ranged from 48 to 80 Mg/h. The mass-distance parameters for the Gretna and Keysville production areas were almost equal, 42.7 and 41.9 km, respectively, indicating that both study areas had a similar feedstock production distribution.

The use of plastic film instead of netting when tying round bales for wrapped baled silage

The possibility of replacing net with film to tie large round bales for silage making was investigated. A specifically designed polyethylene film has been developed and used to replace the typical net wrapping. A film-tying device, which was already on the market, was fitted to a variable chamber round baler and used instead of the standard net-tying system. A total of 48 round bales, consisting of half Italian ryegrass and half lucerne were baled following a 2-day wilting period. Half of the bales were net-tied and the other half film-tied. The bales were wrapped with 4 or 6 layers of stretch film and stored outside, half on their ends and half on their curved surfaces, for 180 days. The mechanical, fermentative and microbiological aspects were investigated. The work rate was not affected by the tying method. No evident damage to the film used for tying was observed before or after ejection from the baler or after the mechanical handling using a typical bale squeeze. Plastic consumption for film-tying was slightly higher, but mould on the bale surface was reduced compared to the net-tying method. This study has shown that film-tying could represent an interesting alternative to net-tying when preparing round bales for making silage.

Haemonchosis in a sheep flock in North Finland

Background In May 2008 two sheep from a farm in Ylikiiminki (65°N 26°E) were autopsied at Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira in Oulu and diagnosed with a Haemonchus contortus infection. Haemonchus contortus has a few years ago been reported on the island of Hailuoto just outside Oulu, where it led to a lethal infection. Although this to sheep highly pathogenic nematode has been detected in Finland already in 1933 by Agnes Sjoberg [1], it has apparently never been reported so far up north in Finland. In Sweden H. contortus has almost reached the Arctic Circle [2]. It does not survive the Nordic winter on pasture, but with almost 100 % arrested development in the early fourth larval stage it is capable of surviving the Nordic winter within its host [3]. The farm the infected sheep originated from is a small sheep farm with also a few goats and other domestic animals such as horses, turkeys and rabbits. They had bought their first sheep in November 2006, part of the ewes being pregnant at time of purchase and lambed in January. The sheep are of Finnish race, Texel-Oxford, Kainuu grey and cross-breeds. In the winter the sheep are housed in an approximately 150 m barn with thick straw bedding and access to a corral sized about 500 m. Grazing grounds from May until snowfall (in October) consists of approximately 4 ha of pasture and 1 ha of mixed forest. According to the owner the totally about 35 sheep and 4 goats mainly used the pasture grass as their nutrition, but were also given hay in round bales, when the feeding area became very contaminated with faeces. The drinking water was accessible in the nearby river Kiiminkijoki. The animals were treated with fenbendazole in the autumn of 2007. In the spring of 2008 many of the sheep (age 1+) became weak and developed an oedema under the jaw. Two of these animals (one died and one shot) were autopsied and the rest of the ones with symptoms were killed and buried. The autopsy findings included oedema under the jaw, paleness due to anemia and abomasitis caused by a severe parasite infection.

Potentials and economic viability of small grain residue use as a source of energy in Serbia

One of the numerous challenges awaiting Serbia in the process of European integration is the increase in use of renewable sources of energy. The reason for such an increase is not merely a formal acceptance of European goals but the high energy import dependence, a relatively developed agricultural sector, with insufficiently exploited potentials of biomass, accompanied by an ever-growing awareness of the need for establishing long-lasting sustainable development. Serbia has a relatively undeveloped livestock sector which can absorb a limited portion of the biomass produced. Additionally, insufficient awareness on the part of farmers and the preconception of the low cost-effectiveness of biomass utilisation for the purpose of energy production are factors which, unsurprisingly, contribute to the current practice of burning the largest portion of the biomass produced on site, which is economically and ecologically unacceptable. This paper analyses the amounts of biomass available in Serbia and the prospects of its economically viable utilisation. The cost analysis conducted indicates that the energy obtained from small rectangular straw bales (the most widespread way of utilisation), is less costly by 28%, than the energy obtained from coal, whereas the energy obtained from round bales is cheaper by 34%. Sensitivity analysis has shown that the results obtained are relatively resistant to price changes in the most important inputs. The sensitivity is higher towards the efficiency of the machinery used; therefore, insistent efforts should be made for creating conditions where the introduction of more up-to-date technical solutions, already existing in developed countries, will become feasible.

Effect of storing total mixed rations anaerobically in bales on feed quality

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of storing total mixed rations (TMR) as wrapped round bales on feed quality. Nine separate TMR were produced that varied in forage to concentrate ratio [40:60, 50:50, 60:40; dry matter (DM) basis] and dry matter content (600 g DM/kg, 500 g DM/kg, 400 g DM/kg). Finished TMR were baled and wrapped with three layers of 750-mm wide stretch film. Fifteen bales were prepared for each treatment and three replicates at each sampling time. Another three bales for each treatment were made for temperature monitoring. After 0, 3, 7, 15, and 30 d storage, the bales were weighed and the area of the surface covered with mould was ranked. Core samples of bales were taken using a modified boring device at the same time for quality analyses. There was little temperature response over the 30 d storage period in any of the bales monitored. Visible mould spots were only appeared on the surface of baled TMR at 30 d. Decrease of DM content took place during the storage phase of baled TMR and loss of DM decreased (P<0.05) in an inverse relationship with initial DM content. Concentrations of crude protein, ether extract, and ash showed continuous increase (P<0.05; P<0.01; P<0.001) after TMR stored using baling technology. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content exhibited a fluctuation and lignin showed increase (P<0.01; P<0.001) along with the storage time increased. The pH of baled TMR decreased (P<0.001) as stage of storage time increased. The fermentation products, e.g., ammonia nitrogen (NH 3-N), lactic acid, acetic and propionic acid, were all showed increase (P<0.001) along with the increase of storage time, and NH 3-N and volatile fatty acid concentrations were not very high at the end of storage. The baled TMR studied in this research were of relatively high nutritive value, had low proteolysis and no putrefactive fermentation occurred during the whole storage period of baled TMR. Baled TMR may be a good choice for small-scale farms to use TMR technique in their dairy production.