BOTTOM LINE Thursday, October 1, 2020 SECTION E
Sharing ideas, solutions, resources and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.
Mind 2020 forage conditions LUIZ FERRARETTO
With the arrival of fall many dairies are or will soon be transitioning from 2019 to 2020 corn crops. For some dairies and corn growers the 2020 c o r n - h a r ve s t ing season was smoother than 2019. But many farmers once again faced weather-imposed challenges, including Ferraretto droughts during the growing season or snowstorms at harvest. There was also that derecho that blew down several-million acres of corn in Iowa. There are several items to consider as producers deal with complications from those weather events. Short-term fermentation: – Compared to feeding old longterm fermented crop, feeding silage from a newly opened silo after short-term fermentation is typically associated with a slight decrease in milk production due to reduced starch digestibility. Gradually incorporating short-term-fermentation silage to the diet – that which has been ensiled just 15 to 45 days – can mitigate that effect. If removal rates allow that approach
PDPW
Incorporating down corn into dairy-cow rations takes careful managing to ensure feed is free of mycotoxins and sufficient in nutrients. without affecting silage stability, feed the short-term-fermentation silage as a third of the total corn silage in the diet for three to five days. Gradually increase the short-term-fermentation silage to two-thirds of the diet and build to 100 percent. Another alternative is increasing starch levels by adding dry corn to the ration. High-chop silage – Because yields in 2020 are expected to be greater than previous years some producers opted to implement harvesting methods that target greater nutritive value at the expense of yield. High-chopping is one example. Assuming a 10-inch increase in chop height, starch
concentration is expected to be 2 percentage units greater than normal-chop silage; neutral detergent fiber can be 2.5 percentage units less. In high-chop silage corn kernels comprise a relatively greater proportion of total mass than in normal-chop silage because there’s less fibrous plant material. That provides greater energy to cows and allows for a slight reduction of dry corn in the diet, or an increased amount of forage. Another benefit is reduced lignin concentration and subsequently greater digestibility of neutral detergent fiber, which is associated with greater intake and performance. However greater in-
takes and reduced crop yields of about a half-ton per acre for each 10-inch increase of chop height make it imperative to closely monitor forage inventory. Drought-stressed silage – A primary concern of droughtstressed silage is nitrate accumulation, even though nitrate concentration is reduced during silage fermentation. Nitrate toxicity can occur if values are greater than 1.5 percent on a dry-matter basis. In addition some mycotoxins are more-prevalent during dry hot weather. Despite the potential reduction in mycotoxins with silage fermentation, it’s advised to send samples for mycotoxin analysis. If corn plants were harvested while still immature to optimize dry-down rates, expect lesser starch concentration. Also there’s a dogma that drought-stressed corn plants have increased neutral-detergent-fiber digestibility. But recent research has not confirmed that phenomenon. That impression is likely associated with earlier harvesting and not necessarily a drought-induced effect. Monitor intakes closely to avoid drops in intake. Down-corn silage – Nutritive value and hygiene of downcorn silage should be monitored closely; samples should be ana-
lyzed for mycotoxins. Corn lying down in the field is exposed to mold from the ground, which may also lead to stalk or ear rot. That increases likelihood of mold complications. Any corn silage made from down corn must be tested for toxins. Moreover stalk damage can lead to plants drying more rapidly, which decreases sugar levels and that of related nutrients. Ear damage can also occur leading to ear rot, kernel loss and even the loss of entire ears. That can dramatically decrease starch concentration. The recent corn-silage season brought myriad scenarios to consider. The best approach is to analyze samples for nutrients, digestibility, nitrates and mycotoxins, depending on which scenarios were experienced. Most importantly if corn silage has mycotoxins or increased levels of nitrate, take action to detoxify the silage. Add a mycotoxin-binding agent to the diet or adopt feeding strategies that dilute the amount fed with non-contaminated feed. Luiz Ferraretto is an assistant professor in the department of animal and dairy sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a ruminant-nutrition specialist for UW-Division of Extension. Email ferraretto@wisc.edu to contact him.
TO YOUR HEALTH
Follow safety protocols like an Indy-car driver B
00 1
ack in my college days in Indiana, I worked on an agricultural-engineering research project investigating more than 4,000 farm-machinery fires in several states. My goal was to develop recommendations to help farm-equipment designers and farmers prevent, rapidly JOHN detect and SHUTSKE extinguish fires to minimize loss. It was a super-cool project. A few months into it I was encouraged to explore the “behind-the-scenes” events at the Indy 500 intended to improve safety. I wanted to see how Indy teams design safety equipment to rapidly detect and extinguish fires, allowing the driver to escape without injury. Wow did I ever learn a lot! I discovered important fire recommendations and learned a lot about other safety concerns – and the importance of preparation, maintenance and teamwork. An Indy-car driver races around the track at more than 200 miles an hour, but the work farmers do during harvest season is more complex – and probably more dangerous. A 500-mile race takes a few hours and great skill, but is a fairly single-minded task. Working through the crunch time of harvest can take a couple of months, particularly for those who have smaller equipment and do all their own work. Both racing and farming require careful planning. Certain tasks are critical to ensure a safe efficient season. Repair or replace worn or damaged parts such as shields, guards and safety devices. Shut off the engine and wait for all parts to stop moving before making repairs. Properly secure and stabilize equipment before making repairs. Review the operator’s manual. Follow recommended schedules for lubrication, oil changes and adjustments.
Encourage all equipment operators to enter the local fire department’s phone number on their devices. Efficient pit stops take teamwork. Similarly managing a big or small farm through a long harvest season takes a committed team working together with careful planning and communication. Spend an hour or more weekly to map out what team members expect to happen in the coming week. Consider the weather forecast to adjust, plan and schedule tasks to make best use of the 168 hours available in the coming week. Remember to reserve adequate time for sleep, family and school activities. Discuss ways other team and family members can work together for more efficiency
in the operation. At the Indy 500 I learned there’s one main fire hazard on race cars – burning engine fuel. On farm equipment during harvest there are several fire hazards. They include dry leaves, chaff and dust from crops as well as diesel fuel, motor oil, hydraulic fluid and gasoline. Keep all areas of the machine clean, particularly the engine compartment. Clean it daily if necessary. Find and repair any source of liquid leaks. Replace any bearing, belt or electrical component that’s worn or damaged; don’t wait to replace it when it fails catastrophically. Most large self-propelled machines such as combines and forage harvesters should be equipped with two 10-pound ABC dry-chem-
PDPW
Indy 500 race-car drivers know the main fire hazard is burning engine fuel. On harvestseason farm equipment there are several fire hazards – from dry-plant-material sources as well as wet-fuel and fluid sources. ical fire extinguishers. One should be mounted so it’s accessible from the ground. If a fire occurs drive away from the standing crop. Then call for assistance from the local fire department; have that number entered in phones for quick access. Shut off the engine and approach the fire with extreme
caution before using the extinguisher. Consult with a farm insurer for more advice on protecting other equipment, buildings and facilities from fire. In the upper Midwest we have our own race to run. It can be exciting to finish all the harvest work and bring crops out of the field before the first snow flies. Just like
race-car driving there are safety risks. But they can be managed through thoughtful planning, team work and actions to keep everyone on the farm safe. John Shutske is a professor and University of Wisconsin-Division of Extension specialist. Email john.shutske@ wisc.edu to contact him.
It’s all about the cow! Her comfort is our passion It’s that time of year when the international dairy community comes together in Madison. We will miss the energy and excitement of the World Dairy Expo this year, the buzz in the barns, the competition and emotion in the arena, seeing amazing cows, hearing new innovations, talking with producers, renewing friendships with colleagues and customers, sharing fellowship and ideas. We wish our amazing customers all the best continuing traditions, forging new ones, pursuing excellence while navigating uncertainty, setting goals and working hard to achieve them, investing in future generations and supporting communities in need, looking for ways to compete, challenge and encourage each other, sharing a passion to care for and celebrate the amazing dairy cow. We are proud to be part of the dairy industry. Thank you for making Udder ComfortTM part of the journey. journey. It really is all about the cow! Her comfort is our passion. 1.888.773.7153 uddercomfort.com @uddercomfort