All Resources

Silage varieties for Alberta

Description

Cattle producers grow ever increasing amounts of annual crops for feed (silage, green feed and swath grazing). Measuring those crop varieties that produce the highest forage yield becomes... More ≫

Description

Cattle producers grow ever increasing amounts of annual crops for feed (silage, green feed and swath grazing). Measuring those crop varieties that produce the highest forage yield becomes increasingly important. Silage is an integral forage source in feedlots across the province and has become more prevalent in cow herds as well. With many producers trying to lower production costs, swath grazing of cow herds has increased dramatically in the last few years. It could also be argued that there is more grain forage than cereal grain fed to take a market animal from conception to plate.

Tags

Storage of high moisture barley

Description

Grains reach maturity several days before harvest. To prevent spoilage, harvesting is normally delayed to allow the grain drying time in the field. If barley could be harvested when it reached... More ≫

Description

Grains reach maturity several days before harvest. To prevent spoilage, harvesting is normally delayed to allow the grain drying time in the field. If barley could be harvested when it reached maturity, rather than having to let it dry in the field, then harvests could be completed earlier with reduced field losses. Tough grain with a moisture content of 15.5 to 17.0 per cent when bin stored may rot. Damp grain with a moisture content greater than 17.1 per cent will rot quickly, often producing enough heat to start a fire. Spoiled grain is useless as feed since there is a risk of toxic chemical build-up during spoilage from aflatoxins, which are produced by soil micro-organisms. Aflatoxins endanger the health of both people and animals. Micro-organic contamination occurs during both the growing season and harvest when dust becomes mixed with the grain. If damp grain is to be stored successfully, you must prevent microorganic growth or kill micro-organisms before growth begins.

Tags

Silo gas (NO2) safety

Description

Silo gas is formed by the natural fermentation of chopped silage shortly after it is placed in the silo. The nitrates present in silage crops are converted to nitrites through the fermentation... More ≫

Description

Silo gas is formed by the natural fermentation of chopped silage shortly after it is placed in the silo. The nitrates present in silage crops are converted to nitrites through the fermentation process; they, in turn, react with the organic acids in the silage to form nitrous acid (HNO3). As the temperature of the silage increases during fermentation,the nitrous acid decomposes to form a mixture of oxides of nitrogen, which can include NO, NO2, nitrogen trioxide (N2O3), nitrogen tetroxide (N2O4), and other oxides in lesser amounts.

Tags

Optimizing barley silage production in Alberta

Description

From 1994 to 1996 the Agronomy Unit of Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development conducted research trials at locations across Alberta to examine new barley varieties and their nutrient... More ≫

Description

From 1994 to 1996 the Agronomy Unit of Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development conducted research trials at locations across Alberta to examine new barley varieties and their nutrient requirements. This two-page fact sheet provides a brief summary of the findings of this research.

Tags