HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Beardsley, D. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Beardsley, D. W.

Symposium on Forage Utilization: Nutritive Value of Forage as Affected by Physical Form. Part II. Beef Cattle and Sheep Studies¹

Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton

Abstract

Conclusions:

1. The value of a forage to an anilmal is influenced by the physical form in which it is fed.
   
2. Measured in terms of animal performance, long or chopped hay can be improved by grinding and pelleting. Much of this improvement appears to be due to grinding.
   
3. By grinding and pelleting an ordinary quality forage, feed intake may be increased by as much as 25%, daily gain by 100% and feed efficiency by 35%.
   
4. The digestibility of individual nutrients in forages may be altered slightly by changing the physical form but the net effect is small. Grinding and pelleting a forage reduces the digestibility of the crude fiber.
   
5. Harvesting forage and feeding as soilage, silage or hay may increase animal gain or production per acre, but not per animal.
   
6. Various factors, such as stage of maturity, weather conditions, equipment used, and storage facilities, attending the process often have more influence on the feeding value of a forage than the particular method of harvesting and storing used.
   

¹ Presented at a Joint Session of the Animal Science, Dairy and Agronomy Sections at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Southern Agricultural Workers, Jacksonville, Florida, February 5, 1962.