Intake and digestibility of big bluestem hay and baleage

• Published in: Crop science 2012-09, Vol.52 (5), p.2413-2420
• Main Authors: Burns, J.C, Fisher, D.S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Andropogon gerardii; beef; Biological and medical sciences; Body weight; diet; digestibility; Drought; Dry matter; Experiments; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grasses; harvest date; Hay; heading; humid zones; mastication; Pastures; Rain; rumination; Soil sciences; steers
• ISSN: 1435-0653; 0011-183X; 1435-0653
• DOI: 10.2135/cropsci2012.02.0123

Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi Vitman) has potential to be a source of preserved forage for the mid-Atlantic Region. This 3-yr study compares its preservation as hay, direct-cut (DC) baleage, and wilted (WT) baleage when harvested in the late-boot to heading stage. The DC baleage averaged 373 g kg(-1) dry matter (DM) and WT averaged 536 g kg(-1) DM. The DC baleage had a pH of 5.2 vs. 5.6 (P = 0.06) for the WT. Steer (Bos taurus) intakes of the DC and WT baleage were similar (1.72 kg per 100 kg body weight) and greater (P = 0.07) than intake of hay (1.52 kg per 100 kg body weight). Apparent total tract DM digestibility was greater (P = 0.03) for hay (545 g kg(-1)) than the similar (504 g kg(-1)) baleage treatments. Steers selected a diet with greater in vitro true DM disappearance (71 g kg(-1)) and not altered by preservation method. Rumination chews per day and chews per minute and total number of boluses per day were greater (P