Tedding research

[Sid]

In the dairying magazine I was reading about the research done on tedding

Grass cut and left took 20hrs to get to 30% DM
Grass cut and ted right behind the mower only took 5 hrs to get to 30%DM

Therefore conserving more of the nutrients.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

All depends on the weather though ,but after 24 hours whatever you do you are losing feed value

 

[Dry Rot]

Isn't that the theory behind the mower conditioner? But I suspect the difference probably isn't that great in the sunny Highlands.

 

[Sid]

Plant stoma close within 6 hours of cutting.

Time is key.

Isn't that the theory behind the mower conditioner? But I suspect the difference probably isn't that great in the sunny Highlands.

According to the research it is

 

[Agrivator]

All depends on the weather though ,but after 24 hours whatever you do you are losing feed value

Of course it does, but it doesn't lose as much feed value as leaving it until its standing hay.

And Davis Leaver - Dairy Research Inst., Wye College, SAC, and Cirencester? Principal, reckons that silage made from late Autumn sappy wet grass, has a higher feed value than the original grass. But only if its not over-rolled in the pit.

 

[organicguy]

Which is why I have a mower which spreads full width rather than in rows and then tedd it out.
I think the type of conditioner is irrelevant, the degree of spread crucial.

 

[nails]

Where i used to work on a dairy they cut with mower conditioner and picked up next day in good sunny weather. Two foragers running and a whole gang of assorted trailers. They then gave the job to a contractor who cut tedded , raked, and picked up and their silage was never as good as the previous system .
I do all my round bales behind a Mo Co, never ted it.

 

[cattleman123]

All depends on the weather though ,but after 24 hours whatever you do you are losing feed value

My bullocks have been on round bale silage this winter...but i can honestly say they looked a lot better last year when fed on Hay from the same pasture...how does drying it lose feed value?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

My bullocks have been on round bale silage this winter...but i can honestly say they looked a lot better last year when fed on Hay from the same pasture...how does drying it lose feed value?

As soon as grass is cut, proteins start breaking down while sugars are converted to carbon dioxide and water by respiration. This decreases the proportion of digestible material going into the clamp.”
target dry matter content should be about 30%, but even if conditions are not ideal, there is little to be gained by leaving cut grass in the field for longer.

 

[Bury the Trash]

My bullocks have been on round bale silage this winter...but i can honestly say they looked a lot better last year when fed on Hay from the same pasture...how does drying it lose feed value?

Beyond Respiration losses ( which silage suffers from as well as in the point the op makes ) it will be leaf loss, as when the leaves dry they get more and more brittle and broken and consequently get left behind in the field when tedding raking and baling , which is such a loss of the best bits especially with younger grass and clover leaves.

 

[Henarar]

My bullocks have been on round bale silage this winter...but i can honestly say they looked a lot better last year when fed on Hay from the same pasture...how does drying it lose feed value?

feed value isn't everything

 

[Sid]

Where i used to work on a dairy they cut with mower conditioner and picked up next day in good sunny weather. Two foragers running and a whole gang of assorted trailers. They then gave the job to a contractor who cut tedded , raked, and picked up and their silage was never as good as the previous system .
I do all my round bales behind a Mo Co, never ted it.

In what way not so good?

Only way you can really compare is in side by side trials not different years tbh

 

[Chae1]

Beyond Respiration losses ( which silage suffers from as well as in the point the op makes ) it will be leaf loss, as when the leaves dry they get more and more brittle and broken and consequently get left behind in the field when tedding raking and baling , which is such a loss of the best bits especially with younger grass and clover leaves.

Not if you use a fancy belt swather!

Wonder if anyone has analysed difference in silage gathered with a belt type swather and a rake.