Haylage is hay that has been chopped at harvest before being ensiled in storage. It is harvested at a higher moisture than dry hay, meaning it has not been left to dry in the sun for a long period of time. Haylage is a major component of a TMR diet and is easily fermented by rumen microbes because fermentation of the feed has already started during storage. As a fermented feed, haylage is stored at 40-60% moisture. The environment haylage is stored in must be anaerobic to prevent spoilage and capable of maintaining required moisture levels. Photo below shows haylage in a bunk silo.
Analysis of nutrient content of different types of haylage:
|
Legume Haylage – 1st cut |
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|
Measure |
Mean |
Margin of Error (St. Dev x2) |
Range (+/- St. Dev) |
|
Moisture, % |
54.93 |
23.22 |
43.32 – 66.54 |
|
CP, % |
17.25 |
5.66 |
14.42 – 20.08 |
|
ADF, % |
33.46 |
8.06 |
29.43 – 37.49 |
|
NDF, % |
47.88 |
13.90 |
40.93 – 54.83 |
|
Calcium, % |
1.07 |
0.58 |
0.78 – 1.36 |
|
Phosphorus, % |
0.29 |
0.08 |
0.25 – 0.33 |
|
Magnesium, % |
0.23 |
0.10 |
0.18 – 0.28 |
|
Potassium, % |
2.51 |
0.90 |
2.06 – 2.96 |
|
Starch, % |
1.13 |
2.18 |
0.04 – 2.22 |
|
Energy |
Approximately 2.55 Mcal/kg Digestible Energy |
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|
Grass Haylage – 1st cut |
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|
Measure |
Mean |
Margin of Error (St. Dev x2) |
Range (+/- St. Dev) |
|
Moisture, % |
58.8 |
24.14 |
46.73 – 70.87 |
|
CP, % |
14.9 |
6.00 |
11.90 – 7.90 |
|
ADF, % |
34.57 |
9.28 |
29.93 – 39.21 |
|
NDF, % |
53.39 |
14.32 |
46.23 – 60.55 |
|
Calcium, % |
0.59 |
0.44 |
0.37 – 0.81 |
|
Phosphorus, % |
0.30 |
0.10 |
0.25 – 0.35 |
|
Magnesium, % |
0.20 |
0.14 |
0.13 – 0.27 |
|
Potassium, % |
2.93 |
1.40 |
2.23 – 3.63 |
|
Starch, % |
1.70 |
0.56 |
1.42 – 1.98 |
|
Energy |
Approximately 2.75 Mcal/kg Digestible Energy |
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|
Mixed Legume Haylage – 2nd cut |
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|
Measure |
Mean |
Margin of Error (St. Dev x2) |
Range (+/- St. Dev) |
|
Moisture, % |
52.85 |
22.78 |
41.46 – 64.24 |
|
CP, % |
19.25 |
5.20 |
16.65 – 21.85 |
|
ADF, % |
32.71 |
7.36 |
29.03 – 36.39 |
|
NDF, % |
45.75 |
11.56 |
39.97 – 51.53 |
|
Calcium, % |
1.26 |
0.62 |
0.95 – 1.57 |
|
Phosphorus, % |
0.31 |
0.10 |
0.26 – 0.36 |
|
Magnesium, % |
0.26 |
0.12 |
0.20 – 0.32 |
|
Potassium, % |
2.52 |
1.08 |
1.98 – 3.06 |
|
Starch, % |
1.81 |
0.50 |
1.56 – 2.06 |
|
Energy |
Approximately 2.39 Mcal/kg Digestible Energy |
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|
Grass Haylage – 2nd cut |
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|
Measure |
Mean |
Margin of Error (St. Dev x2) |
Range (+/- St. Dev) |
|
Moisture, % |
51.37 |
26.90 |
37.92 – 64.82 |
|
CP, % |
16.40 |
5.22 |
13.79 – 19.01 |
|
ADF, % |
31.92 |
6.54 |
28.65 – 35.19 |
|
NDF, % |
50.71 |
9.98 |
45.72 – 55.70 |
|
Calcium, % |
0.71 |
0.52 |
0.45 – 0.97 |
|
Phosphorus, % |
0.36 |
0.12 |
0.30 – 0.42 |
|
Magnesium, % |
0.26 |
0.16 |
0.18 – 0.34 |
|
Potassium, % |
3.22 |
1.34 |
2.55 – 3.89 |
|
Starch, % |
1.85 |
0.66 |
1.52 – 2.18 |
|
Energy |
Approximately 2.40 Mcal/kg Digestible Energy |
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References:
Agrifood Labs Forage Summary 2013
Agrifood Labs Forage Summary 2014
Nutrition and Management, Alberta Department of Agriculture and Forestry
Nutrient Composition of Feeds, University of Madison Wisconsin