Agent-Specialist project presents at International Conference

UK Baleage Research Increases Profitability

Specialists and Agents Involved: Jimmy Henning, Jeff Lehmkuhler, Brandon Sears, Don Sorrell, Corinne Belton, Levi Berg, April Wilhoit

Round bale silage (baleage) is high moisture forage that is baled and wrapping in plastic so that it undergoes anaerobic fermentation. This practice is very beneficial to forage-livestock producers because it allows forage to be cut at more optimum stages of maturity and avoid rain damage because of shorter times needed for curing. This practice has been increasingly adopted by Kentucky producers because of UKY research and the expanding availability of bale-wrapping equipment. Analyses of the fermentation profiles of revealed that optimum silage parameters were seldom achieved. A study was begun in 2017 to better understand the factors that affected the quality and fermentation profile of Kentucky-produced baleage. Over the next 3 years, specialists and agents identified, sampled and analyzed the quality and fermentation profiles of over 100 bales. From this work and a study of the literature, the factors affecting forage fermentation were determined to mainly be due to the moisture content at baling. Doing a better job with baleage has helped one Central Kentucky producer save over $13,000 in his farm operation. Agents working the specialists created an education poster summarizing the project and entered it into a national competition. This poster was selected as a National Finalist in the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) Professional Excellence Poster Contest. Winners will be selected at the NACAA annual meeting in July 2022. In addition, this poster was accepted for presentation at the recent International Grassland Conference.