Re: More information on haylage

["Kim Pelletier" <kim@redhorsetech.com>]

----- Original Message -----
> Happened to talk to a fellow at a wedding today who puts up haylage for
> cattle. Asked him how he controlled pH. He innoculates it with a
> particularly bacteria(um) designed for this purpose. Apparently that
> bacteria tends to push the pH down without destroying the nutritional
value
> of the product. Not sure he truly understood much more than that - but
> interesting.
>
> Duncan Fletcher
> dfletche@gte.net


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Hi Duncan,

According to the Canadian ag specialist I've been pestering (poor fella),
the bacteria added to the silage is probably _Lactobacillus plantarum_.
Also, including certain plants with a higher water soluble carbohydrate
concentration (fructans) into the haylage mix, such as many of the
cool-season ryegrasses, can also help to lower pH because of the increased
availablity of "sugars" for the fermentation process.  This is just *too*
interesting --- pickled feeds and hot coffee first thing on a Monday morning
:-> !

Kim (and Lee)

Lubbock, TX

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