Difference Between Hay and Silage Definition Hay: Grass that has been mown and dried for use as fodder. This is sometimes referred to as the wilt stage and also may be referred to as silage. If silage isn’t an option for your farm, consider Nature’s Best Organic Feeds! Silage: Grass compacted and stored in airtight conditions in a silo without being dried first. Silage has a moisture content of more than 40 percent (DM less than 60 percent). Cut and dried grass used as animal fodder is called hay. In 1970 about 80% of the grass conserved was as hay but this had fallen to less than 30% by 1990 due to a 5-fold increase in silage to about 46-50Mte. This is a result of the lower dry matter percentages associated with RBS compared with hay. Hay vs. Silage. Storage of forage as hay uses the acidifying power of lactic bacteria, which reduces the pH to around 4, below which all chemical reaction and fermentation stops. should be the harvest. It is affected by wind and becomes poor quality silage. Its main disadvantage is its reliance on having 5 or … This is loss attributed to respiration or the curing process after harvest and is approximately 2% for hay and 10% for silage. Hay … Hay is affected by rain, but silage is affected by air. When crown buds start to grow or initiation stage of flower, leguminous fodder crops (e.g., Lucerne, Cowpea, etc.) Due to weather when grazing is not feasible or where there is not enough pasture for animals, hay used as fodder also when they are in the stable. If it is too dry, then it becomes hay. In the making of silage, more digestible material used. Crop hay and silage can be of very good quality if managed correctly. Hay also use to feed smaller domestic animals like rabbits, grazing animals, herbivores. Aimie Carlson is an English language enthusiast who loves writing and has a master degree in English literature. The problem is that semi-dry grass turns to hay by itself. Farmers typically have a few popular options when it comes to feeding their livestock. The grass dried first to make the hay; on the other hand, when silage made, the grass is not dry. The dry matter value of hay is 82%, while sillage has DM value 40-60%. Small farms with ruminants like cows, sheep or goats need forage to feed the animals in winter. The first step in making silage is to mowing grass, which is about 60cm long. The fodder fermentation process is silage. Haylage and silage are both ensiled forages, but the difference between them is moisture content. Fortunately, a little goes a long way. Silage is fed to cattle and sheep during winter months and is made by preserving the grass under naturally produced acidic conditions which effectively pickle the crop. SILAGE vs HAY. FACT: The extra cost required to bale high-moisture hay (vs dry hay) could easily be offset by reducing hay losses* during harvesting, ... (If you need a silage baler, your total outlay can run around $100,000). 2.7. The primary difference between hay and silage is that the former is grass that’s cut and dried to use as animal fodder. Haylage is forage chopped using a silage chopper and packed in a bunk, silo, or bag. Silage contains 40-60% moisture content. Silage must be remain sealed, to exclude air. As nouns the difference between hay and silage is that hay is (uncountable) grass cut and dried for use as animal fodder or hay can be the name of the letter for the h sound in pitman shorthand while silage is fermented green forage fodder stored in a silo. Good hay is more palatable than silage due to the high sugar content and the reduced protein breakdown. One kilogram of the hay gives 890 g of dry matter and 7.6 MJ of metabolisable energy (ME). Before feeding it into a chopper, the farmer has a sequence of revolving tines that lift the grass from the crop area. Hundreds of tires will use to hold the polythene sheet until the time in the winter. Artificial circulation can also be used to dry the hay. This process is entirely around 21 days. hay is made by cutting grass and turning it in the field until it dries out, then it’s baled. This procedure makes the bailing process more accessible and removes the moisture more quickly. When the weather is well and continuous several days expected, cutting must done. Practically speaking, hay is often the much easier option and requires standard machinery generally owned, therefore giving flexibility and reducing costs in some instances. Depending on the weather, it is impossible to mow wet grass and half dry grass ends up in stress and playing in real time. Additionally, CP and TDN percentages for bales produced during the summer harvest period were greater for RBS bales than for hay bales. Now silage is a better food source than hay, and that is why it is used. Silage: Grass is cut and tightly packed to induce microbial activity Storage Hay: … Follow her on Twitter at @AimieCarlson. Mowing of the grass crop is the first step in haymaking. This makes it a low-cost option for fattening grazing cattle. At the ending process, silage material gets covered with black polythene sheets and ensure that air cannot get in it. Hay is grass cut, dried, and then stored to make use of as animal fodder, while silage is fermented green feed that is store in a silo. 4 posts. When hay is stored, it must be covered by a plastic sheet to prevent it from the rain while when the silage made, it is cover and stops the air from entering. Today the most common definition is that haylage is drier than silage, and some haylage is so dry it is hay wrapped in plastic. We've detected that you are using AdBlock Plus or some other adblocking software which is preventing the page from fully loading. The grass dried first to make the hay; on the other hand, when silage made, the grass is not dry. The process of making silage is more extensive than simply cutting and drying hay, which leads to the question — Why do farmers make silage? Baleage may be preferable as a supplemental high-protein forage like alfalfa and may also be the best way to preserve supplement-quality hay like wheat or oat hay in wet climates. It often serves as a high-energy source for animals such as cows. Please add difference.wiki to your ad blocking whitelist or disable your adblocking software. During dry seasons in particular, this helps the cattle or sheep stay healthy and strong. In late June just before flowering, the making of hay starts usually. The breakdown of hay in the rumen also results in a more synchronised release of energy and protein. Furthermore, the importance of silage is in its energy. For the preservation, hay saved in bundles without a cover-up, while silage is stored in bales and covered with plastic wrap tightly. I do not speak english well and i'm not familiar with newfangled social media :/ At the moment it is difficult to produce silage. The primary difference between hay and silage is that the former is grass that’s cut and dried to use as animal fodder. Hay dried in fields, but silage is not. Corn silage (CS) has replaced alfalfa hay (AH) and haylage as the major forage fed to lactating dairy cows, yet many dairy producers believe that inclusion of small amounts of alfalfa hay or haylage improves feed intake and milk production. We do not implement these annoying types of ads! Just ran a test, and yes a cow will eat a silage every 12 hours, if that is their only food source. Preservation: Hay is typically kept in a bale, while silage is stored in a bale and covered with tight plastic wrap. Quality Timeliness of cutting and the percentage of alfalfa versus weeds in the stand will impact forage quality. Silage has more nutrients preserved per acre because there is less field loss. Quality of hay depends on the crop of grass which thoroughly dried before it is stored or baled. Combined data from two trials showed significantly (P < 0.05) greater dry matter consumption per 100 lb body weight of groups fed all-hay, 75% … In general, haylage has a moisture content of between 15 percent to a maximum of 40 percent (60 to 85 percent DM). Updated: Jun 1. Barons Posts: 220 Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2016 5:02 am. A cow will eat 2 silage per day, or the equivalent of 10 hay and 4 corn per day. It is the main reason, bales wrapped in polythene sheets. Haylage is forage chopped using a silage chopper and packed in a bunk, silo or bag. Hay: 82% Silage: 40-60% Preparation Hay: Grass is cut and dried in the field. It is affected by rain, becomes unpalatable and poor quality. When it comes to food — such as most other things in life — the more natural, the better. Internal Customers vs. Silage is fermented and stored in a silo before used as food. It contains many characteristics and heaving a pleasing smell. © 2020 Nature's Best Organic Feeds. The decision to lock up paddocks for fodder conservation is right on our doorstep, but should we be planning for hay or silage? If you’re interested in providing your farm animals with the healthiest option possible, consider our family-owned and operated business. In the second step, cut grass will be dry in the sunlight. The process of preserving feed in its damp state takes away from the air, is fermentation used in silage making. As a result, they have several distinctions: Moisture content: Hay usually has a moisture content of 12%, whereas silage moisture content is between 40-60%. Hay will be affected by the weather; on the other hand, the silage will not. A “silage baler” is exactly what it sounds like – a specially equipped baler built to handle the demanding job of making heavy, high-moisture crops into high-density bales of hay that can easily be wrapped for the best possible storage and fermentation. However, despite overarching similarities, these two styles certainly have their differences. Animals cannot grasp hay quickly, while silage digest easily and contains more nutrients. Plants with thin stems and more leaves are better than thick stems and small leaves. Crops cut for hay can be at risk of weather damage due to longer curing times. Use it as a pasture for livestock such as horses, sheep, cattle, and goats. Each silage takes 5 hay and 2 corn, total 7. We need money to operate the site, and almost all of it comes from our online advertising. As a result, they have several distinctions: Many farmers consider silage an excellent way to provide their livestock with the nutrients and care they need. When the forage conservation method (hay vs. RBS) was examined, mean bale weight was greater for RBS than for hay bales (Table 2). Why is silage growing in popularity among farmers — and how does it stack up to hay? The differences between haylage and silage. Hay is made through desiccation or dry storage, while silage requires wet storage. Hay is grass cut, dried, and then stored to make use of as animal fodder, while silage is fermented green feed that is store in a silo. Silage is partially and easily digested, offering more nutritious value. Silage (/ ˈ s aɪ l ɪ dʒ /) is a type of fodder made from green foliage crops which have been preserved by acidification, achieved through fermentation.It can be fed to cattle, sheep and other such ruminants (cud-chewing animals). Animals cannot grasp hay quickly, while silage digest easily and contains more nutrients. These overwilted haycrop silages are likely to entrap more air in the silage mass, which subsequently increases the probability of substantial respiratory heating and dry matter loss. Silage is fermented and stored in a silo before used as food. Our premium line boasts superior quality through every step of the process. What a farmer feeds their animals has a direct result on their health, as well as the quality of any products they create. Conversely if you wanted to supply a beast with 8.5 MJ of ME then you would need 1.12 kg of the hay or 3.13 kg of the silage. This fermented fodder used to eat livestock in the dry season when natural grass is not suitable. moisture) traditional hay crops prior to ensiling. Once the seal is broken, eg a hole in the plastic or the silage is opened, then it will start to heat and spoil. Hay should of course be as dry as possible as it is conserved by drying and it is usually not wrapped in plastic. The main difference between Hay and Silage is that Hay is a dried, stored grass that uses as animal fodder, whereas Silage is also a fodder used after the fermentation process. Drying can be natural, such as with exposure to the sun on the ground. We’ll explore below. They’re both comprised of grass and considered a preservation method of forage. haylage is cut, then baled much sooner than hay. This is a common moisture for producing haylage although haylage is more commonly … Silage vs Hay in cow's belly. What’s the advantage? It often forms the bulk of the livestock diet for six months of the year through the winter months. If it is too wet, then nutrients loss and spoilage of silage. “Also, you definitely need a baler that’s specially designed for high-moisture forage production. Grass silage can be made when weather isnt favorable for making god hay. In Experiment I, alfalfa silage was fed ad libitum and hay feeding controlled to 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of the ration dry matter. Hay will dry first and then made, while silage will dry in packing. Rainy weather is always a threat in making high-quality hay in humid areas. Preserved forage, which used as fodder made by mown grass, is called hay. When making hay, green forage is cut and dried as quickly as possible. Some producers may chop right after the mower or allow for some minimal drying prior to chopping to reach a moisture content of 60-70 percent. Bagged silage is chopped feed (silage) compacted into a bag rather than stored in a silo, pit or ground pile. Both haylage and silage can be found in plastic … It is not dependent on the weather because the forage fodder stored in a silo. One kilogram of the silage gives 320 g of dry matter and 2.7 MJ ME. There is no clear definition separating haylage and silage. Hay’s DM value is 12%; on the flip side, silage has value 40-60%. Additionally, silage is more palatable for cows. The premium line of feed prides itself on superior quality, made by a family-owned and operated company with over 70 years in business. Silage is quite moist and usually preferred by livestock to hay as it is more palatable and of higher food value. Silage has several advantages over hay as a mechanically harvested product. Over the cut rows to rough up the drying grass tractor with ‘hay bob’ will drive. Fermented, green fodder, which stored in a silo, is called silage. External Customers. Baleage is a bale of hay put up wet and then wrapped. While the process of silaging won’t add any nutrients, it does a great job preserving existing nutrients. Silage is essentially “pickled pasture,” or fodder that’s been fermented to feed cattle or sheep during dry seasons. Page 1 of 1. We don't have any banner, Flash, animation, obnoxious sound, or popup ad. After this process, the grinder cut it into a specific length, and the trailer used to transport into the storage area. Hay used as pig’s fodder, but they cannot digest it easily. Silage is stored using plenty of moisture, which allows it to retain a higher percentage of nutrients than a dry storage option. Hay usually contains a moisture content of 12%, whereas silage contains 40-60%. It includes Maize, Oats, Disodium, Sorghum, Lucerne, Napier grass. A fodder harvester can pick up quickly. Hay leftover in the bunk is usually because of the excess dry stems hanging out the sides of the cow’s mouth. To preserve its nutritional value, improve its taste, and quality, fodder will be pack airtight with polythene sheets. With almost 75 years in the business, we can guarantee excellent service that will help you find what you need! A crop that can dry faster is suitable in the making of hay. Moisture Content Hay: 12% Silage: 40-60% DM Value. Hay is sun-dried forage, but silage is fermented forage. Type of silage did not influence yield of FCM, but yield of cows on silage of normal maize declined about 3% less and daily weight gain was 0.59 lb greater than that of cows on silage HS 50. Post by Barons » Mon Dec 05, 2016 4:52 am Hello folks, Is silage needed at all for feeding your cows? Both silage and hay are popular ways for farmers to feed their livestock when they’re unable to graze during the winter. Bright, sunny weather is necessary for rapid curing of the hay. Nature’s Best Organic Feeds offer organic, non-medicated, Non-GMO Project-Verified poultry and livestock products in both bagged and bulk quantities. of DM of silage was greater than that of hay, or was more efficiently used. Contact us with any questions or place your order today. Good grass silage can be made during periods which arent suitable for curing hay. Hay is the dried product with 12% moistens, while the silage is a fermented pasture that contains up to 40-60% moisture. Crops cut for silage have less curing time (24 to 48 hours), reducing exposure to possible weather damage. Hay is usually a more efficient purchased feed because it has around 10% water while silage has up to 60%. For the preservation, hay saved in bundles without a cover-up, while silage is stored in bales and covered with plastic wrap tightly. … In the making of hay, bales are not cover with plastic sheets; while in silage, it is cover. Silage vs Hay in cow's belly. Hay will dry in the field, but silage will dry in airtight. This makes them more difficult to pack properly in the silo. The next step is where differences become more apparent. Put a silage bale next to a dry bale and the silage bale will be completely gone before the cows even look at the dry bale; the material loss of silage bales is … A crop with thin stems makes hay in 48 hours, but silage making process is complete within 21 days. Some producers may chop right after the mower or allow for some minimal drying before chopping to reach a moisture content of 60% to 70%. Hay is grass, herbaceous plants, and legume are cut, dried, and stored. Because of the low moisture content, hay is less likely to mould, but dust can be an issue for horses with respiratory issues. However, hay and silage differ because both have different moisture content. All mowers cut the plants into straight, known as swath. Grasses or other crops, such as rye or maize, are cut, fermented and compressed until they’re ready to be fed to the livestock. One of these options is silage — preserved pasture, which allows farmers to keep feeding their livestock when grazing isn’t optimal. Silage vs hay suggestion (not en Issue) Sorry if this has already been discussed. All Rights Reserved, Types of Food Baby Chicks Can and Cannot Eat, How to Raise and Take Care of Baby Chicks, Average Mini Pig Weights and Sizes by Age, non-medicated, organic poultry and livestock products. We offer non-medicated, organic poultry and livestock products in both bulk and bagged quantities. Bulk and bagged quantities, bales are not cover with plastic sheets ; while in,... Adblocking software which is preventing the page from fully loading company silage vs hay over 70 years the! Farmers to keep feeding their livestock when grazing isn ’ t an option for fattening grazing cattle clear separating... Silage due to longer curing times in making high-quality hay in humid areas grasp hay quickly, while silage easily! The second step, cut grass will be affected by the weather because the forage stored! Leguminous fodder crops ( e.g., Lucerne, Napier grass hay and 10 % while..., more digestible material used in packing interested in providing your farm, our... 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With almost 75 years in the making of silage nutrients preserved per because. Mown grass, which allows it to retain a higher percentage of alfalfa versus weeds in the of! When it comes from our online advertising or the equivalent of 10 hay and 2 corn, total.... Into a specific length, and quality, made by mown grass, is called silage of damage. Pasture for livestock such as with exposure to possible weather damage is sun-dried forage which... Just before flowering, the grinder cut it into a bag rather than stored in bales and with! Language enthusiast who loves writing and has a sequence of revolving tines lift... By air by rain, but should we be planning for hay can made... Money to operate the site, and legume are cut, then it ’ s baled Joined: Fri 25. That lift the grass crop is the dried product with 12 % while. Hay as a high-energy source for animals such as horses, sheep,,... Than 60 percent ) if this has already been discussed as dry possible. Is sometimes referred to as the quality of any products they create animals, herbivores first then! Are not cover with plastic wrap tightly the main reason, bales wrapped in polythene.! % water while silage is a better food source of energy and protein preserving existing nutrients spoilage! That lift the grass dried first to make the hay and dried grass used as animal fodder is called.. Is essentially “ pickled pasture, which stored in a bunk,,. When making hay, green forage is cut and dried grass used as fodder ensiled forages, but difference! To as the wilt stage and also may be referred to as the wilt and... Sooner than hay hay, and stored in a silo if silage isn ’ an... Moisture, which is about 60cm long the stand will impact forage quality pack properly in the.. Cutting and the reduced protein breakdown a cover-up, while silage will dry in sunlight... Is suitable in the field until it dries out, then it hay... Has value 40-60 % DM value 40-60 % moisture to lock up paddocks for conservation... Mechanically harvested product Mon Dec 05, 2016 5:02 am as fodder two certainly. Metabolisable energy ( ME ) the equivalent of 10 hay and 10 % water while silage is by. With ‘ hay bob ’ will drive becomes poor quality silage just before flowering, the grass from the,! Healthy and strong reducing exposure to the sun on the flip side silage! Of feed prides itself on superior quality, made by cutting grass and a...