Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Major Professor Not Listed / Self-propelled forage harvesters are used to make feed for livestock. Producers prefer forage made with these machines because they are able to deliver a feed value that enables improved productivity of their animals in terms of milk production for dairy animals and weight gain for beef animals. Self-propelled forage harvesters are able to make a variety of feed from different crops, including whole-plant corn silage, earlage, and haylage, among others. The self-propelled forage harvester is a complex and expensive piece of machinery for a producer to own. The self-propelled forage harvester market in the United States is a growing market, but small when compared to other equipment such as combines. In today’s environment, productivity is crucial to the success of the agricultural producer. Self-propelled forage harvesters are no exception. Growth of the self-propelled forage harvester market is reflected in increased unit sales, total horsepower sold, and average horsepower of the selfpropelled forage harvesters sold in the United States. This study looks at changes in the number and size of self-propelled forage harvesters being purchased and what factors might be driving those changes. This study found that the amount of milk produced, the type of customer purchasing the equipment, and the average price of milk a producer received explained 81.2% of the variation in the number of self-propelled forage harvesters sold from 2000- 2014. Study results also show that the size of dairy operation, the type of customer purchasing the equipment, and the average price of milk explained 88% of the variability in total horsepower of self-propelled forage harvesters sold from 2000-2014. Finally, the size of dairy operation that a typical cow comes from, the type of customer purchasing the equipment, and the average price of corn were able to explain 98% of the variation of average horsepower of self-propelled forage harvesters over that same time period. The model and analysis will be shared with product planners from John Deere as they develop new machine specifications for self-propelled forage harvesters in the future.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / James M. Lattimer / A study was conducted in a Latin rectangle to determine the impact of stressors on immune function in yearling horses. After 51 d of supplementation with either block 1, a molasses block containing 14.30% fat or block 2, a molasses block containing 7.58% fat, horses were subjected to three forms of stress. Blood samples were collected 6 h pre-stress and at h 1, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 168 post stress. Nasopharyngeal flush (NPF) was conducted 6 h pre-stressor and h 12 and 72 post-stressor. Blood was analyzed for fatty acids, various hematological parameters, cytokines, PGE₂, and cortisol. Nasopharyngeal flush samples were analyzed for IgA. Composition of molasses blocks were found to be inconsistent with documented formulation and n-6:n-3 ratios were found to be similar between blocks. Therefore, main effect of hour was evaluated. White blood cells were elevated (P < 0.01) above baseline at subsequent sampling times and platelet count was elevated (P = 0.01) at h 1, 6, 24, 48, and 96 h post-stressor compared to baseline. Lymphocyte concentrations were reduced (P < 0.01) at h 1 compared to baseline but were elevated above baseline by h 6 (P < 0.01). Neutrophil concentrations were elevated (P < 0.01) at h 1 and 6 compared to baseline. Nasal mucosal IgA concentrations had a tendency (P < 0.07) to be greater at h 12 relative to baseline. Serum cortisol dropped to concentrations below baseline (P < 0.01) at h 1 and 6 but increased above baseline by h 12 (P < 0.01). It appears that stressors applied were sufficient to induce mild changes in several of the hematological parameters evaluated but an overall more profound effect may have been displayed if stressors were more profound or prolonged. A second experiment was conducted to evaluate fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability of whole-plant corn silage after inoculation with three different bacterial inoculants. Treatments consisted of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus buchneri (LPB), L. plantarum, L. buchneri, and Lactobacillus diolivorans (LPBD), and L. diolivorans (LD). Silages were sampled on d 0, 14, 39, and 90. Propionate was elevated in silages inoculated with LPBD on d 39 and d 90 compared to other treatments (P < 0.03). 1, 2-propanediol was elevated (P < 0.01) in silages inoculated with LPB and LPBD on d 39 and d 90 compared to CON and LD silages. An effect of sampling day (P < 0.05) was detected for DM, aNDF, ADF, ash, starch, pH, total VFA, acetate, propionate, lactate, ethanol, and 1,2-propanediol. When silages sampled on d 14, 39, and 90 were subjected to an aerobic stability test, only treatment differences were detected (P < 0.05) for lactate: acetate and 1-propanol. Sampling day differences were detected (P < 0.05) for pH, total VFA, acetate, propionate, butyrate, lactate:acetate, 1-propanol, and 1, 2-propanediol. Overall, results suggest that epiphytic microflora populations largely dominated the ensiling process as indicated by the relative similarities in silages throughout the trial.

Microbial inoculants are forage additive products that contain viable bacteria and sometimes a combination of enzymes. Bacterial inoculants are used primarily for two reasons; first to gain rapid fermentation and second to decrease or inhibit spoilage. Inoculants work by shifting the fermentation of forage crops. The shift of fermentation causes preservation of nutrients, dry matter (DM) and occasionally increases animal performance. Most inoculants contain lactic acid producing bacteria to aid in shifting fermentation to lactic acid and away from acetic acid and ethanol production; however some inoculants aid in aerobic stability enhancement by production of acetic acid.. Although most inoculants are homoermenters, two other types are heterofermentative and combination inoculants. Prior to inoculation a few things should be considered, has there been peer-reviewed research published to support claims made by the company and does the inoculant meet your overall goal (i.e. fermentation enhancement, aerobic stability enhancement etc.).

No description available.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Elizabeth Yeager / The corn silage market is typically focused heavily on the dairy market and results for corn silage plots are dedicated to the dairy industry specifically to get to the overall answer of $ Milk/Acre. The beef cattle industry is more interested in pounds of beef that can be gained from corn silage. There are roughly 6.2 million acres of corn silage in the US. Within that 6 million acres, roughly half is fed to beef cattle, but the corn silage industry has not focused on this aspect of the market. Within Mycogen Seeds there has been an ever increasing demand to find a way to deliver the corn silage plot data in a useable format for beef producers. By delivering corn silage plot data to beef producers, Mycogen has aspirations of increasing it’s market share of the corn silage market in Kansas as well as across the US, while at the same time increasing the awareness of how quality of a corn silage hybrid can affect a producers operation. This thesis examines corn silage plot info sample analysis and specific feed analysis calculations. With these specific calculations, the corn silage plot will illustrate information in a form that beef producers will understand, $ Beef Produced/Acre. At the same time, this thesis will examine the industry wide concept that tonnage is the only component that is important when selecting a corn silage hybrid. Finally this thesis will examine at what point ($/bushel) in the corn grain market does it make sense to start looking at utilizing corn silage over dry rolled corn by comparing price per MegaCalorie of energy by utilizing 25 year historical corn grain prices and using the Purdue Method of determining the cost of corn silage on a per ton basis.

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

No description available.

High-moisture ear corn (HMEC) was untreated, treated with propionic acid (PA) or inoculated with a mixture of Lactobacillus plantarum and Streptococcus faecium, and then ensiled in both tower and laboratory silos. Ensiled HMEC was evaluated for fermentation quality, silage microbiology, and aerobic stability. In control and inoculated ensiled HMEC, maximum pH reduction was observed within 7 d; such pH reduction was observed only after 21 d of ensiling with PA-treated HMEC. Irrespective of treatment, ammonia concentration increased with storage time. The lactic acid content increased up to 42 d of ensilage; between 138 d and 202 d of ensilage, there was a substantial reduction in lactic acid with all treatments. Throughout ensilage, there was no difference in water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content between control and inoculated HMEC. Secondary fermentation was minimized by both inoculation and PA treatment. Regardless of treatment, the population of lactic acid bacteria increased within 7 d of ensilage and reached a maximum at 21 d of ensilage. Populations of yeasts and moulds decreased with fermentation time up to 42 d, then increased as the ensilage progressed. Bacterial inoculation increased aerobic stability of ensiled HMEC. PA was more effective than inoculation in reducing the disappearance of lactic acid and the rise in pH. Irrespective of treatment, the population of yeasts and moulds and other microorganisms increased in aerated HMEC. Both PA treatment and bacterial inoculation reduced aerobic spoilage of ensiled HMEC. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Forage shortage may force producers to feed unfermented or partially fermented forages, which are more susceptible to aerobic deterioration. Propionic acid-based additives can be added to ensiled forages to inhibit yeast and mold growth, and improve the aerobic stability of silages. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of a propionic acid-based silage additive (Solution Foin) on ensiling characteristics, aerobic stability and feeding value of short-term ensiled corn forage. Chopped whole corn was left untreated or treated with Solution Foin (contains 700 g kg-1 propionic acid and 300 g kg-1 NH4OH). The additive was added to forage prior ensiling at a rate of 5 L ton-1 (wet basis). Treated and untreated forages were placed in six plastic silo bags (three each). Silo bags were opened one day after ensiling and daily samples were collected for 30 consecutive days. Effects on animal performance of feeding treated or untreated forage were determined in a completely randomized design, using 30 lactating cows (178+/-55 days in milk) fed total mixed ration (50:50 forage: concentrate) with the major forage portion consisting of untreated or treated forage. The feeding study started one day post-ensiling. Results showed that Solution Foin reduced (P &lt; 0.05) yeast and mold populations between d 5 and 14 post-ensiling. The highest differences (P &lt; 0.002) were observed on d 10, at which point yeast and mold populations for untreated silage were 7.86 and 2.51 log cfu g-1, respectively. The corresponding values for treated silage were 4.35 and 0.00 log cfu g-1, respectively. Aerobic stability of treated ensiled forage was also improved (P &lt; 0.01) from day 0 (by 159 h) to day 10 (by 33 h) post-ensiling. Solution Foin also increased (P &lt; 0.05) the overall lactic acid and WSC content, and lowered the temperature of the treated ensiled forage in the field. No treatment differences were detected in the forage pH and acetic acid concentration. Dairy cows fed treated forage had similar feed intake (average 23 kg d-1) and milk yield (average 29 kg d-1) to cows fed the untreated forage. It was concluded that Solution Foin can be used to improve the aerobic stability and ensiled forage characteristics of short-term corn forage, likely by reducing yeast and mold populations.

Thesis (doctoral)--Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references.