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Determining the nutritional and economic impact of feed waste when wintering beef cows in central Alberta

Two experiments measured winter feed waste when cows were fed forage on snow. In the first experiment, feed waste was different (P<0.01) when alfalfa meadow brome mixed hay was fed by bale unroller or bale processor; waste was12.9% vs.19.2%, protein losses were 23.3% and 21.5% respectfully. Feed waste, nutrient replacement and additional equipment costs increased winter feeding costs by $52.50 and $56.25 per head respectfully for a 175 day feeding period. Hay processed into portable bunk feeders, experienced 0% feed waste. In the second experiment, feed waste when barley cereal silage fed either as high moisture round bale silage or chopped pit silage was fed on snow was not different (P>0.05) at 23.2% and 26.8% respectfully. When chopped barley cereal silage or high moisture round bale silage was fed into bunks, feed waste was 0%. Protein losses were 27.1% and 24.2% for the pit and round bale silage. Feed waste, nutrient replacement and additional equipment costs increased winter feeding costs by $164.50 for pit silage and $126.00 for bale silage over a 175 day feeding period. / Animal Science

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:AEU.10048/805
Date11 1900
CreatorsYaremcio, Barry
ContributorsOkine, Erasmus (Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science), Oba, Masahito (Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science), Goonewardene, Laksiri (Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development), McCartney, Duane (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada), Lardner, Bart (Department of Animal Science, University of Saskatchewan)
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Format11650304 bytes, application/pdf

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