livestock

Marketing Immature or Frost Damaged Corn: Livestock Feed Harvesting and Storage Alternatives for Corn Originally Intended as Dry Grain Corn

Ben RosserBen Rosser October 18, 2019 2414 Comments Off on Marketing Immature or Frost Damaged Corn: Livestock Feed Harvesting and Storage Alternatives for Corn Originally Intended as Dry Grain Corn
Corn

This article was written by James Byrne and Megan Van Schaik, OMAFRA Beef Cattle Specialists, and Ben Rosser, OMAFRA Corn Specialist. In many parts of the province, 2019 proved to be a challenging year to get crops in the ground in a timely fashion.  The impacts of spring conditions are still felt as we approach harvest and there are concerns…

Managing Forages under Dry Conditions

Christine O'Reilly September 19, 2018 1452 Comments Off on Managing Forages under Dry Conditions
Forages

Dry summer conditions in some parts of the province have farmers thinking about available forage. There are several things that can be done to help ensure you have enough feed until next spring. Take inventory Knowing the amount of forage needed to get through the year is the first step to ensuring your farm has enough. Ruminants eat approximately 2%…

Soybeans as a Forage Crop

Horst BohnerHorst Bohner September 12, 2012 2960 Comments Off on Soybeans as a Forage Crop
Forages

Compiled by Chris Brown, edited by Horst Bohner 2012 Soybeans were originally introduced to Ontario as a forage crop for cattle.  Today, the vast majority go for crush and the IP market.  Letting the crop mature and harvesting the seed is far more profitable than using it as a forage crop but in some cases forage soybeans may be an…

Potential Nitrate Poisoning and Silo Gas When Using Corn Damaged By Dry Weather For Silage, Green Chop Or Grazing

Joel BaggJoel Bagg August 15, 2012 2588 1 Comment
Forages

Extended periods of dry weather without rain can severely stress corn plants. When this occurs during tasselling and pollination, cob formation and grain yield can be significantly reduced. As the situation worsens, leaves turn brown and the plants can appear dry and “dead”.  Some farmers attempt to salvage this corn by using it as forage for livestock, either as corn…

Summer Seeding Oats For Extra Forage

Joel BaggJoel Bagg July 23, 2012 17731 4 Comments
Forages

Seeding oats in late-July or early-August following wheat for an early-October harvest can be a useful low-cost option for extending forage supplies. Oats can make good feed when harvested at the correct stage of maturity and made into “oatlage” or baleage. Oats are more frost tolerant in the fall than sorghums, and can continue growth after some frost. The challenges…