Round bale alfalfa processing method does notinfluence feeding or mixing characteristics in atotal mixed ration

摘要

Nutritionists and producers often assume that ingredients in a total mixed ration areuniformly mixed. However, many factors may affect ration homogeneity, includingparticle size, shape, and density and mixer discharge location. Forages are often groundprior to mixing in a total mixed ration to reduce variation in forage particle length.However, preprocessing forages while baling may facilitate particle length reductionand eliminate the need to grind forages prior to mixing. Objectives of this study were todetermine the effects of forage processing method on uniformity and particle length ofthe total mixed ration at different discharge locations throughout mixing.