Cornstalk round bale processing method doesnot influence feeding characteristics or feedrefusals

摘要

Nutritionists and producers often assume that ingredients in a total mixed ration areuniformly mixed. However, many factors can affect ration homogeneity, includingparticle size, particle shape, differences in density of feed ingredients, and relative pointat which the mixture is discharged from a mixer batch. Forages often are ground priorto mixing in a total mixed ration to reduce variation in forage particle length. Preprocessingforages during baling may facilitate particle length reduction, eliminating theneed to grind forages prior to mixing. The objectives of this study were to determinethe effects of forage processing on (1) uniformity of the ration discharged from themixer at different points, (2) particle length throughout the mixing process by baletype, and (3) difference in feed refusals of mixed rations based on forages processed bydifferent methods.