Ammoniation can rescue moist feed stocks threatened by mould and
bacteria.
Injecting anhydrous ammonia into low quality feed stocks is not a new
idea. Drought and hay shortages in the early 1980s forced many cattle
producers to ammoniate a variety of feed stocks. Many ranchers are
again considering ammonia injection to get their cows through the
winter.
The process, developed by livestock producers in Scandinavian
countries, has two important benefits, according to Manitoba
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The main benefit in a year like this is to safely preserve feed stocks
at higher moisture levels. It prevents overheating and spoilage because
anhydrous ammonia destroys bacteria and moulds.
It maintains plant nutrients longer and feed is more palatable to cows.
Digestibility, measured as total digestible nutrients, increases by 10
to 15 percent.
Feeding trials conducted at Agriculture Canada’s research centres at
Melfort and Swift Current in Saskatchewan, and by Manitoba Agriculture
all conclude that forage intake increases after ammoniation.
The other benefit is that ammonia contains nitrogen, which increases
crude protein content. Feed value increases because the poorly digested
lignin component in mature forages is broken down more easily.
Lyle McNichol, livestock specialist with Manitoba Agriculture in
Dauphin, Man.,worked on ammoniation trials and on-farm demonstrations
in the 1980s. He said that with renewed interest in ammoniation, there
will likely be more demonstrations this fall to bring producers up to
date on the procedure.
McNichol said the advantages of ammoniating low quality feed have
already been proven. Today, it’s a question of economics. He said
anhydrous ammonia is costly and a producer might waste his money if the
procedure is not done correctly.
“You lose the effect of the anhydrous ammonia if the bales aren’t
wrapped tightly,” said McNichol.
“We’ve recently heard about fertilizer dealers going around with an
anhydrous truck and a probe injecting bales. They pull up and give it a
blast at a cost to the producer of $15 per bale. But they don’t wrap
the bales, so where does all that ammonia go?
“All the research points out that the bales must be airtight in order
to gain the benefits. Even the hole you punch for the probe must be
sealed tight as soon as you pull the probe out.”
McNichol said one exception to the rule might be high moisture sprouted
grain that has been written off and can be turned into feed if it can
be preserved.
“If you can get in there to roll it up and bale the stuff, it makes
good feed. But of course, the moisture level will be too high for safe
storage. Ammoniating is a good way to prevent it from going bad. In a
case like that, you might get by without an airtight wrap, but you
would not expect to gain the full benefit of the anhydrous.”
Ammoniation really shines when there’s a combination of poor quality
and high moisture that will lead to spoilage. Feed quality is improved
and the material is preserved until the herd needs it.
“You need 15 to 18 percent moisture to make this work. The anhydrous
ammonia binds to the water molecules. I’ve seen research that says it
works all the way down to 12 percent moisture, but I think that’s too
dry to be effective.”
For this reason, all feed considered for ammoniation must be checked
for moisture content. Bales must be weighed to calculate how much
ammonia should be injected. A feed test should also be conducted before
ammoniating to determine crude protein content of the raw feed stock.
McNichol emphasized that the current cost of anhydrous does not justify
ammoniating straw if a farmer has other feed options. He said the big
advantage is that cows consume more straw because it is more
digestible.
“If you’re stuck having to feed some really ugly stuff, you can make it
more palatable and more digestible by ammoniating,” said McNichol.
“This makes it softer so it improves the rate of passage through the
animal. You’re less likely to get impaction feeding ammoniated straw
versus dry straw.”
Ammoniation under wrap also keeps rats out of the bales.
“The other good alternative is
liquid supplement injected into bales. That works well, but it’s often
the highest cost option.”ÊÊ
Contact: Lyle McNichol 204-622-2015. For more information on this
topic, go to www.producer.com and click on news links.
