Yellowfeed is the name given to a new method of harvesting an annual cereal crop for hay.
The idea is showing some promise, said Lorne Klein, a Saskatchewan Agriculture forage development specialist.
“The traditional method of harvesting annual cereals for hay or greenfeed is to cut and crimp the crop at the milk-soft dough stage, and allow the material to dry in the windrow before baling. With yellowfeed, glyphosate is applied at the milk-soft dough stage and the crop is then allowed to stand until dry. Once dry, the crop can be cut and baled immediately.”
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There are advantages to yellowfeed over greenfeed. There is no weathering loss if it rains while the crop is drying in the windrow, and no need to turn the windrow after a rain.
In addition, producers can schedule their harvest much like they do with silage. Plus, it offers perennial weed control and it can be cut with a swather rather than a haybine.
There are disadvantages, however. Producers require access to a high clearance sprayer and they need to factor in the cost of the glyphosate and the lack of regrowth for fall grazing.
Klein explained the methodology used during yellowfeed trials.
“During the period between 2001 and 2003, forage samples of oats and barley were collected to determine the effect of glyphosate on yield and quality. These were monitored from the time of spraying until seven to 10 days past the point of being dry enough to cut and bale. The rate of glyphosate was one litre per acre.”
Findings indicate yellowfeed appears to be a viable option for drying annual cereals before baling. The application of glyphosate does not significantly reduce forage yield or quality. In fact, forage yield increases initially after spraying, likely due to the crop continuing to grow for a period of time after spraying.
“There is an initial decline in the percentage of protein after spraying, possibly due to dilution from increased yield or the normal decrease in protein level from later maturity,” he said.
“But the overall total digestible nutrients, acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre remained constant.”
After glyphosate is applied, barley dries about four to seven days sooner than oats. Barley stands well after spraying, but the heads tend to curl over close to the soil surface after it has dried. Oats tend to lay over horizontally at a height of 25-45 centimetres.
This does not interfere with cutting because the cutter bar can be set below this height. The leaves and kernels of both crops remain attached, even after the crop is left standing seven to 10 days.
Most producers believe the palatability of yellowfeed is equal to or greater than regular greenfeed. The trials suggest that the economics of yellowfeed should be studied further in terms of expected changes in forage yield and quality from spraying to harvest. Further consideration should be given to the cost of herbicide and application, cost of swathing compared to crimping and the potential benefit of perennial weed control.
“A value comparison of yellowfeed and greenfeed could change from year to year, based on weather conditions after spraying and cutting,” Klein said.
“But greenfeed harvest and forage quality losses can be relatively high in years when there is significant rainfall after cutting, something that appears to be avoided with yellowfeed.”
Glyphosate products registered for preharvest use on livestock forage are Credit, Maverick, Vantage, Vantage Plus, Renegade and Roundup.
