Tomorrow's Silage

Tomorrow s Silage FORAGE HARVESTERS Dairy producers who use Claas self-propelled forage harvesters have a new processor head option Instead of making silage they can make ShredlageTM Preliminary research indicates that the forage is more digestible less sortable and has several other advantages over silage You can see the difference says nutritionist Roger Olson The pieces average 1 1/4 in long – about twice as long as most silage Plus the strands are more shredded so there s more surface area for rumen bugs to attach to which makes Shredlage more digestible for cattle “A cow’s rumen is like a washing machine ” Olson says “It needs large particles ” That’s why physically effective fiber must be available in the feed When using silage producers typically add straw to the TMR Total Mixed Ration to get that fiber With Shredlage they won’t need to – or can greatly reduce it Finally Shredlage can be harvested drier when the corn is more mature up to about 3/4 milkline which means there are more nutrients and an 8 to 9 percent increase in starches The idea to make longer more shredded strands came from a local farmer who unintentionally shredded his silage Despite the way it looked his cows thrived on it Olson’s father Loren who had invented other equipment built a prototype Olson teamed up with Ross Dale nutrition company owner and Bob Scherer owner of the manufacturing company Scherer Design Engineering to test and build the Shredlage processor “This is a heavy-duty version The differential speed between the two rolls is greater The springs are heavier and the frame is heavier ” Scherer says “The new process grinds easier and finer ” Scherer’s company builds the processors which can be simply exchanged for silage processors in newer self-propelled Claas harvesters in the 960 or smaller series Some knives must also be removed from the cutter drum in front of the processor to create the longer shredded Shredlage and the Shredlage process requires a little more horsepower Scherer adds Six units have been tested at dairy farms and early results of a nutritional trial study at the University of Wisconsin appear to validate the benefit to cattle’s health as well as slight increases in butterfat and possibly production and a reduction of other feed costs The patent-pending Shredlage processors will be available this year Scherer says The cost will be higher than the standard processor but has not been set yet He and his partners anticipate large dairies will be their first customers as they can capitalize on more nutrients and starches raised on their own farm and save money on straw and hay expenses Eventually they predict custom harvesters will invest in the equipment to meet customer demand While currently only available for some Claas equipment work is in progress to expand the line and possibly fit the Shredlage processor to Deere choppers in the future Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Scherer Design Engineering Inc 46994 Mindy Street Tea S Dak 57064 ph 800 883-9790; www scherercorrugating com

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