On-Farm Dry Matter Analysis to Improve Feed Delivery Precision on Dairy Farms

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dc.contributor.advisorKohn, Richard Aen_US
dc.contributor.authorFrench, Karin R.en_US
dc.contributor.departmentAnimal Sciencesen_US
dc.contributor.publisherDigital Repository at the University of Marylanden_US
dc.contributor.publisherUniversity of Maryland (College Park, Md.)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2011-07-06T06:01:39Z
dc.date.available2011-07-06T06:01:39Z
dc.date.issued2011en_US
dc.description.abstractUncertainty in dairy ration content impacts feed efficiency, milk production, expenses, and environmental losses. When measuring silage by weight, unknown changes in dry matter (DM) may change the total mixed ration. The objective of this study was to measure variation in silage DM on selected farms and evaluate an electronic method of on-farm DM analysis. Of 31 Maryland farms surveyed, 63% reported DM analysis by an on-farm method, 83% by any method including laboratory measurement. Eight producers performed DM analysis daily for 21 days using a Farmex 1210 Electronic Silage Tester (on-farm) and they recorded precipitation; matching samples were analyzed for DM in a laboratory after oven drying ("standard" method, 55°C followed by 100°C) and by using a Farmex 1210 (laboratory). The standard deviation of mean silage DM varied from 0.72% to 3.33% DM, depending on farm. The electronic method compared poorly to standard DM analysis for most farms.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/11575
dc.subject.pqcontrolledAnimal Sciencesen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledEnvironmental managementen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledAgriculture, Generalen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolleddairyen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolleddry matteren_US
dc.subject.pquncontrollednutrient managementen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrollednutritionen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledsilageen_US
dc.titleOn-Farm Dry Matter Analysis to Improve Feed Delivery Precision on Dairy Farmsen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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