|
Faunsdale, AL | Q500 is correct. Ensiling is the best way to reduce the impact (by approximately 50%) of high nitrate forages. This does not make it safe! It can still be too high to feed to cattle but having it chopped makes it easier to blend with low nitrate forages or byproduct feeds so there are no "hot spots" where there can be unexpectedly high levels.
The silage gas is quite toxic to anything that breathes it so don't go sniffing the bags! This is usually a problem with upright silos where the heavier than air gas can accumulate in the silo and in feed rooms and barns built at the base of the silo. Classic scenario is finishing up silage one evening and then going into a silo the next morning to level and pack the top. By that time the toxic gas has had time to accumulate and additionally there is lots of CO2 being produced from fermentation, displacing oxygen and resulting in a deathtrap!
Stay away from the bag opening and take samples for nitrate testing and ration balancing before feeding! | |
|
Nitrogen dioxide
