The objective of this study was to compare the feeding effects of imported timothy hay, domestic Italian ryegrass silage (IRGS) and IRG dried by hot-air dry system (IRGHDS) under basic total mixed ration (bTMR) on rumination activity, milk production, and milk composition in lactating dairy cows. Eighteen Holstein dairy cows were divided into three groups: control (bTMR + imported timothy hay), treatment 1 (bTMR + IRGS) and treatment 2 (TMR + IRGHDS) groups. The study was conducted over a total period of 24 days, including a 10 days adaptation period and a 14 days main experimental period. The results indicate body weight was not significantly different between the three groups (p>0.05), and rumination time was significantly higher in the treatment 1 group compared with the control group (p<0.001). Milk fat, protein, and lactose were not significantly different between the three groups (p>0.05), however, somatic cell counts were significantly lower in the treatment 1 group compared with the control group (p<0.001). As a result of the economic feasibility analysis, it is expected that feeding TMR using IRGS and IRGHDS will increase profit by 402.8 won/day and 331.4 won/day per cow compared to imported timothy hay. Therefore, IRGS and IRGHDS can be used as substitutes for imported timothy hay in feeding lactating dairy cows.

We compared the reproductive performance, non-productive performance, and milk composition performance of two groups of lactating cows that were either rice straw or tall fescue. We also compared and analyzed these parameters after the first parturition during the breeding period. The calving interval, artificial insemination, and duration from calving to conception were longer in the rice straw group than in the tall fescue group. The 305-day and peak milk yields were significantly higher in the tall fescue group than in the rice straw group (p<0.01). Milk fat content was significantly higher in the tall fescue group than in the rice straw group (p<0.001), but milk protein content was the same between the feeding groups. The difference in raw milk sales income between rice straw and tall fescue groups tended to increase as the number of lactations increased, but there was no effect of reduced feed costs. Analysis of the milk production and raw milk sales income of the surveyed farms revealed that the average milk production per head was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the tall fescue group than in the rice straw group, and raw milk sales income showed a similar tendency. Overall, these results provide important details to be considered when selecting feed as a way to reduce milk production and heifer raising costs. However, there remains a need for future follow-up studies exploring the relationship between feed choice and the management of heifers.

Given the recent increases in feed cost, the demand for rice straw has been increasing on dairy farms because it is cheaper than expensive imported forages. Therefore, it is necessary to study the effect of rice straw feeding on the growth and productivity of dairy heifers. This study compared how feeding tall fescue and rice straw affects the growth, age at first calving, and feed cost of heifers. we compared the growth, age at first calving, and feed cost for each group during the breeding period. Body height was higher in the tall fescue-fed group than in the rice straw-fed group (p<0.05). The length of the growing stage was significantly shorter in the tall fescue group than in the rice straw group (p<0.001) and the age at calving also showed a significant reduction in the tall fescue group compared to the rice straw group (p<0.001). However, the feed cost was lower in the rice straw group because of the difference in the unit price of forage (p<0.001). Based on these results, during the growing period, the rice straw group had delays in growth and the age at first calving compared to the tall fescue group, but also had reduced feed costs in the short term.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of storage type and period on the quality of rye hay. The rye “Gogu” was sown on October 15, 2020, and harvested on April 22, 2021 (heading stage). The rye hay was prepared in two wrapping conditions (wrapping and unwrapping) and two storage period (3 and 6 months). In regards to their visual appearance, the forage quality score was higher in wrapped rye hay than in unwrapped rye hay. In all groups, there was no difference in appearance between inside and outside. The moisture content of wrapped rye hay was maintained at the initial level until 6 months. However, the moisture content of unwrapped rye hay was increased at 3 months of storage, and then decreased at 6 months of storage. Crude protein content was higher in wrapped rye hay than in unwrapped rye hay, whereas NDF and ADF contents were lower within wrapped rye hay than within unwrapped rye hay (p<0.05). In conclusion, wrapping rye is effective method for long-term storage that reduces the effect of external environment.

This experiment was conducted to confirm the possibility of preparing Sorghum×sudangrass hybrid artificial hay using far-infrared rays in Korea. The machine used in this experiment is a drying device based on far-infrared rays, and is designed to control temperature, air flow rate, far-infrared radiation amount, and air flow speed. The Sorghum×sudangrass hybrids harvested in late September were wilted in the field for one day, and a drying test was performed on them. Conditions for drying were performed by selecting a total of 7 conditions, and each condition induced a change in radiation amount in a single condition (42%) and two steps (4 treatments) and three steps (2 treatments). The speed of the air flow in the device was fixed at 60 m/s, and the run time was changed to 30, 60, and 90 minutes. The average dry matter (DM) content was 82.84%. The DM content was 59.94 and 76.91%, respectively, in drying conditions 1 and 3, which were not suitable for hay. In terms of drying rate, it was significantly higher than 80% in the 5, 6 and 7 treatment, and power consumption was slightly high with an average of 5.7 kw/h. As for the feed value according to each drying condition, the crude protein (CP) content increased as the drying time increased, and there was no significant difference between treatments in ADF, NDF, IVDMD and TDN content. In terms of RFV, treatment 1, which is a single condition, was significantly lower than the complex condition. Through the above results, it was determined that the drying conditions 4 and 5 were the most advantageous when considering the drying speed, power consumption, and quality.

본 시험은 우리나라에서 원적외선을 이용한 이탈리안 라이그 라스 인공건초 조제 가능성을 확인하기 위해 수행되었다. 본 시험 에 사용된 기계는 온도, 송풍량, 원적외선 방사량을 조절할 수 있 는 원적외선 건조기로 5월에 수확한 이탈리안 라이그라스를 대상 으로 실시하였다. 건조를 위한 조건은 전체 9개의 조건을 선택하 여 수행하였으며 각각의 조건은 방사율 42∼45 %로 설정을 하였 으며 내부 온도는 65℃로 설정하였다. 기기내의 기류의 속도는 40 ∼60m/s로 하였으며, 전체적인 건조시간은 방사량 42%는 30분, 43%는 25분 그리고 45%는 20분으로 하여 수행하였다. 각각의 건조조건에 따른 최종 건물함량은 평균 88.5%로 나타났으며 전 처리에서 건초에 적합한 건물함량을 나타내었다. 건조 조건에 따 른 전력 소비량을 보면 45% 방사량에서 20분간을 건조한 처리구 에서 가장 낮게 나타났다. 건조율에 있어서는 1∼5번 건조 조건에 서는 차이가 없었으나 6∼7조건에서는 유의적으로 낮은 경향을 보였다. 사료가치에 있어서는 대부분의 건조조건에서 원물보다 CP, IVDMD는 높았고 ADF, NDF 함량은 낮게 나타났으며 대체 적으로 4, 7 및 8번 건조 조건에서 높은 경향을 보였다. 이상의 결과를 통하여 건조속도, 전력량, 품질 등을 고려할 때 7 및 8번 건조조건이 가장 유리한 것으로 판단되었다.

This experiment was conducted to establish the technology for artificial hay preparation in Korea. Using far-infrared heater, a device that can control temperature, airflow, and far-infrared radiation was produced and conducted on the fourth harvested alfalfa. The drying conditions were carried out by selecting a total of four conditions. For each condition, the radiation rate was set to around 40% (33-42%), and the temperature was set at 58~65℃, and the speed of the airflow was fixed at 60m/s. The overall drying time was set to 30 min in the single and 60 min (30-30 min) and 90 min (30-30-30 min) in the complex condition, and the radiation rate and temperature were changed by time period. In the case of drying condition 1, the final dry matter (DM) content was 46.26%, which did not reach a DM suitable for hay. However, all of the alfalfa corresponding to the remaining drying conditions 2 to 7 showed a DM content of 80% or more, resulting in optimal alfalfa hay production. In power consumption according to the drying conditions, the second drying condition showed the lowest at 4.7 KW, and the remaining drying conditions were as high as 6.5 to 7.1 KW. The crude protein content was found to be high at an average of 25.91% and it showed the highest content in the 5th drying condition (26.93%) and the lowest value in the 6th drying condition (25.16%). The digestibility showed a high value with an average of 84.90%, and there was no significant difference among treatments (p>0.05). Considering the above results, it was judged that drying condition 2 was the most advantageous.

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) is routinely used for the determination of nutrient components of forages. However, little is known about the impact of sample preparation and wavelength on the accuracy of the calibration to predict minerals. This study was conducted to assess the effect of sample preparation and wavelength of near infrared spectrum for the improvement of calibration and prediction accuracy of Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P) in imported hay using NIRS. The samples were scanned in reflectance in a monochromator instrument (680–2,500 nm). Calibration models (n = 126) were developed using partial least squares regression (PLS) based on cross-validation. The optimum calibrations were selected based on the highest coefficients of determination in cross validation (R2) and the lowest standard error of cross-validation (SECV). The highest R2 and the lowest SECV were obtained using oven-dry grinded sample preparation and 1,100-2,500 nm wavelength. The calibration (R2) and SECV were 0.99 (SECV: 468.6) for Ca and 0.91 (SECV: 224.7) for P in mg/kg DM on a dry weight, respectively. Results of this experiment showed the possibility of NIRS method to predict mineral (Ca and P) concentration of imported hay in Korea for routine analysis method to evaluate the feed value.

This study aimed to analyze ruminal fermentation, methane emissions, and methanogen levels for different forage feed type and concentrate feed ratios. Alfalfa hay, oat hay, and a feed concentrate were used for in vitro fermentation experiments, at ratios of 9:1, 5:5, and 1:9 (forage:concentrate). After 24 h of incubation, rumen fermentation and methanogen level changes were evaluated. In the low forage treatments, the total gas, CH4, NH3-N, true dry matter digestibility, and total volatile fatty acid were higher than the other treatments, which were used as the parameters on which to assess rumen fermentation (P < 0.05). The feed ratio influenced the copy number for the total archaea and the genus Methanobrevibacter (P = 0.015, P = 0.010). The copy number result trend was like that for CH4 per digested dry matter (DDM). The PCR results and methanogen copy number analysis indicated that the composition of the methanogens affected the CH4 levels, not their copy number. The results of this study can be applied to predict rumen fermentation and methane emission patterns for cattle fed a variety of feedstuffs.

This field evaluated the effect of different yields on the drying rate of Italian ryegrass (“Kowinearly”, Lolium multiflorum Lam.) hay during the spring season. The experiment was performed at Hwaseong, 2015. The different yields of the plot were selected by growth and development check. Three treatments were 35 t/ha(Y1), 45 t/ha(Y2), and 60 t/ha(Y3). After harvest with conditioner, it was conducted tedding 1/day. It was investigated patterns for changes in moisture content. The changes in moisture content were respectively Y1 from 78.9% to 14.4%, Y2 from 79.1% to 18.3%, and Y3 from 77.9% to 25.5% for 5days. It was no different significantly for changes in moisture content by yields from 1st day ~ 2nd day, But It was different significantly from 3rd day to 5th day. the content of neural detergent fiber(NDF) and acid detergent fiber(ADF) were respectively about 34%, 59%, regardless of yields (P>0.05). Crude protein of Yields Y1, Y2, and Y3 were respectively 6.9%, 8.7%, and 9.4% (P<0.05). The result of this study that the higher yields, the slower it dried. The Quantity is a factor to effect on drying rate.

This study was conducted to investigate the possibility of replacing imported Timothy hay (TH) with domestic Italian ryegrass silage (IRGS) as a horse feed considering feed quality, nutrient digestibility and feed price. Two experimental diets (TH and IRGS) were fed to six-headed Thoroughbred (body weight, 475.7±33.3kg) of the Korea Racing Authority of Wondang Stud Farm. The 3 head animals were assigned to Control group (TH) and Treatment group (IRGS), respectively. The nutrient digestibility was determined by the total collection method. IRGS is enough for using as a horse feed because its Relative feed value(RFV) was higher than TH and its fermentation quality is suitable for horses. Although no difference was observed in nutrient digestibility, Total digestible nutrients(TDN), and Digestible energy(DE) between Control and Treatment group (p>0.05), the fact that price of IRGS was much lower (53.7~62.4%) than that of TH indicates IRGS has competitive advantage over TH as a horse forage feed. The present study indicates that IRGS can be fully replaced with TH due to its superior economic value even though the similarity of its nutrient digestibility, TDN, and DE to TH.

This study was conducted to evaluate feed value of imported hays and examine current situation of species and hay grade. To evaluate the quality of the imported hay, 133 pieces including 9 species of roughage types were collected at the national hay importers, the TMR companies and livestock farms from 2016 to 2018. The quality grades of imported hay were 3~4 and most imported hay were considered to had low. The ADF, Ash, TDN and DDM in feed composition of alfalfa by quality grades presented significant differences(p<0.05). The quality grade on alfalfa was not similar to the actual quality grades calculated through feed composition. The feed composition of grasses by quality degrees presented significant differences in all contents except DM and CP (p<0.05). As the distributed grasses of the unmarked quality grade was low quality and accounted for 49%, it is urgent to present quality standards based on feed composition. As these results, the grades of imported hays were lower than the marked quality grades. Therefore, the imported roughage’s(hay) price that considered to only quality grades on the marked imported roughages(hay) package can cause a loss to the livestock farms as economic damage. An institutional arrangement should be established to review the quality grades of imported hay.

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) has become increasingly used as a rapid and accurate method of evaluating some chemical compositions in forages. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of NIRS, applied to imported forage, to estimate the moisture and chemical parameters for imported hays. A population of 392 imported hay representing a wide range in chemical parameters was used in this study. Samples of forage were scanned at 1 nm intervals over the wavelength range 680-2500nm and the optical data was recorded as log 1/Reflectance(log 1/R), which scanned in intact fresh condition. The spectral data were regressed against a range of chemical parameters using partial least squares(PLS) multivariate analysis in conjunction with spectral math treatments to reduced the effect of extraneous noise. The optimum calibrations were selected based on the highest coefficients of determination in cross validation(R2) and the lowest standard error of cross-validation(SECV). The results of this study showed that NIRS predicted the chemical parameters with very high degree of accuracy. The R2 and SECV for imported hay calibration were 0.92(SECV 0.61%) for moisture, 0.98(SECV 0.65%) for acid detergent fiber, 0.97(SECV 0.40%) for neutral detergent fiber, 0.99(SECV 0.06%) for crude protein and 0.97(SECV 3.04%) for relative feed value on a dry matter(%), respectively. Results of this experiment showed the possibility of NIRS method to predict the moisture and chemical composition of imported hay in Korea for routine analysis method to evaluate the feed value.

Hay-making is one of the most common way for forage preservation in livestock industry. The quality and production of hay could be affected by various factors. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of tedding time and frequency on drying rate and feed value of forage rye (Secale cereale L.) hay. Rye was harvested on heading stage using mower conditioner. Hay was tedded at each set hour(09:00, 13:00 and 17:00) and sampled at each set hour to determine dry matter (DM) content. After two months’ preservation, CP (crude protein), ADF (acid detergent fiber), NDF (neutral detergent fiber), IVDMD (in vitro dry matter digestibility), TDN (total digestible nutrient), RFV (relative feed value), DM loss, visual scores and total fungi count were determined for estimation of hay quality. Tedding was necessary for both speeding up drying rate and improving forage quality. Tedding at 17:00 showed lower NDF content (p<0.05), and also higher RFV value was found compared with tedding at 9:00 and 13:00 (p<0.05). On the other hand, it was observed that more DM losses would be found when tedding later (p<0.05). Tedding in 1~3 times per day were lower in ADF and NDF content (p<0.05), increased CP, TDN and RFV (p<0.05), got less DM loss (p<0.05), and contained less fungi during conservation compared with no tedding (p<0.05). On the other hand, tedding too frequent caused more DM loss (p<0.05). In conclusion, for shorter drying process and higher quality of forage rye hay, tedding at 13:00∼17:00 for 1∼2 times per day was recommended in this study.