Even though this area has received some timely rains this fall, hay supplies remain limited and expensive in south central Missouri.
University of Missouri Extension agriculture experts say low-quality forages such as cereal stalks and straws are produced in abundance in immediate surrounding areas. However, these forages are of little value as livestock feeds due to low energy and protein content relative to animal requirements.Â
Low-quality forage can be treated with ammonia to improve quality and to stretch short feed supply. Ammoniated hay is low-quality hay treated with a maximum of 60 pounds of anhydrous ammonia per ton. After three weeks, the ammonia treatment is complete, and the hay is acceptable quality.
Ammonia treatment has been shown to improve the digestibility of low-quality hays, even straw. Recent work conducted at MU showed that aftermath from tall fescue seed fields could be treated with ammonia to provide a good maintenance feed for overwintering beef cows. In addition, work at MU showed that ammoniated tall fescue is about five times less toxic than the pasture, even if hay is infected. The toxins partly break down during the curing and ammoniation process.
Always make sure hay is low quality before ammoniation. If the hay is high quality, it can become toxic after ammonia treatment and cause crazy cow syndrome when fed.
A free hay ammoniation demonstration will take place at the Craig Bennett farm at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20. Precautions for ammoniation will be discussed, as well as examples of forages before and after the ammoniation process. Â Â
For more information, call the Howell County Extension Center at 417-256-2391.
From Pomona: Take Highway P and go about 3.5 miles to Highway Z. Turn right on Highway Z and go about 4.5 miles to Highway AA. Turn right on Highway AA and the farm is the first place on the left.
From Willow Springs: Take Highway Z and go 3.5 miles to Highway AA.