Utilization of Round Bale Silage as a Compliment to Hay Production

A demonstration was conducted to examine the stored forage yield and stored forage quality of two different hay forage management systems. The forage management systems were a hay harvest only system or a complimentary hayround bale silage harvest system. The hay system harvested bermudagrass forage as hay during the summer when weather conditions allowed, the complimentary system harvested bermudagrass forage on a 4-wk schedule as either hay or round bale silage depending upon weather conditions. The hay-round bale silage complimentary system resulted in two more cuttings of forage harvested, nearly 55 tons more forage dry matter harvested, and harvested forage (either hay or round bale silage) that was greater in crude protein and energy. The utilization of a complimentary forage preservation system that incorporated the use of round bale silage resulted in a greater amount of forage to be harvested and stored forage that was greater in protein and energy compared to a hay only harvest system.