Storage Systems

Grain Storage  Moisture is the major factor involved in grain storage  Need to have dry feeds for bin or shed storage Small grains – whole: 12% moisture Corn – whole: 14% moisture Ground grains (or with >12% broken kernels): 11% moisture ** Note: grains will need to be drier if insects are a problem; also can fumigate  These values depend on humidity, temperature and air flow

Grain Storage  Higher moisture levels cause: Heating Caking Mold: Produce mycotoxins, cause reduced performance, poor feed efficiency, diarrhea, liver disease, infertility, abortion, poor immune functions These effects can be a problem for humans, some are carcinogenic

Grain Storage  Important molds found in grains Ergot, Clavicep purpurea Very potent toxin that accumulates in the animal, especially in cereal grains (triticale), zero tolerance Aspergillus flavus, produce aflatoxin (a mycotoxin) Extremely common mold, often causes deleterious effects in livestock including liver disease Fusarium fungus: produces zearalanone and vomitoxin (also known as DON = deoxynivalenol)

Grain Storage  Steps to prevent molds/mycotoxins Moisture test, reject any grain which is too wet or that you can’t dry (15% moisture or your known moisture content for your storage) Obtain a sample and analyze any suspect grains for mycotoxins Keep equipment clean and mold free – don’t contaminate clean grain!

Grain Storage  Amount of mold to tolerate: < 10% damage is probably safe 10 to 40% damage is risky >40% damage – absolutely not Do not feed to young, growing animals or to reproducing animals (toxins can kill the embryos)

Grain Storage – Cost Considerations  2% reduction in price for each moisture point over permissible level Lower level of DM (don’t pay for water) Storage loss or cost of drying

Grain Storage  Alternatives (to dry grain)  Longer field drying  Solar drying  Preservatives 0.5% propionic acid – protects grains up to 24% moisture Microbial inoculants; seems to be effective Both also extend bunk life  High moisture grain storage *** Actually, high moisture grains have superior feed value (feed efficiency)

High Moisture Grain  22 to 35% moisture  As with silage need airtight structure for anaerobic fermentation Coarsely grind, pack in air-tight silo for fermentation Can be stored whole, then rolled upon removal from silo pH dropped to 4 or less, stops bacteria growth and product preserved increases palatability  Faster fermentation More soluble nutrients Can expel oxygen with lower water content – acids concentrate faster

High Moisture Grain  Advantages Early harvest – reduce field loss; shattering, lodging, hail, bird, deer No artificial drying needed Bunker may be lower storage cost Corn: less risk of frost damage ** increased feed efficiency

High Moisture Grain  Disadvantage Grain must be stored immediately – does not allow much buying and selling Must be fed to livestock Must be stored air tight Handle more weight because of water

Grain Processing Grains often processed prior to inclusion in feeds Alters feeding characteristics in predictable ways

Limitation Factors of feedstuff  Density / Crude Fiber content  Anti Nutritional content  Essensial Amino Acid  Digestibility Value  Lipid content  Ca : P balance  Efect to carcass quality  Palatability  Price and avaiability

Limitation factors of AA content Feedstuff 1 st 2rd next Ø Yellow corn Lys/Tryp Lys/Tryp Met/Threo Ø Sorghum Lys Threo Tryp Ø wheat Lys Threo Met Ø Soybean meal Met Threo - Ø Cotton meal Lys Met Threo Ø Coconut meal Lys Met - Ø Fish meal Tryp - - Ø MBM Tryp Threo Isoleu Ø Blood meal Isoleu Lys Met Ø Feather meal Met Lys - Ø Rice bran Lys Isoleu - Ø Pollard Lys Threo Isoleu

Feedstuff Limit Utilization Feedstuff Yellow corn Sorghum Rice bran Separated bran Tapioka starch Pollard Sago Wheat Animal fat Vegetable oil molasses LS LG L BS BF PS

Feedstuff Limit Utilization Bahan Pakan Leucaena leaf meal Ca CO3 Shell powder Skim milk Shrimp meal Ferm. Cassava manure Ferm. Bran manure Ferm.Garut beet manure Fermented cassava Hidr. Rumen biomass Caccao meal Worm Manure LS LG L BS BF PS

Feedstuff Limit Utilization Feedstuff SBM Peanut meal Coconut meal Cotton meal Rubber seed meal Fish meal Feather meal Blood meal Meat meal Bone meal MBM Dried Snail LS LG L BS BF PS , , ,