Tools for Performing a Feed Inventory Dan Marzu Agricultural Development Educator Lincoln & Marathon Counties Adapted from Brian Holmes, PhD Professor and Extension Specialist Biological Systems Engineering Department UW-Madison AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Feed Inventory Is the process of determining how much feed is present at a given time AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Why Do a Feed Inventory • Project future needs • Allocate feeds over the year • How much to sell • How much to buy • What to plant • Planning storage needs AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Projecting Feed Needs • Calculate feed available • Calculate herd daily feed need • Calculate number of days feed will last • Determine days of excess/deficiency • Determine quantity to sell/buy or how to change rotation AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Top Unloading Tower Silo Example Depth (ft) Quantity Stored 20 ft diameter silo (T DM) Filled 60 ft high 10 12 20 ft remain 20 33 30 59 Height Removed: 60 – 20 = 40 ft 40 89 50 123 Quantity when filled: 152 T DM 60 152 Quantity removed: 89 T DM 70 182 Quantity remaining: 152 – 89 = 63 T DM Quantity remaining: 63 / .35 = 180 T AF (assuming 65% moisture) AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Bottom Unloading Tower Silo Example Depth (ft) Quantity Stored 20 ft diameter silo (T DM) Filled 60 ft high 10 12 20 ft remain 20 33 30 59 40 89 50 123 Quantity when filled: 152 T DM 60 152 Quantity remaining: 33 T DM 70 182 Quantity removed: 152 – 33 = 119 T DM Quantity remaining: 33 / .35 = 94 T AF (assuming 65% moisture) AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
The Truth About Silo Tables • Silo table capacities are estimates. • Research shows as much as 20% more feed can be placed in a tower silo if a good distribution system is used. “When you have a silo table, you know how much feed you have. When you have more than one silo table, you are not so sure.” - Brian Holmes AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Bunker Silos Average height x width x length (in feet) = ft 3 Height: 10 feet Width: 36 feet Length: 100 feet 10 ft x 36 ft x 100 ft = 36,000 ft 3 AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Bunker Silos • Dry weight in bunker: – 36,000 ft3 x 14 lbs DM/ft 3* = 504,000 lb DM – 504,000 lb DM / 2000 lbs = 252 tons DM • As Fed tons based on 65% moisture: – 252 tons DM / .35 = 720 tons AF * 14 lbs DM/ft 3 is a typical density of silage AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Silo Bags Diameter Tons of feed/foot of bag length * Diameter: 9 ft 8 ft 1.0 Length: 75 ft 9 ft 1.2 10 ft 1.5 12 ft 2.2 * Based on 65% moisture & 13 lbs/ft 3 density As Fed tons: 1.5 x 75 = 90 tons Dry Matter Tons: 90 tons AF x .35 = 31.5 tons AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Forage Inventory Spreadsheets • http://dairy.wisc.edu/FIT/ • Tower silo inventory spreadsheet • Bunker silo inventory spreadsheet • Bag inventory spreadsheet AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
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