Previous Page | Right click this page to print.

High Moisture Forages - Greenchop

In the U.S., greenchop is integrated into the seasonal feeding program of many dairy and beef operations. Greenchopping is also known as soiling or zero grazing.

Figure 9.9 illustrates greenchop.

To produce greenchop, forage is cut and chopped in the field and then transported and fed fresh to the animals. Greenchop is primarily fed to animals in confinement conditions. Generally, fresh greenchop is harvested and fed once or twice per day.

Figure 9.10 illustrates a field chopper.

The chopper can be used to harvest forage for greenchop or silage. As greenchop is the feeding of fresh forage, greenchop is available during the growing season of the forage. Forages used for greenchop include forages such as grasses, legumes, and grain forages. As with all forages, stage of maturity at harvest is critical to the nutritional value of the forage. In comparison to feeding of forages as pasture, hay, or silage, greenchop provides the greatest opportunity to maximize digestible nutrient yield per unit of land. Greenchop minimizes the dry matter, moisture, color, and nutrient losses. Greenchop also minimizes the influence of the weather during harvest. One significant disadvantage of greenchopping is the daily requirement for labor and equipment to harvest and deliver the feed to the animals. In general, to optimize production, greenchop is supplemented with additional forages, concentrates, minerals, and vitamins.

Previous Page | Right click this page to print.