FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alfalfa Stored in Oxygen-Limiting Silo Loses the Least Dry Matter, Nutrient Value in First Stage of Forage Study

MADISON, Wisconsin (February 20, 2006) --- Alfalfa stored in an oxygen-limiting storage system had less spoilage and gaseous loss than alfalfa stored over the same period in a plastic bag silo or a covered concrete storage bunker, according to an on-going study by the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center (USDA-Agricultural Research Service).

Ensiled in 2004, alfalfa stored in an oxygen-limiting Harvestore silo lost a total of only 7.1 percent of the dry matter ensiled, compared to a 12.2 percent total loss for a bag silo and a 15.6 percent total loss for a concrete bunker silo, says Dr. Neal Martin, Director of the Dairy Forage Research Center.

“The two-year study will determine how storage structure affects silage dry matter losses and quality, and the subsequent effect each has on feed intake and milk production by lactating dairy cows,” Dr. Martin adds.

First results of the study, that cows fed from the oxygen-limiting silo produced 5.7 pounds more fat-corrected milk (FCM) than cows fed from the other two systems, was announced at the World Dairy Expo in October. Dry matter losses, which took longer to analyze, were released today.

Alfalfa dry matter ensiled in an oxygen-limiting storage system, bag silo and concrete bunker was monitored as it was removed and fed to determine the percentages lost to gaseous release and spoilage, Dr. Martin says, which together comprise the “total percentage lost” during storage.

Silage fed from each silo was sampled daily for moisture and quality analysis; spoiled silage was weighed and kept for analysis.

U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center Storage System Study -- Dry Matter Losses
	Alfalfa Ensiled	Silage Fed	Spoilage	Total Silage Removed	Spoilage Loss	Gaseous Loss	Total Loss
Silo	lbs. DM	lbs. DM	lbs. DM	lbs. DM	%	%	%
Oxygen-limiting	77088	71581	101	71682	0.1%	7.0%	7.1%
Bag	88172	77459	2378	79837	2.7%	9.5%	12.2%
Bunker	234078	197540	15120	212660	6.5%	9.1%	15.6%

Silage from a second harvest season (2005) will be fed in an animal trial this spring and summer. Final results of the study will be released in late 2006.

-end-

Editors note: This press release follows one issued at World Dairy Expo announcing FCM differential for the three storage systems. For a copy of this press release, visit www.harvestore.com.