| Instructions for preparing your crops |
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING THE SAMPLE OF A CROP TO BE
TESTED FOR MOISTURE BY THE KOSTER MOISTURE TESTER
The production of high quality feed depends on the proper processing of the crop during harvesting and storage.
A reliable source of information covering the harvesting and storage of crops grown in your area is your State Agricultural Experiment Station. Also some silo builders and manufacturers offer manuals with good general information and specific recommendations pertaining to the operation of their silos.
Authorities emphasize the importance of knowing the moisture content of a crop of the time of harvest and storage. A feeding ration can not be accurately formulated unless the moisture content of the feeds being used is known.
A moisture test can only be as reliable as the sample represents the entire crop being stored or the bin of feed being used in a ration. The following methods are recommended for obtaining a representative sample on which to make the moisture test:
HAY, Loose or baled - Take stems of the hay from various locations in the field to be harvested. Place the stems in a large plastic bag and take them to the place where the test is to be made. Cut the stems into lengths of 1” to 2” and place them in a container. Mix the cut stems thoroughly and take the sample to be tested from this mixture.
It is generally recommended that the hay should not contain more than 25% moisture when it is placed in storage - loose or baled.
HIGH MOISTURE GRAIN, to Be Placed in a Silo - Select a handful of the grain from various locations in the storage bin and place them in a container. Mix the contents in the container thoroughly and take the sample for making the test from this mixture.
Most authorities recommend that the moisture content of high moisture grain be in the range of 25% to 32% when placed in the silo.
FORAGE, To Be Placed in a Silo - When it is estimated that the crop is ready for harvesting and the silo filling equipment has been set up - cut and chop a small load of the crop. Select a handful of the chopped forage from various places in the load and place in a container. Mix the material in the container thoroughly and take the sample for making the test from this mixture.
The generally recommended moisture content for forage being placed in a silo is in the range of 55% to 65%.
TESTING FEED FOR CALCULATING A RATION - Select a small sample of the feed from various locations of the feed in storage and place in a container. Mix the contents of the container thoroughly and take the sample to be tested from this mixture.
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Authorities state that combustion can take place in hay and silage if they are stored with a moisture content in the range of 30% to 40%.
Forage harvested with a moisture content above 65% will weep. Feed nutriments are lost when the forage weeps. The higher the percentage of moisture, the more it will weep with an increasing loss of nutriments.
The time lapse between cutting the forage in the field and placing it in storage should be as short as possible to avoid excess loss of moisture due to evaporation.
If the first small load of silage that is cut and chopped is too high in moisture, it can be safely put in the silo as it will not effect the silage that is put in later when the moisture content is at the correct percentage.
Some operators test each load of silage for moisture content. At least, tests should be made often enough during the filling of the silo to be sure that the moisture content has not dropped below the desired percentage that is required to produce high quality silage.
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INSTRUCTIONS TO ESTABLISH DRYING TIMES FOR
CROPS NOT LISTED IN THE DRYING TIMES CHARTS
Use the following procedure to establish the time required for drying a forage or high
moisture grain crop to determine the percentage of moisture and drymatter content:
1. Follow procedure as outlined in the instructions for making drymatter and moisture tests. (See Instructions)
2. Dry sample for 30 minutes. Then place the container containing the sample - on the scale to determine the “First Reading” of percentage of drymatter and moisture. Record the percentage of moisture.
3. Return the container - containing the sample - to the heater and dry for 10 minutes.
4. Place the container - containing the sample - on the scale to determine the “Second Reading” of the percentage of drymatter and moisture. Record the percentage of moisture.
5. If the two recorded percentages of moisture are identical, the proper drying time -30 minutes has been established.
6. If the percentage of moisture increases on the “Second Reading”, repeat the 10 minute drying interval on the heater until the two percentage readings are identical.
7. Add all the 10 minute drying intervals, except the last 10 minutes, to the original 30 minutes to obtain the drying time for the particular forage or high moisture grain crop.
NOTICE: We suggest you contact your County Agent or your State Agricultural
Experiment Station for information as to the proper moisture percentage the
particular forage or high moisture grain crop should contain for safe storage.
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