Dairyland Laboratories announces that it has purchased the feed laboratory from Waypoint Analytical in Leola, PA. Waypoint will continue to provide other services at the Leola, PA location.
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Dairyland Laboratories announces that it has purchased feed and forage testing services from DHIA Laboratories in Sauk Centre, MN. DHIA Laboratories will continue to provide milk and testing independe...
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Dairyland Laboratories Inc. is excited to announce our new collaboration with Northwest Labs, LLC, to provide feed and forage testing services from Northwest Lab’s Jerome, Idaho location. Northwest La...
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Dairyland provides Forage Particle Size analysis using the ASAE S424, which is the standard analysis that the Penn State Particle Separator is based upon (Lammers, 1996). ASAE S424 was originally developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin to evaluate the particle size of chopped forages. This laboratory analysis features mechanical operatation, use of as-fed samples, and very large surface area, all of which enhance the repeatability and accuracy of the measured values (Mualfair et al., 2010). Since its adoption by the American Society of Agriculture Engineers, this analysis has become the standard by which forage harvestor manufacturers measure particle length.
50 Corn Silage samples analyzed by ASAE S424 and the Penn State Particle Separator at Dairyland
The Forage Particle Size Report includes the following measurements:
Screen Number | Length of particles on the screen | Weight on screen (g) | Percent of the total weight on screen | Percent of weight on screens 1&2 |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | >1.06 in. | 88.5 |
5.63% |
|
2 | >0.71 in. | 88.6 | 5.83% | 11.46% |
3 | >0.35 in. | 551.3 | 36.27% | |
4 | >0.22 in. | 397.7 | 26.17% | |
5 | >0.065 in. | 255.4 | 16.88% | |
PAN | 141.4 | 9.30% | ||
MPL - Mean Particle Length = 0.29 Inches |
The forage particle size separator divides a sample into 6 distinct particle size classes by shaking the sample through screens that vary in both width and depth of openings.
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin recommend the following for lactating dairy rations:
Forage Type | Mean Particle Length (MPL) | % of weight on screens 1&2 |
---|---|---|
Individual Forage | 0.375 | 15-20% |
TMR | Undefined | 7-10% |
Sources
Lammers, B.P., D.R. Buckmaster, and A. J. Heinrichs. 1996. A simple method for the analysis of particle sizes of forage and total mixed rations. J. Dairy Sci. 79:922-928.
Maulfair, D.D., G.I. Zanton, M.Fustini, and A.J. Heinrichs. 2010. Effect of feed sorting on chewing behavior, production, and rumen fermentation in lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 93:4791-4803.