Determination of effects of different harvesting and storage systems on machine management values and feed quality for some forage mixtures

This study was conducted to determine effects of different harvesting and storage systems on machine management volues and feed quality for two grass and legume mixtures cultivated in Cukurova Region. The mixtures of caramba+berseem clover and vetch+triticale were used as forage material. In the research, haylage, hay bale and traditional silage methods were examined. Harvesting was achieved by using the mover and disc mover with conditioner for haylage and hay bale and by using silage machine for traditional silage. However, feed quality, internal temperature changes and some management values were obtained for three different numbers of wrap (4, 6 and 8) in haylage. In the research, the relative feed value of haylage was qualified in second qualty degree while those of hay bale and traditional silage was in third and fourth quality degree, respectively. Plant material and harvesting machine affected feed quality directly while the number of wraps had no significant effect in haylage. The machine management values of forage supplying system used disc mover with conditioner were found approximately 10% less than the system which was used mover. It was obtained that the highest quality forage was supplied with the mixture of caramba+berseem clover that can be grown in Cukurova Region as an alternative instead of vetch+triticale mixture harvested by Disc Mover with Conditioner.