Abstract:
Evaluating haylage and corn (Zea mays L.) silage samples relative to their ideal forms and their feeding value for milk or meat production is an integral component of the Forage Crop Production course offered each semester at the University of Wisconsin River Falls (UW-RF). Students apply the forage quality concepts and hands-on evaluation covered in the class by judging haylage and corn silage samples in one of two annual crop contest-show events. Expanded and more functional score sheets than those initially available have been developed over a 30-year period for haylage and corn silage to better discriminate among contest entries. Objectives also included developing score sheets that were descriptive, logically organized, and easy to understand even by students having only a limited knowledge of plant characteristics and lacking experience with silages. The score sheets thus function as a learning tool helping students understand the relationship between haylage/silage characteristics and quality for feeding livestock. Haylage score sheet point categories include maturity, leafiness, color, odor, moisture, and antiquality penalties. The corn silage score sheet substitutes grain content and development for forage maturity and leafiness categories. The score sheets enable students to use visual, olfactory, and touch senses to systematically evaluate the silage samples by following a descriptive list and awarding points from a suggested point range for each characteristic. The completed sheets also provide a documented explanation to contest entrants and interested crops show observers regarding sample scoring and placement. This paper describes the general contest and judging procedures, the score sheets used, and the forage quality concepts incorporated into them as well as the rationale involved.
Keywords:
judging, crop quality, score sheets, haylage, corn silage
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