It has been demonstrated that baling rice straw immediately after harvest (called rice strawlage) greatly increases its nutritional value for livestock. Baling at 30 to 40 percent moisture can have the challenge of mold management. With the help of producers, the University of California has been researching rice strawlage during the last two years. Two tours will offer livestock and rice producers a chance to determine if rice strawlage would work in their operations.
Monday, December 15, 2014 12:00-3:30 PM: Tour and hosted lunch at the Parker Ranch in Williams and Sand Creek Ranch in Arbuckle.
Meet at the Shell gas station directly off of the Interstate 5 exit for Highway 20 (on the south west side of the off ramp) at 12:00 noon and we will head to the ranch from there. Discussion with Doug and Judy Parker will cover the multi big bale wrapper process which includes treatments of rice straw with molasses sprayed on at baling, anhydrous ammonia added after wrapping, Storage Mate (proprionic acid) and bacteria inoculants, both applied at baling. Forage quality data providing initial treatment differences will be presented. The tour will then go to Ron LaGrande's Sand Creek operation at Arbuckle to see rice strawlage that was professionally tarped and cattle currently consuming the fall harvest of strawlage. RSVP to Josh Davy at (530) 527-3101 to make sure that he cooks enough hamburgers.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014 9:00-11:00 AM: Tour of the research heifers on rice strawlage at the Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center at 8279 Scott Forbes Road in Browns Valley.
Results from the first 5 week feeding phase showing animal performance and nutritional evaluation will be covered. The treatments include a control (Quadris only), Storage Mate (proprionic acid), bacteria inoculant and both proprionic acid and bacteria. The 600 pound heifers will be on their second feeding phase and producers can see the different kinds of rice strawlage being consumed. Some are currently consuming 20 pounds of strawlage per day. How to stack and tarp the strawlage will be covered.