Silage Dry‐Matter Yield and Nitrogen Response following Land Application of Spent Timber Residue from Out‐Wintering Pads to Irish Grassland

Abstract

Out‐wintering pads are a cattle housing system, consisting of a layer of timber residue over an artificially drained surface. Residues from out‐wintering pads that require management include liquid effluent and spent timber residue (timber soiled with manure). In Ireland, the current management strategy for these materials is to apply them to grassland for the production of silage. The main objective of this study was to determine the dry‐matter yield and nitrogen (N) response of first and residual cut silage to spent timber residue at three rates (10, 30 and 50 t ha⁻¹). No silage yield or N response was observed from application of spent timber residue. A secondary objective was to determine the impact of dry timber residue (i.e., not soiled with manure) on silage yield and N response for first, second, and third cut silage. A significant negative response was observed for first cut silage yield in response to dry timber residue. However, no effect was observed for the second and third cut silage yield.

Keywords:

• Dry‐matter yield
• livestock bedding
• manure
• mulch
• nitrogen
• out‐wintering
• silage
• timber residue
• wood chip

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc) and the National Council for Forest Research and Development (COFORD). The project was designed with the assistance of Padraig French, Eddie O'Riordan, and Alan Cuddihy. The technical assistance of Kay O'Connell, Liam Gaul, Brendan Swan, and Jim Nash are gratefully acknowledged. The authors also acknowledge the financial support of the United States Congressional J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board and the Teagasc Walsh Fellowship Scheme.