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Final Project Report
January 1996 through February 1998
SUBMITTED TO THE MISSOURI SOYBEAN MERCHANDIZING COUNCIL
January 15, 1998

By:  Dale G. Watson, Livestock Specialist/Commercial AG Beef
University Extension Center, 111 North Mason, Carrollton, MO 64633

Large Bale Storage

Over 150 large round bales in Northern Missouri, had Soybean Soapstock applied to the surface in 1996 and 1997. The soapstock application was completed on the individual bales and stacks of bales after being placed in storage and to the ground prior to placing the bales on the soapstock.

Soapstock with dry matter composition of 50%, 60%, 75% and 98% was added as a portion of this project. Approximately 10 bales were involved in each of the treatments. Ground treatments were added in an effort to reduce the wicking effect observed when moisture is absorbed by the bale due to ground contact.

Storage treatments and methods

Soybean soapstock was applied to over 70 large round bales in 1996. In 1997 an additional 60 bales were treated with soybean soapstock. The storage period was 158 days in 1996 and 15.6 inches of rainfall was observed. No rainfall was recorded due to the wide range of treatment locations in 1997. The bales were cut horizontally, exposing the hay at a depth of approximately 2 inch increments. This method was used to determine the depth of spoilage.

Nutritional samples of each of the soapstock products were collected and analyzed by the Livestock Nutrition Laboratory, Columbia, MO. Crude Protein and Total Digestible Nutrient values were used to compare the soapstock products to a combination of No 2 shelled corn and 47% soybean oil meal. The value of the corn was $2.70 per bu and $15.50 per cwt for the soybean oil meal for this comparison.

Results and Discussion

Reducing the spoilage of large round bales by applying soybean soapstock to the top surface gave variable results. Forage specie variation, bale density, twine spacing, and bale storage location had an effect on the results. Water absorption was evident in a large percent of the stored bales in the 1996 and 1997 trials.

Bales of legume hay are the hardest to store without spoilage. Legume hay bales with 2 to 4 inch twine spacing and 12 to 14 pounds of hay per cubic foot had less spoilage than those with 6 to 8 inch twine spacing and 8 to 10 pounds of hay per cubic foot. The outer 2 inches of the large packages of hay absorbed soapstock and oil which was readily consumed by beef cows. Moisture penetration into the stacks of hay stored by placing 2 bales down and 1 bale on top had reduced spoilage in the area between the bales. Moisture was nearly eliminated when the crevices between the bales were sealed with soapstock.

The bale surface treated with the 50% dry matter soapstock product tended to absorb the moisture from the soapstock. No sealing effect from this treatment appeared to occur due to the moisture from the 50% product being absorbed by the hay immediately beneath the area of application. The retained moisture appeared to contribute to additional spoilage of the bales.

Very little difference was observed in the amount of spoilage between 60% and 75% dry matter soapstock. Application of both of these products flowed easily to the bale surface. Small holes appeared in the product and moisture penetrated the surface of the bales. The moisture content of the product did not appear to penetrate the hay and some sealing effect was observed.

Large bales stored on a layer of soapstock applied to the ground prior to storage gave positive results. Two methods were observed in an effort to reduce the wicking effect when moisture is absorbed by the large bales in contact with the ground. Bales were placed on the soapstock product immediately after the product was applied to the ground and another group of bales were stored on the soapstock after it had dried. (Approximately 72 hours later.) Sisal twine on the bottom of the bales and in contact with the ground was still in tack and indicated only slight evidence of deterioration.

The 50% product had a nutritional value of $2.21 per cwt. Product separation was observed with this application. The 60% product had a nutritional value of $2.70 per cwt and the 75% product had a value of $3.43 per cwt. The 98% dry matter soapstock product was extremely difficult to apply, did not spread evenly, and had a nutritional value of $3.43 per cwt.

Silage Stored in Horizontal Silos

Forage loss from silage store in horizontal silos adds to the forage cost. Silos with 8 to 14 inches of spoilage on top are common. A silo 100 feet long and 40 feet wide with 8 inches of spoilage, 35 pounds of silage per cubic foot, with a value of $30.00 per ton would have a loss of 46.66 ton and a value of $1,399.00. Applying soybean soapstock at the rate of 6 to 8 pounds per square foot of surface would add a nutritional value of approximately $0.20 per square foot or $800.00 in addition to reducing the spoilage from 46.66 ton to less than 11.6 ton. The 35 ton of silage saved calculates to a value of $1050.00. This benefit was determined by comparing nutritional values of No 2 corn at $2.60 per bushel and soybean meal at $15.50 per cwt.

Storage treatments and methods

Five Chariton County, Missouri horizontal silos were coated over the top with 60% to 70 % dry matter soybean soapstock after filling and packing in 1996 and 1997. One horizontal silo was covered with 50% to 60% dry matter soybean soapstock in 1997. Horizontal silos treated with approximately .50 to 1 inch of 60% soapstock had spoilage of less than 2 inches in 1996 to near 0 in 1997. Horizontal silos exposed to the weather with no soapstock covering had 8 to 12 inches spoilage in 1996 to 4 to 5 inches in 1997. The 40% to 50% dry matter product tended to separate and did not provide a even coating over the surface of the silo.

Soapstock products with less than 60% dry matter were not consistent and had a tendency to separate into water, oil and soapstock. The oil and soapstock was reconstituted through mechanical mixing by circulating from the applicator tank through the pump and back to the tank. However, the water portion of the mix did not reconstitute with the oil and soapstock.

Results and Discussion

Five horizontal silos were filled with corn silage, or forage sorghum in the fall of 1996 and 1997.

Dry matter content of the soybean soapstock was a very important part of reducing forage spoilage. Products with a dry matter content of 40% to 50% tended to separate into water, oil and soapstock. Application of a product of this consistency was hard to apply and gave a solid application or a liquefied consistency. Soapstock with a dry matter content of 60 to 70 % was the most consistent product for application, flowed easily, did not separate, and exhibited excellent sealing properties for horizontal silos.

Portions of or the entire silos were coated. Silos coated with 0.75 to 1 inch of soybean soapstock consisting of 60% to 70% dry matter, virtually eliminated spoilage when the silos were filled and packed according to recommendations. (Forages having 30% to 35% dry matter and firmly packed while filling.) Measurements of 0 to 2 inches of spoilage were observed over the 2 year period. Feeding of this product with the silage is an advantage compared to removing plastic covering or spoiled silage. Wheat silage harvested in July did not seal as well and spoilage was greater compared to corn and forage sorghum silage harvested in the fall..

Conclusion

Soybean soapstock resulted in limited sealing properties for sealing large bales of hay. Soapstock sealed the crevices in bale stacks, reduced bale spoilage from ground contact, and indicated to be an excellent sealant for horizontal silos filled with corn or forage sorghum silage.

Soybean Soapstock varies in consistency and product separation does not permit uniform application. The 60% to 70% dry matter product is equal to plastic for sealing horizontal silos filled with corn silage or forage sorghum. Soapstock is palatable, blends with silage for feeding. The energy value adds to the nutritional content of the silage. Labor for applying and removing the plastic is eliminated. Unsightly tires or weights are not required for holding the plastic.

Soapstock with a consistency of 60% to 70% dry matter is very effective for reducing the wicking effect or movement of moisture from ground into large packages of hay stored outside and in contact with the ground. No difference was observed between bales stored on soapstock immediately after product application to the ground or dried soapstock prior to storing the hay.

Publications and Equipment

No equipment was purchased and no publications have been released.

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Revised: February 08, 1999
redelfsm@missouri.edu