Silage and Haylage — Tall Fescue

Tall fescue possesses high rigidity, which hinders the access of lactic acid bacteria to sugars during the fermentation process. To ensure high-quality fermentation, it is critical to chop the plant mass, thereby increasing the surface area for colonization by lactobacilli, and to strictly adhere to the heading stage during harvest. Allowing the crop to become overmature leads to excessive stem coarsening and a reduction in forage digestibility.

The harvesting technology requires moisture control through wilting to prevent the development of clostridia and butyric acid fermentation. When utilizing the crop, it is necessary to consider the presence of endophytes in older varieties, which are capable of producing toxic alkaloids; therefore, varieties with non-toxic endophytes or those free of them should be selected for forage production.

Despite the specific requirements for harvesting, ensiling contributes to improving the palatability of tall fescue, mitigating the drawbacks of its structure. The crop is characterized by stable yields during hot and dry periods, which makes it a promising component for intensive forage systems.