Feeding Chaff and Chaff/Straw Feedstuffs to Beef Cows

1. Dropped onto the straw swath (cyclone attachment)
• Collected directly into the swath and baled.
• Requires minimal equipment and is simple to manage.
• Baled chaff can be fed via round bale feeders, rolled out, or tub-ground and mixed with other feeds.
2. Collected with a chaff wagon
• Blown into a wagon and dropped in piles for field grazing or later hauling.
• Allows flexible feeding but requires more handling.

• Chaff piles can be grazed in-field or moved to a central location.
• Field feeding is low-cost and efficient, requiring fencing and access to water (snow or dugout).
• Minimizes yardage and manure accumulation in feeding areas.

• More costly due to transportation of bulky material.
• Removal of chaff may result in thick straw mats and potential weed problems the next season.
• Chaff piles can be transported using a forage harvester or loader-mounted hay sweep.
• Can be fed mixed with other roughages or offered free-choice with electric‑wire access control.

• Improves ration balance and extends winter feed supplies.
• Helps match nutrient supply with cow requirements.
• Transportation remains the major limiting cost because chaff is light and bulky.

• Rough-awned barley chaff may cause mouth ulcers.
• Planning based on feed type helps prevent animal health problems.

• Crop type and maturity
• Weed content
• Harvest method and combine settings
• Field conditions

• Baled chaff or chaff/straw:
• Use a core sampler and take samples from the middle of each end,
• Collect 20 samples from various round bales or one per rectangular bale.
• Chaff piles:
• Hand-sample different locations and depths.
• Combine and sub-sample ~2 L for analysis.
• Ensure sample represents both light and heavy fractions; request full-sample grinding at the lab.

• Crude protein, ADF, NDF, Calcium, phosphorus and energy (TDN)

• Combine settings: More grain passing to chaff increases feeding value.
• Combine efficiency: Poor efficiency increases cracked grain and unthreshed heads.
• Underseeding (e.g., alfalfa): Adds green leaf and protein.
• Harvest stage: More broken straw = lower quality.
• Crop height/moisture: Short crops add more straw, reducing nutrient density.

• Wheat chaff: Low protein (4–5%), moderate fibre, low TDN (≈40–44%).
• Barley chaff: Higher protein (5–7%), higher TDN (≈53%).
• Oat chaff: Highest protein (≈7%) and TDN (≈53%).
• Canola chaff: Higher fibre, lower energy (≈38.5% TDN).
• Pea chaff: Higher protein (≈7–9%) but moderate energy (≈40–42%).

• A 1,400 lb cow (BCS 3.5) needs:
• ≥6.5% crude protein
• ~54% TDN

• Improved dry matter intake
• Enhanced rumen microbial activity
• Better digestion of low‑quality roughage
• Improved weight and condition maintenance over winter

• Feed inventory
• Cost
• Feeding system
• Cow nutrient requirements