FRESH CUT^® Plus

Liquid Hay Preservative

FRESH CUT^® Plus Liquid is a hay preservative for hay baled at higher moisture levels. FRESH CUT Plus is an organic acid blend effective against a wide variety of mold strains and buffered to protect equipment from corrosion. The liquid formulation allows for more complete distribution and penetration into hay. 

Harvest and storage losses for baled hay can represent a significant source of economic loss. These losses are directly related to the length of time cut hay lays in the field prior to baling. Baling hay at higher moisture levels reduces leaf shatter and field curing time. Additionally, more protein-rich leaves and softer stems improve digestibility. In order to bale at moisture levels above 15 percent, forage quality solutions are required to inhibit microbial growth and deterioration of the hay during storage. 

FRESH CUT Plus contains a blend of organic acids, a powerful surfactant and acids effective against mold and wild yeast growth. FRESH CUT Plus is buffered to reduce metal corrosion while improving worker safety. The liquid formulation allows for more complete distribution, dispersion and penetration into hay. 

What kind of research supports the use of Kemin forage quality preservatives?

Kemin conducted a trial in Nebraska to show the benefits of treating 24 percent moisture hay with FRESH CUT Plus.¹ Both crude protein (CP) digestibility and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility were improved in hay treated with FRESH CUT Plus.

*Statistically different, P < 0.05.

Figure 1. Impact of moisture and FRESH CUT Plus Liquid application on nutritional characteristics of baled hay

In the Nebraska hay trial, hay treated with FRESH CUT Plus was not only more nutritious, but the hay was visually more appealing. Using a scale from 1-5, where one was excessively dry and five was excessively heat damaged, hay treated with FRESH CUT Plus scored from 2.2-3.2.

Visual Score 5	Visual Score 4	Visual Score 3	Visual Score 2	Visual Score 1
Untreated	Untreated	Treated	Treated	Untreated
Baling Moisture: 25-27%	Baling Moisture: 21-24%	Baling Moisture: 21-24%	Baling Moisture: 15-20%	Baling Moisture: 15-20%
Extensive Heat Damage	Moderate Heat Damage	Low Heat Damage (Good Green Coloring)	Moderate Drying Damage	Extensive Drying Damage
Heat Units > 350	Heat Units > 250	Heat Units ≈ 150	Heat Units ≈ 120	Heat Units < 120
Crude Protein: 19.5%	Crude Protein: 18.6%	Crude Protein: 20.9%	Crude Protein: 20.7%	Crude Protein: 20.9%
CP Digestibility: 58.0%	CP Digestibility: 62.3%	CP Digestibility: 72.6%	CP Digestibility: 69.3%	CP Digestibility: 67.6%
NDF: 44.8%	NDF: 42.6%	NDF: 34.3%	NDF: 35.7%	NDF: 35.4%
NDF Digestibility: 22.20%	NDF Digestibility: 25.80%	NDF Digestibility: 33.60%	NDF Digestibility: 36.90%	NDF Digestibility: 24.90%

What other benefits are observed when using FRESH CUT Plus Liquid?

As observed in the Nebraska hay trial, drying hay below 20 percent moisture reduces the incidence of heat damage. At the same time, application for FRESH CUT Plus Liquid to hay above 20 percent moisture resulted in less bale heating. In a trial conducted in Torreon, Mexico, the optimum hay was produced using a combination of dew moisture and FRESH CUT Plus.

Mexico Hay Trial²

Figure 2. Impact of FRESH CUT Plus Liquid application on crude protein and relative feed value of baled hay

Can we get more hay tons per acre by using FRESH CUT Plus Liquid?

In a trial conducted in the San Joaquin Valley of California, the producer recovered more dry matter per bale when bales were treated with FRESH CUT Plus. Given the baler settings during this trial, baling at higher moisture and applying FRESH CUT Plus at recommended rates would recover approximately 19 percent more alfalfa dry matter (DM) per acre from a field. 

Figure 3. Effects of moisture level at baling and FRESH CUT Plus application on DM weight of cured alfalfa³

At the same time, when applied at recommended rates, FRESH CUT Plus lowered mold (P < 0.01) and wild yeast (P < 0.05) counts in cured alfalfa hay compared to the control. Blended organic acid products such as FRESH CUT Plus should be effective in reducing the growth of molds and wild yeast over time, which was supported by the trial results.

^A,BMeans within the same colored bars with different superscripts are statistically different, P < 0.05.

Figure 4. Effects of FRESH CUT Plus application on mold and wild yeast counts in cured alfalfa hay⁴

FRESH CUT Plus application at recommended rates lowered mold (P < 0.01) and wild yeast (P < 0.05) counts in cured alfalfa hay compared to the control. Blended organic acid products such as FRESH CUT Plus are effective at reducing the growth of molds and wild yeast over time, which was supported by the trial results. 

Product Specifications

References

¹Kemin Internal Document, 07-00076.
²Kemin Internal Document, 09-00010.
³Kemin Internal Document, 13-00071.
⁴Kemin Internal Document, 13-00069.

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