2011 Southeast Hay Convention
Hay Preservatives and Baled Silage
The other extreme…
Hay Moisture Probe
Contacts
Determining Moisture
Accuracy of Various Hay Moisture
Probes – 4th cutting Bermudagrass
Methods:
4. Hay Moisture Testers/Probes
3. By feel (if calibrated).
2. Microwave moisture test
40
Actual
FtP
JD
Hay Moisture (%)
35
30
DW
FtW
PA
25
20
15
10
5
0
10 a.m.
1 p.m.
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Specialist
3 p.m.
1
2011 Southeast Hay Convention
Hay Preservatives and Baled Silage
Determining Moisture
Losses During Storage
•  Even when hay is baled at the target moisture
(15% moisture for round bales; 18% for squares),
the forage will go through a “sweat” for 2-3 wks.
Methods:
4. Hay Moisture Testers/Probes
3. By feel (if calibrated).
2. Microwave moisture test
1. Moisture tester (e.g., Koster)
  Moisture is driven off, heat is given off, and DM dec.
  A 1% decrease in moisture ≈ 1% decrease in DM
  Moisture tends to equilibrate at 12% during storage
20% Moisture H2O + CO2
1000 lbs DM HEAT
12% Moisture 920 lbs DM Causal Agents of Hay Heating
Mold Spores
70
110 150
190
230 270
310° F Plant
Respiration
Aspergillus Penicillium Fungi and Bacteria
Heat-Resistant Fungi
O2 + H2O
CO2
CO2
CO2
Carbohydrates
(sugars)
Exothermic Chemical Reaction
(combustion)
Bale Moisture Effects Bale Temp
70
110 150
Normal Range
Safe
190
230 270
Heat
Damage
Temperature, °F Hay Temperature | Risk Levels
310° F Fire Danger
150 33% Moisture
125 25% Moisture
100 75 17% Moisture
0
10
20
Days Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Specialist
2
30 40 Small Squares
Coblentz et al., 2000. Crop Sci.
2011 Southeast Hay Convention
Hay Preservatives and Baled Silage
Organic Acids are Corrosive
HEAT
Aspergillus Penicillium O2 + H2O
Carbohydrates
(sugars)
CO
CO2
2
Bacterial
CO2
Decomposition
Same baler, 2 months later. Hay Preservation Additives
Hay Preservation Additives
•  Bacterial/microbial inoculants
•  Rock Salt
Those tested have no consistently
demonstrable effect.
No effect on mold growth
Increases palatability
Some have had inconsistent
effects (some positive, some no change).
Not recommended.
Effectiveness in Humid South is
questionable (high humidity)
Requires real-time moisture
measurement (rate adjustment)
Hay Preservation Additives
•  Organic acids
•  Buffered acids
Prevents heating, but maintains moist
environment for microbial activity.
DM losses often offset DM gains.
Beneficial when moisture is 18 – 25%
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Specialist
3
2011 Southeast Hay Convention
Hay Preservatives and Baled Silage
Quality Advantages
Silage & Haylage
•  Enables
timely harvest
•  Lowered
SILAGE - Forage that has
undergone anaerobic
fermentation
•  Less
•  Higher

Less dependent on
weather



Makes use of some
forages that other-wise
wouldn’t work.
risk of rain damage
shatter loss
forage quality1
Lower NDF, ADF, ADL
Higher CP
Increased digestibility
Increased palatability
•  However,
“Garbage in = Garbage out!”
1
Han, et al. 2005; Hancock and Collins, 2006.
Baled Silage – An Option for
Harvesting High Quality
Baled Silage
Can be more efficient…
Fewer Losses
Accumulate With
Each Step
Treatment End Result:
90% of Original DM
CP TDN % % Bermuda Hay 16.1 a 62.9 b 116 c Ryegrass Baleage 16.3 a 65.9 a 174 a 1.94 a Ryegrass Hay 14.7 b 62.4 c 133 b 1.26 b 0.22 0.35 3.2 0.341 LSD0.10 Details
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Specialist
4
RFQ ADG (lbs/hd/d) 1.56 b 2011 Southeast Hay Convention
Hay Preservatives and Baled Silage
Silage Fermentation
Bale Wrapper Selection
Silage pH
pH 6.0
pH 4.2
Acetic acid bacteria
1 2 3 4
7
Consider:
Cost, Labor, Speed, Volume
pH 3.8
Lactic acid bacteria
14
Days after ensiling
20
28
Acetic acid, like propionic acid in hay preservatives, is
an antagonist to yeast/fungal growth. Plus, there is
very little oxygen for the fungus to grow.
Baled Silage Costs
Plastic Cost:
$5.00 - $15.00/ton DM
Wrapper cost:
$2.00 - $5.00/ton DM
Fuel & Repairs:
$0.50 - $5.00/ton DM
Labor:
$0.75 - $2.00/ton DM
Total:
$12 - $25/ton DM
Wrapping System Determines
Through-Put
The Unseen Cost of
Hay Storage
•  Cut
mid-afternoon on one day,
bale & wrap the next day.
Cost of ProducFon ($/ton) Expected $100 $120 $140 Losses $80 •  Amount
cut = how much can be
baled and wrapped the next day.
Value of Losses in the System ($/ton) Hay, no cover/on ground 50% $40 $50 $60 $70 Hay, under roof 25% $20 $25 $30 $35 Baleage 15% $12 $15 $18 $21 •  Bales
should be wrapped w/in
12 hrs of baling.
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Specialist
5
2011 Southeast Hay Convention
Hay Preservatives and Baled Silage
Choose an Appropriate Site for
Wrapping
Make Good Bales
•  Wrap at the storage site
•  Optimize bale size
  reduces handling
  reduces risk of spoilage
 match to tractor
 dense bales
 4’x 5’ bale is most popular
  900-1300 lbs, dep. on %M
 square edges
•  Use plastic twine or net
 sisal twine degrades plastic
Apply enough plastic but no more.
Bale at the Right Moisture
Ideal Range, 50-65% Moisture
Toxic Potential
(Clostridial,
Listeriosis)
70%
40%
Moisture
Poor
Fermentation
6-10 layers
(+ double on joints)
4-6 layers
Rule of thumb:
bale when the forage is no longer wet
enough to wring juice out of a handful.
Resources
Questions?
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Specialist
6
www.georgiaforages.com
1-800-ASK-UGA1