Forage Preservation and
Haymaking
INAG 116 –
Hay Production
April 29th - May 6, 2007
Haymaking and forage preservation

Why preserve forages?

Forage preservation methods

Is it worth it for you to do it on your farm?


COST
EQUIPMENT
WHY??

Natural foraging behavior

Size of most animal operations today

Quality of feed that is transportable

Animal health

Permits long-term storage
Natural foraging behavior

High forage diets lead to digestive tract health



Decreased incidence of colic and founder in
horses
Healthier microbial populations in hindgut of
horses
Provides a more filling diet than diets high in
concentrate
Animal production in the 21st Century

Most operations are small or have more
animals than land available for grazing

Requires use of preserved forage to meet
nutrient requirements of the animals
Feed Quality

Forage, when preserved correctly can be a
very high quality feed for animals at all stages
of production
Animal Health

High quality forage is healthy for the animals
Long-term storage

Quality does decrease over time




Microbial respiration
Nonenzymatic chemical reactions
Plant enzymatic activity
If humidity and temperature can be controlled,
hay quality will remain higher


Temps above 20º C (68º F)
Humidity above 70%
Leads to fungal growth
and decreased quality!
Overall Objectives in Managing
Preservation

Want a stable product

System to minimize losses associated with
harvesting and processing

Must meet transportation and storage
needs/capacities
Consequences of using preservation
systems

It is NOT 100%!!
Process
Fresh vegetation
Preserved Forage
Dry Matter Losses
Quality Loss
Dry Matter Loss

Loss of Dry Matter due to:



Plant metabolism
Microbial metabolism (which lasts longer than
plant metabolism)
Physical losses


Shattering or breaking of plant material
DM yield of fresh forage is greater than that
of preserved vegetation
Dry Matter Loss

The nutritional value of fresh forage is greater
than that of preserved forage


Most nutritious chemical components of plants
are the parts most susceptible to loss
LEAVES are more nutritious than STEMS
Methods of Forage Preservation

Hay

Silage

Haylage

Others
Haymaking

Phases

Treatments

Problems encountered

Use of Preservatives
Main phases of haymaking
1.
Curing
2.
Packaging
3.
Storage
Key Success Factors in Hay Production
Labor:
The labor requirements for small square bales can quickly
eliminate profits. Increasing labor charges and decreasing labor
availability has forced most producers to look towards labor
saving equipment.
Weather:
The humid climatic conditions and sometimes frequent rains can
result in high losses of quality and quantity.
Labor Saving Equipment
Cutting
Curing
Raking
Baling
Stacking
Storage
Curing Step One: Cutting
Curing Step 2: Tedding
Curing Step 3: Raking
Labor Saving Equipment
Cutting
Advent of disc-bines allows for much faster cutting speeds.
Labor Saving Equipment
Bale
Accumulators
Labor Saving Equipment
Bale Accumulator
Labor Saving Equipment
Accumulator Forks
Labor Saving Equipment
Accumulator Forks
Labor Saving Equipment
Self Propelled
Automatic Stacking
Wagon
Labor Saving Equipment
Pull Type
Automatic
Stacking Wagon
Labor Saving Equipment
Bale Ejector
Avoiding Weather Losses
Equipment to reduce drying time:
Avoiding Weather Losses
Equipment to reduce drying time:
Tedders
Avoiding Weather Losses
Equipment to reduce drying time:
Window
Inverter
Avoiding Weather Losses
Equipment to reduce drying time:
Hay Preservatives
Avoiding Weather Losses
Equipment to reduce drying time:
Haylage
Bale
Wrapper
Avoiding Weather Losses
Equipment to reduce drying time:
Inline Bale
Wrapper
Other Equipment Options
•Large square balers
•Re-balers for converting round bales to square bales
•Larger wheel rakes for faster raking
•Self propelled windrowers and mower conditioners
•Hay Basket Wagons
When to Cut?
Species
Stage of Maturity
Alfalfa
Bud to 1/10 bloom
Red Clover
¼ to ½ bloom
Timothy
Late boot
Bromegrass
Heads emerged
Orchardgrass
Blooms emerged
Reed Canarygrass
Heads emerged
Tall Fescue
Boot stage
Management Goals

YIELD

QUALITY

PERSISTENCE
Factors in response to harvest of
legumes

Presence of leaf area


Determines capacity for photosynthesis
Carbohydrate reserves
These are compensating factors (one can
compensate for the other in its absence)
Alfalfa Reserve Levels
(initial spring regrowth)
Full bloom
Carbohydrate Reserves (%)
40
Bloom
35
30
25
Growth initiated
Bud
20
15
10
8-10 in Regrowth
5
0
Stage of Growth
Mature
seed
Alfalfa Reserve Levels
(Impact of frequent cutting)
Full bloom
Carbohydrate Reserves (%)
40
35
Pre-bud
cutting
Bloom
30
25
Growth initiated
Bud
20
15
10
8-10 in Regrowth
5
0
Stage of Growth
Mature
seed
Alfalfa Reserve Levels
(total season)
Cut
Carbohydrate Reserves (%)
40
Cut
Cut
35
Cut
30
Cut
25
20
15
(7-10 in)
10
5
0
50
100
150
200
Day Number
250
300
Factors determining regrowth response
of grasses


Forms of carbohydrate reserves in grasses

Cool season grasses

Warm season grasses
Storage sites
Crowns (stem bases)
 Roots (small amounts)
 Rhizomes, if present

fructans, simple
sugars
starch, simple
sugars
Lesser importance of Carbohydrate
reserves in grasses

Morphology  storage organs are less
massive
Small crowns
 Diffuse roots
 No taproot


Physiology  reserves remain low for longer
periods during a regrowth cycle
Harvest timing & optimization of
yield, quality and persistence
•
Growth rate is a function of
slope
Linear phase
2.
•
Growth rates are highest
Declining phase
3.
•
Maturity reached or nutrients
sapped
3
Yield Accumulation
Yield accumulation
during regrowth (one
cycle)
1. Lag phase
2
1
*
Time
* Point where you begin to achieve
maximum light interception
Yield accumulation over multiple
regrowth cycles
Cummulative
Accumulation
Yield advantage
of later harvest
New growth curve when
cut at bud stage
New growth curve when
cut at bloom
Time
Curing Phase

Overview of the curing process:


Objective is to promote drying as rapidly as
possible
Factors that affect curing:



Leaves dry faster than stems
Exposed forage always dries faster
Drying rates during curing are high early on, then low
later
Factors affecting the duration of curing

Typical duration

3-7 days

Environmental
factors

Mechanical
factors
Environmental Factors

Factors that promote
curing:




High temperature
Low humidity
High wind
Solar radiation

Weather hazards during
curing:


High humidity
Rain




Causes increased
shattering
Delays curing
Leads to mold
development
MOLD


Field = black
Baled = white
Cutting considerations



Cut when soil surface moisture is below 45%
If raining?
Move hay
carefully!


Leaf shatter
Turn windrows
Loss Due to Rainfall

Leaching

Respiration

Leaf Loss

Quality?
Rain is in the forecast…
Relative Risk
Lower
Higher
Explanation
Forage can be ensiled
Forage will be baled
Fewer days needed for
curing; narrower swath
Small acreage of
forage to be harvested
Large acreage of forage to Delaying harvest puts more
harvest
acres at risk of not being
cut on time
Rain forecast for early
in drying period
Rain forecast for late in
drying period
Quality loss is less of rained
on when still high moisture
Forecasted rain is short Forecasted rain is
Less leaching if short
duration/scattered
“frontal” +/- long duration duration, high intensity
Rain is in the forecast…
Relative Risk
Lower
Higher
Explanation
Pure grass or
grass/legume mix
Pure legume
Losses associated with leaf
shatter less concern with
grass
Standing forage is
beyond optimum
maturity stage
Standing forage still high
in quality
Advancing maturity=less
cell compounds susceptible
to leach loss
Chemical drying agent/ No chemicals/drying
preservative used
agents used
Effective use of chemicals
allows for baling at higher
moisture
Mechanical Factors

Hay is cut into windrows



Conditioning




Wider, thinner windrows
Exposes a greater surface area to air
Common in high rainfall areas
Crimping, rolling, or crushing forage
Breaks the stems
Raking/turning

Example: alfalfa -- raking at 50% moisture will lead to
only 5% leaf loss, while raking at 33% moisture leads to
higher leaf loss
To speed drying time:


Have as much hay on ground at midday as possible
In fields with north/south facing slopes:




Hay south-facing (dries faster)
Haylage/silage north-facing
Adjust conditioner so that hay is laid in wide thin
rows
Taller stubble will aid drying of lower part of row
2007 Delaware Ag Week
Hay and Pasture Session
Harrington, DE
22 January 2007
Adjustment and Operation of Hay
Equipment for Minimal Drying Time
James L. Glancey
Ian Cosden
Matt Dunson
Jeff Gordon
Doug Cook
University of Delaware
Richard Strosser
Case-New Holland, Inc.
jglancey@udel.edu
Presentation Overview



Hay Drying Physics
Conditioner Designs and Adjustments
Comparison of Conditioning Methods




Intermeshing rollers vs. impellers
Dry matter and drying rate studies
Raking and Tedding
Summary
Hay Production . . .



Biggest Challenge:
Decreasing drying time.
Economic losses result
primarily from in-field
drying.
Excessive Drying Times:




Dry matter loss
Bleaching
Exposure to Rainfall
Microbial degradation
Dry Matter Loss
How Hay Dries
Phase I:




Plants continue to respire
after cutting.
Moisture moves through
open stomates.
Stomates open during
daylight.
Wide swath widths are the
single most important
factor in this phase.
How Hay Dries . . .
Phase II:


Moisture loss through
leaves and stems.
Conditioning
accelerates this phase.
How Hay Dries . . .
Phase III:



Loss of most tightly
held water, mainly
from stems.
Conditioning critical
for this phase.
Target moisture for hay
is 14 to 18%.
Driving Factors in Hay Drying

Plant Structure



Windrow Structure



Wide vs. Narrow
Yield
Environmental Factors






Legume
Grass
Solar Intensity
Humidity
Wind Speed
Dew
Soil Moisture
(most important)
(least important)
Target Moisture Levels


18% for small bales
Less for large bales
Keys to Making Quality Hay

Cut at the right maturity.

Never trust a weather
forecast.

Keep equipment maintained
to minimize downtime.

Keep equipment adjusted.

Don’t ever flip the tractor
with the mower . . .
Mechanical Conditioning





Bending failure of the plant
stem.
Promotes moisture loss
through the failure locations.
Proper machine adjustment
critical for effective
conditioning.
Survey of operators indicates
improper machine setup 70%
of the time.
Types:



Intermeshing rollers
Impeller
Super-conditioners
Intermeshing (Chevron) Rollers
Adjustments:

Gap between conditioning rolls.


Roll pressure




Most important parameter
One or two handles to change
spring preload on upper roller
Set based on yield
Higher pressures for grasses
Roll registration

Set relative rotation for proper
meshing
Impeller Conditioner


Tines or flails
impact crop.
Rubbing
between tines
and
conditioning
hood abrades
stems.
Super-conditioning



Machined steel or
rubber rollers.
Objective is to create
linear cracks in the
plant stem.
Because of precision
machined rollers and
involute profile, gap is
almost zero.
Involute Profile Rollers
Duel rollers with
Pressure Control
System
Super-conditioning . . .
Price ~ $9500 add-on.
Evaluating Conditioning

The best way to check is
to observe the condition
of the harvested forage in
the windrow.

The stems should be
cracked. If not,
adjustments must be
made.
Linear Crack
Crimp
Conditioning Roll Material
Dry Matter Losses (%)
Effect on Field Loss
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Molded
Rubber
Tire Cords
Rubber and
Steel
Conditioning Roller Type
Steel
Impeller Settings
Drying Constant, k
Effects on Drying Rate
Hood
Setting
0.22
0.2
0.18
0.16
0.14
0.12
0.1
Far
Medium
Close
Drying Constant, k
Conditioning Hood Setting
0.2
Impeller
Speed
0.18
0.16
0.14
0.12
0.1
Slow
Fast
Impeller Speed
Comparison: Impeller vs. Rolls
10
Average
Aggressive
Leaf Loss (%)
8
Non-Aggressive
6
4
2
0
Steel Y
Steel U
Plastic U
Rubber Rolls
Steel Y
Steel U
Conditioner
Drying Constant
0.3
0.25
Alfalfa
0.2
Grass
0.15
Rubber Rolls
0.1
0.05
0
Steel Y
Steel U
Plastic U
Conditioner
Rubber Rolls
Plastic U
Total Dry Matter Losses
Three Harvesting Systems
Initial Windrow Width
Effect on Drying Rate
Drying Rate
1 (fastest)
2
3
4
5
6 (slowest)
Conditioned/NotConditioned
Windrow width
(% of max )
Conditioned
Conditioned
Not-conditioned
100
65
100
Not-conditioned
Conditioned
Not-conditioned
65
35
35
An unconditioned swath width of +90% will dry faster than
a conditioned swath width of 35%.
Haylage moisture and quality vs. swath
width
Swath Width of Mower Conditioners
Survey of U.S. Manufacturers
Maximum Swath
Width
(% of Cutting Width)
Conditioner Width
(% of Cutting Width)
Average
Minimum
Maximum
61.4
27.8
87.3
65.4
29.4
99.7
If Windrow Width is Too Narrow
Chemical Conditioning?






Potassium Carbonate @ 5
lbs per dry ton.
Use 30 gallons of water per
acre.
Modifies the wax layer on
the stem to increase drying.
Best case – can reduce
drying by 1 day.
Still need mechanical
conditioning.
Not a preservative.
Raking (and Tedding)





Timely raking helps minimize leaf
loss and promotes rapid, even
drying.
Raking hay that is too wet retards
drying.
Raking hay that is too dry results
in excessive leaf shatter, losing
leaves and hay quality.
Rake when moisture content is
about 50%, otherwise, wait until
the dew sets before raking.
Side delivery rakes loose about
half as much as wheel rakes.
Summary

Solar intensity is the key to fast drying – use wide windrows.

Properly adjusted mechanical conditioning systems can are as
good as any other method for reducing drying time.

In general, use conditioning rolls for alfalfa and impeller
conditioners for grasses.

Try to rake at moistures more than 40%; use a tedder only
above 50%.

For roll conditioners, an automatic adjustment system to
control roll gap will likely be available within 5 years.
Baling
Packaging Phase

Nature of losses


Shatter –
leaves are most susceptible
directly associated with water content!
Several factors may affect the magnitude of
losses during packaging
Losses during packaging

Species


Water content at time of curing termination


Higher loss with lower water content
Equipment


Legumes have higher losses
Round bales tend to cause more shattering than square
bales
Time of Day

Bale early morning or evening when there is dew to
reduce loss to shatter
Chemical Hay Treatments

Two main Categories


Preservatives
Drying Agents
Preservatives

Mode of Action




Applied either at or immediately after baling
Designed to kill or retard microbial activity
Some produce a favorable type of microbial
activity
Allows for baling at higher moisture levels
Types of Preservatives

Organic Acid Based



Microbial Based





Contain propionic or acetic acid
Kills microbes
Carried over from silage fermentation agents
Promote “favorable” microbial activity
Produces compounds that later prevent mold
NO PROVEN EFFECTIVENESS
Older types



Include agents such as salt (wet areas, mountain meadows)
Urea
Anhydrous ammonia (used on round bales)
Anhydrous Ammonia



Kills microbes
 Protein
 Digestibility
Plastic Cover
Open container
NH3OH
Preservatives

Benefits of use:

Shortens duration of curing time


Allows packaging at higher moisture content


Reduces risk due to weather hazards
Reduces shattering losses
Limitations on use:

Organic Acid Types



Effective at moisture levels up to 35%
Highly corrosive (safety!)
Microbial Agents

Effective at moisture levels up to 25%
Drying Agents






“Chemical
Conditioners”
Composition
Mode of Action
Method of
Application
Benefit of Use
Limitations on
Drying Agent Use
Composition


Key ingredient is Potassium Carbonate
(Potash)
May also include:



fat-based materials
Sodium Carbonate
Flavoring Agents
Chemical Factors

Hay Drying Agents

Reduces field drying time by increases rate of
water loss from cut forage


Potassium Carbonate or Sodium Carbonate


Do not directly dry the hay!
Applied to standing forage before or at cutting
Alkaline N-silicates and alkaline carbonates in
combination with wetting agents
Chemical Factors

Reduces curing time





0 – ½ day at first cutting
½ - 1 day at 2nd cutting
½ - 2 days at 3rd cutting
0 – 1 day at 4th cutting
Recommended application rates vary:


1/8-pound each KCO3 per gallon water
5 pounds preservative per ton dry matter
harvested
Cost of Chemical Conditioners




Cost for chemical is between $1.90 and $10
per ton of hay produced
To equip a mower-conditioner with a tank and
spray equipment = $1000
Mixing/handling increases mowing time by
10-20%
Total cost (parts, labor, chemical) is between
$2.65 and $10.75 per ton of hay produced
Predicting Yield per Acre





Clip a 3’ x 3’ area of crop at normal cutting height
from a typical area of growth
Weigh sample to nearest 10th of a pound
Repeat in several areas and average results
Calculate baled tons per acre by multiplying the
average sample weight by 0.6 (assumes standing
forage is at 75% moisture)
To compute on DM basis, dry the hay to normal
baling DM%
Mode of Action



Creates pores in the surface of stems
Stems have a waxy covering which can be a
barrier to water loss
Egyptians used potash to make raisins 4000
years ago!
Waxy stem
Drying agent
Porous stem
Mode of Action
90
80
70
60
Drying Agent
Normal Curing
% H2O 50
40
30
20
10
0
Ready for baling
Method of Application

Applied at time of cutting/swathing

Try to apply to stems for maximum benefit!

Benefit of use:


Shortens duration of curing (low risk)
Most have lipids included which enhances the
effectiveness of potash

Less shatter loss (more pliable material)
Limitations on use of Drying Agents

Only work with legumes!!




Usually used only on alfalfa
Grasses don’t have exposed stems
Doesn’t work well in high humidity
environments
Typically limited to spring usage
Storage Phase

Moisture content

Weather
Moisture during storage

Water content must be below a critical level


Small rectangular bales



≤ 20% (upper limit is 20%)
Large Bales


Based on Size and Density of package
One-ton rectangular: ≤ 18%
High density rectangular bales: ≤ 15%
Cubes ≤ 12%
Consequences of excessive moisture

Major Hazard = MOLD


Produces toxins
Heat loss:


Fire
Chemical heat damage (non-enzymatic browning)

Maillard Reaction
Plant Sugars + amino acids
Heat + high moisture
140-150º F
Artifact
Lignin
Weathering Losses

Uncovered


Most weather damage
occurs only on exposed
surfaces
Large stacks = less total
damage
The Weathering Process

Bales stored outside on the ground without covers


Increase dramatically in moisture content (especially the
outer 2-3 inches)
Begins slowly but then accelerates


Weathered hay is more easily penetrated by rain
Thatch formation on round bales


Coarse-stemmed forage crops won’t thatch well
Once a wet layer forms – bale won’t shed water well
The Weathering Process

Thatch formation…



6’ x 6’ bale  22 gallons of water for every inch of rain
30 inches of rainfall during the storage period  660
gallons of water!
Location of weathering – three layers



Outside = wet, dark, rotten  no feeding value
Second = thinner layer of moist heavily molded hay 
low feeding value
Third = light mold, higher moisture content surrounding
inner unweathered portion
Factors Affecting Outside Storage
Losses







Bale Density
Other Field Operations or Techniques
Climatic Influences
Site Selection
Bale Orientation/Placement
Protecting the Tops of the Bales
Protecting the Bottoms of the Bales
Factors Affecting Loss

Bale density:




Denser  less spoilage
Affected by type of baler being used (some large
round balers produce 2x the density)
Fine-stemmed hays will produce denser bales
Other field operations/techniques:


Hay row formation  uniform, proper size
Operate rakes, balers in same direction hay was
cut
Factors Affecting Loss

Other field operations/techniques: (con’t)


Moisture content at baling
Bale wrapping




Twine closer together decreases loss but increases cost
Net wrap
Use of preservatives
Climate:




Higher rainfall
Rainfall distribution
High humidity
Temperature
Factors Affecting Loss

Site selection:




Close to feeding area
Well-drained, upland site
Hay/soil contact should be avoided
Bale orientation/placement


Large round bales – without sides touching, flat
ends butted together
Rows should run north/south
Factors Affecting Loss

Protecting the tops of the bales:



Cover bales – plastic sheeting, “caps”, fabric
Secure cover firmly
Protecting the bottoms of the bales:

Held off the ground by something that doesn’t
trap/hold water



Wooden pallets, telephone posts, scrap pipe, cross ties
Rock pads
Prevent hay/soil contact
Costs vs. Benefits of Hay Storage


Cost of hay losses
Barn storage


Costs and risks of barn storage
Reducing Fire Risk


Combustion due to extreme heating
External Causes
Cost vs. Benefit of Hay Storage
Beginning hay value, $/ton
% Loss
50
70
90
5
52.69
73.68
94.74
10
55.55
77.78
100
15
58.87
82.35
105.88
20
62.50
87.50
112.50
25
66.80
93.33
120.00
Barn Storage
Treatment compared to
barn storage
Increase w/ barn storage (% units)
Dry Matter
Digestible Dry
Matter
On Ground, no cover
Drained surface
Plastic cover
8.7
2.4
3.2
12.7
6.8
3.6
Drained surface + plastic
cover
Net Wrap
Plastic Sleeve
0.3
-1.4
1.5
0.6
---
Pyramid stack + cover
on top
3.7
--
Costs and Risks of Barn Storage


Building structure itself
Shrinkage of hay


Depreciation



Hay inside for several months will lose 5-10% of it’s
weight
Economic value of building declines over time (5% of
initial value per year)
Interest on investment
Taxes and insurance
Reducing Fire Risk


External or internal causes
Combustion due to extreme heating





Bale hay at proper moisture levels!
If too wet  store outside for ~ 3 weeks
Loose stack the bales
Use of hay preservatives to aid drying
External causes

Common sense!
Things NOT to do

Allow sides of
round bales to touch

No bales in standing
water

No storage under
trees
Ensiling


Process of producing silage
Silage: the product of fermentation of plant
tissue

Produced by microbial activity under anaerobic
conditions
Plant Sugars
fermentation
Organic Acids
“pickled” plant material
low pH
Direct-cut, High-moisture Silages


No treatment – most typically done with
cereal silages such as corn
Factors affecting success:

Anaerobic conditions





Plant water content
Fine chopping
Packing
Sealing
Presence of readily fermentable carbohydrates
Silage
Phase 1:
Aerobic
Phase 4:
Continued lactic ferementation
Phase 2:
Acetic acid
Phase 5:
Stable
Phase 3:
Lactic Acid
69º F
90º F
Temperature Change
85º F
4.0
6.0
0
pH change
3.8
4.2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
Major barriers to proper ensiling


Aerobic Conditions

Internally trapped air

External air
Hazard: heating and creation of nonenzymatic browning (“caramelized”)
Major barriers to proper ensiling

Undesirable fermentation

Causes:



Activity of clostridium species bacteria
Favored by high moisture, high pH plus low levels of
fermentable carbohydrates
If conditions are marginal:

Contributing factors include:



High protein
High Ca
Problem species = alfalfa, most cool season grasses
Undesirable Fermentation…

Characteristics:

Poor conservation of protein and energy
Protein
amino
acids
Energy
Excessive dry matter losses:
clostridia
lactic acid
Foul odors, decreased palatability
Volatile forms
of Nitrogen
butyric acid + CO2
Low Moisture Silage (Haylage)

Extended wilting


Finer chopping required


¼ inch
Silo must be perfectly sealed


Until 45-60% water
Upright silo (requires oxygen-limiting structure)
Aerobic activity – almost no fermentation (too
dry)
Balage


Used in wet environments
Large round bales  wrapped or bagged in
plastic




40-60% water
Advantages
Disadvantages
Procedures
Balage - Advantages








Reduced risk of weather damage
Flexibility  baler can be used for hay and silage
Lower fixed costs and operating costs
Requires less energy than chopping
Lower field losses
Easily expandable without large investment
Can store @ higher moisture with less seepage loss
Natural green color remains
Balage - Disadvantages






Storage loss if integrity of plastic wrap is not
maintained and air is allowed into bale
Incomplete ferementation, higher pH, unstable
Cost of plastic wrap
Increased labor requirements
Plastic bagged bales are difficult to move without
damaging the wrapping
Disposal of used plastic is a potential pollution
hazard (lots and lots of plastic)
Procedures

Wilting

Moisture at harvest is single-most important factor (50-60%)




Temperature rise  fermentation; want temps below 90° F
Baling



Excess moisture  butyric acid formation (instead of lactic acid)
At less than 40% moisture  combustion
Chain-type baler (rather than belt)
Tight, even rolls (10-15 pounds DM/cubic foot)
Storage



Barn-stored (may have some surface mold, but otherwise
good)
Outside (high loss rate; DON’T cover with black plastic!)
Bagging done at storage site, not at baling
Balage Procedures



Cut and conditioned just as in normal haymaking
High moisture (50-60% ideal)
Use of traditional round-baler



Will weigh about 2x normal bale
Must be bagged/wrapped within 1-2 hours after
baling for maximum feed quality
Don’t carry excess over to next winter!

Put up as dry hay if you intend to sell or use over several
seasons.
Losses Involved in Ensiling Process

Fermentation Losses



Seepage





Minimal loss unless clostridial fermentation
Protein breakdown
Caused by excessive moisture
Leaching of soluble nutrients out of silo
Losses in digestible nutrients
ODOR, CORROSIVE
Surface Spoilage


Exposed areas susceptible
Horizontal silos more susceptible (cover with plastic)
Silage Additives

Fermentation stimulants



Molasses
Makes up for lack of fermentable carbohydrates
Microbial bacteria



Silage innoculators – refined bacterial cultures
About 1-2% better feed efficiency and fermentation in corn
silage
Fermentation inhibitors


Direct acidification – mineral acids
Bacterial inhibitors
Silage Additives…

Nonprotein Nitrogen


Add Nitrogen to the silage
Used with cereal silages such as corn



Corn silage  energy:protein balance is off (more energy than
protein)
Addition of urea or anhydrous ammonia can bring N level up
Ruminants are able to use NPN, but horses can’t


Rumen microbes are able to produce protein from NPN that can
then be absorbed in the small intestine by the animal
In horses, protein is absorbed in the small intestine and microbes
don’t come along until the large intestine
Use of Silage/Haylage/Balage




Traditionally fed to high-producing dairy cows
Not a traditional horse feed
CAN be fed to horses (especially haylage and
balage)
Problem: entire bale must be used within 10
days of opening to prevent spoilage.

Must have large number of animals to eat the stuff
Equipment

Tractor ($10,000 and up)
Equipment

Mower/conditioner
1992 12’ New Holland Mower/Conditioner; Used price = $9,250
Equipment

Rake
Single side rake, John Deere, used = $2350
Equipment

Baler
Small Square Baler = $5000 used
Round Baler = $13,000 used
Expenses


Buying your own equipment = expensive
Use of custom operators (Average costs in
MD):





Mowing = $10/acre (range of $5 - $30)
Conditioning & Mowing = $12/acre ($7 - $35)
Raking = $7/acre ($5 - $15)
Baling = 50¢/bale (30¢ - 75¢)
Most custom operators require a minimum of 5
acres, smaller acreage = higher price!
Forage Suitability for Hay
Forage Suitability for Hay
Not all plants are created equal when it comes
to suitability for hay
 Things to consider:

Location
 Nutritional needs of animals consuming hay
 Quality of hay to be produced
 Cost of establishment and maintenance

Yield and CP content of various hay crops
Type of Hay Crop
Hay Yield
(tons/acre)
Crude Protein (%)
Alfalfa (early bloom)
3-6
17-22
Oats
1-4
8-10
Orchardgrass
1-4
12-15
Red Clover
2-4
14-16
Ryegrass
1-4
10-16
Tall Fescue
2-4
10-15
Coastal Bermudagrass
5-8
10-14
Common Bermudagrass
2-6
9-11
Crop Establishment
Perennials more economical than annuals
 Pure stand vs. mixed
 Hay fields should be weed-free for a high
quality product
 Soil test every year prior to fertilizer/lime
application
 QUANTITY OR QUALITY??

Pure Stands or Mixtures

Pure grass or pure legume can be
advantageous over a mixed grass-legume
stand:
Eases management associated with trying to keep
all species in a mixture competitive
 Increases number of herbicides that can be used for
weed control
 Improves forage quality – a pure legume stand is
usually higher in quality than a pure grass or
mixed grass-alfalfa stand.

Pure Stands or Mixtures

Mixed grass and legume stand can be
advantageous over a pure grass or legume
stand:
Eliminates need for N fertilizer
 Lengthens life of pasture or hay land because grass
will remain after legume stand is reduced
 Reduces the problem of legumes “heaving”
 Reduces soil erosion on steep slopes
 Improves livestock performance

Shotgun Mixture?

Shotgun mixture = mix of many grasses and
legumes
Prepackaged
 Don’t give you, the producer, the opportunity to
match a specific grass/legume to your soil type
 Eventually, 2-3 predominant forage species will
survive due to

 Soil
type
 Cutting management
 Fertilization program
Selecting the right grass

Soil Characteristics




Drainage
Fertility
pH
Plant characteristics





Palatability of plant
Winter hardiness
Growth habit
Drought tolerance
Cool vs. warm season
VPD = very poor drainage
PD = poor drainage
SPD = somewhat poor dr.
MWD = mod. well drained
H = high
VH = very high
F = fair
G = good
Soil
Characteristics
Drain
Fertilit
y
P = poor
B = bunchgrass
Bl =bunch-like
S = sod
C = cool
W = warm
Plant Characteristics
pH
Longev
Species
Palat
ab.
Winter
Hard
Growth
Habit
Drought
Tol
Cool vs
Warm
VPD
M-H
5.88.2
Reed Canary
perennial
L
G
S
G
C
PD
L
5.46.2
Redtop
perennial
L-M
G
S
F
C
SPD
L-M
5.48.2
Switchgrass
perennial
M
G
Bl
G
W
SPD
M
5.46.2
Tall fescue
perennial
M
F-G
B
G
C
SPD
M
5.58.2
Orchardgrass
perennial
M-H
F
B
F
C
VPD = very poor drainage
PD = poor drainage
SPD = somewhat poor dr.
MWD = mod. well drained
H = high
VH = very high
F = fair
G = good
Soil
Characteristics
Drain
Fertilit
y
P = poor
B = bunchgrass
Bl =bunch-like
S = sod
C = cool
W = warm
Plant Characteristics
pH
Longev
Species
Palatab. Winter
Hard
Growth
Habit
Drought
Tol
Cool vs
Warm
SPD
M
5.46.2
Timothy
perennia
l
H
G
B
P
C
SPD
M-H
5.66.2
Ryegrass
annual/
perennia
l
VH
- to F
B
P
C
SPD
H
5.46.2
Smooth
Brome
perennia
l
VH
G
S
G
C
MWD
L-M
5.46.2
Big bluestem
perennia
l
H
G
S
G
W
MWD
L-M
5.46.2
Indiangrass
perennia
l
H
G
S
C
W
Grass Species - seeding

Careful selection of seeding time = important
Planting earlier or later than suggested dates can result
in decreased yield
 Weed pressure is greater if spring planting is delayed


Buy seed on a “pure live seed” (PLS) basis

Some seeds will be inert
%PLS = % purity x % germination
pounds bulk seed x % PLS = pounds PLS
Pure Live Seed example

100 pound bag of tall fescue
Germination value of 80%
 Purity value of 90%
%PLS = 80% x 90% = 72%
 Only 72 pounds of the purchased 100 pounds will
produce your desired crop
 Have to divide the recommended seeding rate by
the PLS to determine actual weight of application
per acre!!

VPD = very poor drainage
PD = poor drainage
SPD = somewhat poor dr.
MWD = mod. well drained
H = high
VH = very high
F = fair
G = good
Soil
Characteristics
Drain
Fertility
P = poor
B = bunchgrass
Bl =bunch-like
S = sod
C = cool
W = warm
Plant Characteristics
pH
Longev
Species
Palatab. Winter
Hard
Drought
Tol
Cool vs
Warm
PD
M
6.06.5
Alsike Clover
perennia
l
H
G
F
C
SPD
L
5.56.2
Striate
lespedeza
Summer
annual
H
n/a
F
W
SPD
L
5.56.2
Korean
lespedeza
Summer
annual
H
n/a
F
W
SPD
M
6.06.5
Crimson
clover
Winter
annual
H
VP
P
C
SPD
M
6.26.8
Red clover
perennia
l
H
G
F
C
VPD = very poor drainage
PD = poor drainage
SPD = somewhat poor dr.
MWD = mod. well drained
H = high
VH = very high
F = fair
G = good
Soil
Characteristics
Drain
Fertility
P = poor
B = bunchgrass
Bl =bunch-like
S = sod
C = cool
W = warm
Plant Characteristics
pH
Longev
Species
Palatab. Winter
Hard
Drought
Tol
Cool vs
Warm
SPD
M
6.56.8
Sainfoin
perennia
l
M
G
G
C
WD
M-H
6.87.2
Sweetclover
Annual/
biennial
M
- to G
G
C
WD
H
6.67.2
Alfalfa
perennia
l
VH
G
G
C
Selecting the right mixture

Compare soil properties when deciding what to
mix
i.e., alfalfa + orchardgrass not a good combo when
soil is poorly drained
 Timothy and smooth brome don’t persist well if
more than 3 cuttings occur; if quantity is a goal,
choose orchardgrass instead to mix with alfalfa
