Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Forage Harvesting and Handling

Harrigan, 2006 Purdue Hay Day Hay making objectives  Cut, crimp, rake and bale within a few days time  Reduce plant moisture from 75-85% to below 16%  Store protected from rain and wet soil  Prevent dust and mold contamination  Leaf shatter  Dirt  Molds—formed in the windrow in the bale  Cut, crimp, rake and bale within a few days time  Reduce plant moisture from 75-85% to below 16%  Store protected from rain and wet soil  Prevent dust and mold contamination  Leaf shatter  Dirt  Molds—formed in the windrow in the bale

Harrigan, 2006 Purdue Hay Day Minimize losses  Respiration  Rain  1/10 inch  ½ inch  1 inch  Mow-condition  Tedding  Swath inversion  Raking  Respiration  Rain  1/10 inch  ½ inch  1 inch  Mow-condition  Tedding  Swath inversion  Raking 1-7%--- 4% normal 3-7%---5% 7-27%---17% 12-50%---31% 1-4%---2% 2-8%---3% 1-3%---1% 1-20%---5%

Harrigan, 2006 Purdue Hay Day Hay losses  Baling  Small bales  Large round bales  Storage  Inside  Outside  Typical losses  20% good conditions  40% to 50% w/ rain, round bales, outside storage  Baling  Small bales  Large round bales  Storage  Inside  Outside  Typical losses  20% good conditions  40% to 50% w/ rain, round bales, outside storage 2-6%---4% normal 3-9%---6% 3-9%---5% 6-30%---15%

Harrigan, 2006 Purdue Hay Day

Sickle-Bar Cutting Unit

Mower-Conditioner $12,000 to $36, % DM loss

Self-Propelled Mower- Conditioner $60,000 to $90,000

Rotary-disk w/ rubber roll conditioner

Steel Roll Conditioner

Flail Conditioner

Hay Macerator

Macerated Hay

Windrow Inverter $8,000 to $10, % DM Loss

Tedder 3% loss in a wet crop, 10% late in drying process

Tandem Wheel Rake $10,000 to $12, % DM Loss

Harrigan, 2006 Purdue Hay Day Suggestions  Cutterbar and rotary disk mowers have offsetting advantages. Rotary disks are most useful when greater harvest capacity is needed.  Conditioning is a good investment in all systems.  Take advantage of natural drying conditions  Wide swath and rake or  Narrow swath and invert before baling (30% moisture)  Cutterbar and rotary disk mowers have offsetting advantages. Rotary disks are most useful when greater harvest capacity is needed.  Conditioning is a good investment in all systems.  Take advantage of natural drying conditions  Wide swath and rake or  Narrow swath and invert before baling (30% moisture)

Harrigan, 2006 Purdue Hay Day Suggestions  Tedder/rake might save ½ day at 1 st cut, but 8% loss with alfalfa < 40% moist.  Tedder within a few hours of mowing (50- 60% moisture) or after rain  Inside storage or weather protection can be justified in most conditions.  When hay is transported relatively long distances, large high-density rectangular bales are preferred.  Tedder/rake might save ½ day at 1 st cut, but 8% loss with alfalfa < 40% moist.  Tedder within a few hours of mowing (50- 60% moisture) or after rain  Inside storage or weather protection can be justified in most conditions.  When hay is transported relatively long distances, large high-density rectangular bales are preferred.

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Small Rectangular Bales

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Large Rectangular Bales

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Round Baler $15,000 to $30,000

Bale size  Small square bales are easy to handle (50 lb).  Convenient for stabled horses.  Labor intensive for several horses.  Large square bales stack tightly for shipping.  2-4 ft width and height, 4-8 ft long, lb  Large round bales are heavy lb but labor efficient.  Many horse owners are not set up to handle large bales. Premium for delivery and handling.  Small square bales are easy to handle (50 lb).  Convenient for stabled horses.  Labor intensive for several horses.  Large square bales stack tightly for shipping.  2-4 ft width and height, 4-8 ft long, lb  Large round bales are heavy lb but labor efficient.  Many horse owners are not set up to handle large bales. Premium for delivery and handling.

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Bale Tuber $15,000 to $20,000

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Round Bale Storage

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Plastic Bale Wrap

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Covered Stack

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Shed Storage

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Round Bale Storage

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU

Harrigan, 2006 Purdue Hay Day Feeding losses 3.5% waste 6.1% waste 11.4% waste 14.6% waste

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Making Silage  Controlled fermentation of high-moisture forage.  First few days plant enzymes and microbes are active, metabolize soluble carbohydrates to CO 2, H 2 O and heat.  Anerobic microbes multiply using sugars and starches for energy, produce lactic acid.  Lactic acid levels of 7-8%, pH = 4.0 fermentation stops, stable storage  Controlled fermentation of high-moisture forage.  First few days plant enzymes and microbes are active, metabolize soluble carbohydrates to CO 2, H 2 O and heat.  Anerobic microbes multiply using sugars and starches for energy, produce lactic acid.  Lactic acid levels of 7-8%, pH = 4.0 fermentation stops, stable storage

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Making Silage  Optimal dry matter 30-45%.  Too wet  pH too high, development of clostridial bacteria, butyric acid, odor.  Seepage of soluble nutrients.  Too dry or poorly packed  Excess heating, molds, bacteria, yeasts.  Unpalatable, may be toxic.  Optimal dry matter 30-45%.  Too wet  pH too high, development of clostridial bacteria, butyric acid, odor.  Seepage of soluble nutrients.  Too dry or poorly packed  Excess heating, molds, bacteria, yeasts.  Unpalatable, may be toxic.

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Silage harvest systems  Silage production is a major cost of milk production.  Own or custom hire?  Labor available  Crop acreage  Crop quality  Silage production is a major cost of milk production.  Own or custom hire?  Labor available  Crop acreage  Crop quality

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Suitable days for harvest  Only 2 days out of 3 are suitable for corn silage harvest in September and October.  Hours per day available?  Only 2 days out of 3 are suitable for corn silage harvest in September and October.  Hours per day available?

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Equipment set  Forage harvester  Transport wagons or trucks  Silo blower or packing tractor  Forage harvester  Transport wagons or trucks  Silo blower or packing tractor

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Prevent crop flow bottlenecks  2-row pull-type  3 7-ton self-unloading wagons when hauling 1.75 miles or less  8-row self-propelled  8 9-ton dump trucks when hauling 5 miles.  2-row pull-type  3 7-ton self-unloading wagons when hauling 1.75 miles or less  8-row self-propelled  8 9-ton dump trucks when hauling 5 miles.

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Silo Filling and Storage  Fill fast  Uniform moisture and maturity  Pack well  Exclude oxygen  Cover  No cover costs 30% of top 3 feet.  Fill fast  Uniform moisture and maturity  Pack well  Exclude oxygen  Cover  No cover costs 30% of top 3 feet.

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Packing or filling silos  Packing increases silage density, excludes oxygen, promotes fermentation and improves quality

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Upright Silo 8-10% DM loss

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Bunker Silo 12% DM loss

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Bag Silo 6% DM loss

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Silo Feed-Out  Unload fast  Size face for feed removal of 5 inches per day.  Sample for feed composition and quality.  Unload fast  Size face for feed removal of 5 inches per day.  Sample for feed composition and quality.

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Compare harvest systems  Dairies of 75-, 150-, 300-, 600-, and cows with replacements  Mix of new and used equipment  Dairies of 75-, 150-, 300-, 600-, and cows with replacements  Mix of new and used equipment  New tractors to power pull-type forage choppers  Used tractors to pack bunker silos, forage blowers and transport wagons.  Used trucks for transport on larger farms.

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Harvest Costs  Machinery ownership  Purchased, depreciated over 7 years, replaced  6% real interest  R&M on accumulated use  Fuel and lube  Labor for chopping, transport and silo filling plus 15% support time  Machinery ownership  Purchased, depreciated over 7 years, replaced  6% real interest  R&M on accumulated use  Fuel and lube  Labor for chopping, transport and silo filling plus 15% support time

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Requires a systems approach  Not included:  Mowing and raking alfalfa  Crop storage  Timeliness penalites  Storage losses  Charges for  Land  Crop establishment  Crop care  Not included:  Mowing and raking alfalfa  Crop storage  Timeliness penalites  Storage losses  Charges for  Land  Crop establishment  Crop care

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU 75-cow herd  1-row chopper  2 used 60 hp tractors  80 hp tractor  2 self-unloading wagons  Forage blower  1-row chopper  2 used 60 hp tractors  80 hp tractor  2 self-unloading wagons  Forage blower  565 tons alfalfa silage  990 tons corn silage  Within.25 miles  101 hours machine use  $132 per hour  $8.58 per ton

Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU 600-cow herd  4-row SP chopper  hp tractor/blade (used)  3 15-ton dump trucks  4-row SP chopper  hp tractor/blade (used)  3 15-ton dump trucks  6470 tons alfalfa silage  7935 tons corn silage  Within 2 miles  186 hours  $ per hour  $5.54 per ton

Harrigan, 2006 Purdue Hay Day Silage harvest costs