1. Lawton Stewart Regional Forage Training 2009
How Does Hay Production Effect My Feed Bill?
Lawton Stewart
Regional Forage Training
2009

2. What are we producing and why?
Large sources of nutrients in the winter
Great insurance
Form
Round bales
Square bales

3. LOSS ACCUMULATE WITH EACH STEP
Field curing
7-25% loss
LOSS ACCUMULATE WITH EACH STEP
Harvesting
7-15% loss
It’s not unusual to see total losses of 70% or greater
Storage
20-45% loss
Feeding
10-30% loss

4. Preventing Storage Loss Starts in the Hay Field
% Moisture at Baling
% DM Loss
Quality Change
< 15
None
15-20
1-5
Loss of moisture
Slight loss of TDN (< 5 %)
>20 5+
Significant loss of TDN (>5%)
Heat damaged CP

5. Storage Losses

6. Storage options Outside on the ground Separation from the ground Tarp
Tarp + separation
Barn/Roof
Other
PRESENTER NOTES
Key Discussion Topics
There are a variety of ways to keep bales dry when being stored in humid climates. Direct precipitation can be kept off the hay by placing the bales under roof, wrapping the bales in plastic, wrapping the bales in net wrap or placing the bales under a tarp. Moisture can be kept from wicking from the ground to the hay by separating the hay from the soil.

7. Storing Hay Outside Separating Hay from the ground: Plastic
Large crushed stone
Poles/post
Pallets
Tires
Other??

8. Moisture distribution of twine wrapped alfalfa/grass round bales stored on the ground or pallets
Researchers at Wisconsin indicated that nutrient profile was not affected by storing hays on the ground vs. pallets because only the upper parts of the bales were sampled for nutrient composition. (Reference: Shinners et al., 2002 ASAE International meeting, paper )
One of the biggest problems with storing hay directly on the ground is due to dry matter losses associated with the higher moisture content at the bottom of the bale as seen above. This provides an environment for hay contacting the soil to decay more rapidly.
Soil Contact
Pallet
Shinners, U of Wisconsin

9. Moisture distribution of net wrapped vs
Moisture distribution of net wrapped vs. twine wrapped alfalfa/grass round bales stored on the ground
Moisture differences at 4 inches due to wrap appear to be greater with predominately alfalfa bales as compared with grass bales.
Wisconsin researchers noted little change in bale core nutrient profiles due to wrap.
This is due to low moisture (less than 20%) in the core of bales studied.
Change in nutrient composition of the outer portion of the bales tends to be higher with twine wrapping as compared to net wrapping.
(Reference: Shinners et al., 2002 ASAE International meeting, paper )
Net Wrapped
Twine Wrapped
Shinners, University of Wisconsin

10. --------------------Dry Matter Loss (%) --------------------
Round Bale DM Loss
Storage Method
Up to 9 Months
12-18 Months
Dry Matter Loss (%)
Exposed
Ground
5-20
15-50
Elevated
3-15
12-35
Covered
5-10
10-15
2-4
Under Roof
2-5
3-10
Enclosed Barn
<2
Hunke, OK State

11. Outside Hay DM Loss Source of DM Loss Loss (%) Cumulative Loss (%)
Heating/Respiration
2-10
Direct Precipitation
1-25
3-35
Ground Wicking
2-15
5-50
Highest values for months storage
Hunke, OK State

12. Cost of DM Loss Storage Method Up to 9 Months 12-18 Months DM Loss (%)
Cost of usable Hay ($)
Exposed
Ground
5-20
15-50
Elevated
3-15
12-35
Covered
5-10
10-15
2-5
Under Roof
3-10
Enclosed Barn
<2
Assuming $100/ton
Hunke, OK State

13. Feeding Losses

14. Method of Feeding Hay Feeding Bale – up to 50% loss Wagon – 11% loss
Ring – 6% loss
Unrolling

15. Is it Worth Unrolling? Advantages: Disadvantages:
Equal intake among cows
Reduce hoof action on soil
Redistribute nutrients
Control amount fed
Disadvantages:
Extra piece of equipment
Unroll large amount = feeding loss

16. Winter Feeding Cost
1100 lb cow x 2.5% of = 27.5 lb of hay body wt (dry matter) 27.5 lb DM ÷ 85% hay DM = 32.4 lb of hay ‘as fed’ per day

17. Winter Feeding Cost
32.4 lb of hay x 120 d winter = 3880 lb hay per day feeding period per cow for winter feeding 3880 lb hay ÷ 2000 lb per ton = 1.95 tons 1.95 tons x $100/ton = $195/cow/yr

18. Actual Feeding Cost Storage Method Avg DM Loss (%) Cost per Cow ($)
Cost per 40 cow Herd ($)
Annual Savings ($)
Exposed
Ground 15
230
9,200 -
Elevated 10
217
8,680
520
Covered 8
212
8,480
720 3
201
8,040
1,160
Under Roof
2.5
200
8,000
1,200
Enclosed Barn
195
7,800
1,400

19. What About Baled Silage??
Advantages:
Minimize harvest loss
Decrease influence of weather
Flexible system
Disadvantages:
Potential for ‘operator error’
Cost of materials
Keeping critters out
Ryegrass Harvest/Storage Comparison
Method
TDN (%)
CP (%)
Hay 49
12.1
Baled Silage 56
12.4
(Hancock and Stewart, 2009)

20. Conclusion Reducing hay losses can be accomplished by
Evaluating how hay is harvested
Evaluating how hay is stored
Evaluating how hay is offered

21. Thank You!
Questions?