How to Produce High Quality Hay II: How to cure and handle hay. Dennis Hancock, PhD. Extension Forage Specialist UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences.

How to Produce High Quality Hay II: How to cure and handle hay.

How to Produce High Quality Hay II: How to cure and handle hay.

Dennis Hancock, PhD.Extension Forage Specialist

UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences

Dennis Hancock, PhD.Extension Forage Specialist

UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences

Components of Forage Waste:

Field curing

Harvesting

Storage

FeedingHarvesting7-15% loss Harvesting7-15% loss

Field curing5-25% lossField curing5-25% loss

Components of Curing LossesComponents of Curing Losses

Rainfall and leaching

Ave

rag

e M

on

thly

R

ain

fall

(in

ch

es

)

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

Rainfall Distribution - Midville

Rainfall Distribution - Midville

1

2000-2007

Components of Curing LossesComponents of Curing Losses

Rainfall and leaching

RespirationRespiration

Respiration Loss:Respiration Loss:Consider the humble bananaConsider the humble banana

Rate of Respiration Loss Depends on Internal Crop Moisture and Air

Temperature

Rate of Respiration Loss Depends on Internal Crop Moisture and Air

Temperature

80 70 60 50 40 30 20

Moisture level, %

0.40

0.35

0.30

0.25

0.20

0.15

0.10

DM

losses,

(% D

M/h

ou

r)

77° F

95° F

Drying Times VaryDrying Times Vary

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Days

80

60

40

20

Mois

ture

(%

)

Poor DryingConditionsGood Drying

Conditions

Mowing and Curing Systems

If you have < 50 acres of hay, what mowing implement do you use (most frequently)?

If you have < 50 acres of hay, what mowing implement do you use (most frequently)?

A.Sicklebar mowerB.Disc mowerC.Sicklebar

mower/conditionerD.Disc mower/conditionerE.Other

A.Sicklebar mowerB.Disc mowerC.Sicklebar

mower/conditionerD.Disc mower/conditionerE.Other

If you have > 50 acres of hay, what mowing implement do you use (most frequently)?

If you have > 50 acres of hay, what mowing implement do you use (most frequently)?

A.Sicklebar mowerB.Disc mowerC.Sicklebar

mower/conditionerD.Disc mower/conditionerE.Other

A.Sicklebar mowerB.Disc mowerC.Sicklebar

mower/conditionerD.Disc mower/conditionerE.Other

Mower OptionsMower Options

Sickle Cutterbar 10-20% less expense Require 30% less hp Repairs are less expensive

Disk Cutterbar Faster ground speed Cuts through ant hills better Maintenance is 20-30% less Better if crop is lodged

Sickle Cutterbar 10-20% less expense Require 30% less hp Repairs are less expensive

Disk Cutterbar Faster ground speed Cuts through ant hills better Maintenance is 20-30% less Better if crop is lodged

Conditioner StylesConditioner Styles

Flail (impeller) Roller (crimper)

Conditioner StylesConditioner Styles

Flail (impeller) Roller (crimper)

Fine stemmed grasses Thick stemmed grassesand

Leafy (legumes)

Cross Section of Crop StemCross Section of Crop Stem

• Stems have a waxy surface called cutin• Conditioning should scratch or crack the stem

surface for faster drying

• Stems have a waxy surface called cutin• Conditioning should scratch or crack the stem

surface for faster drying

Conditioner Drying RatesConditioner Drying Rates

Alfalfa Grass

Dry Matter Losses from Alfalfa as a Result of Conditioning

Dry Matter Losses from Alfalfa as a Result of Conditioning

Alfalfa Grass

Night-Time Moisture Fluctuations

Night-Time Moisture Fluctuations

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Days

80

60

40

20

Mois

ture

(%

)

Poor DryingConditionsGood Drying

Conditions

The Effect of Relative Humidity

The Effect of Relative Humidity

30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Relative Humidity, %

40

30

20

10

Eq

uilib

riu

m M

ois

ture

(%

)

77° F95° F

“My Buddy, Ted”

• Increase hay-drying rates by 20-40% (~ 0.5 – 1 day)• DM Loss: Grasses (<3%) Legumes (7-10% +)• Breaks up clumps & distributes the crop over the entire area.

Increased sun Fluffed for better air movement

• Initial tedding: w/in 2-4 hrs (clumps break better) • Additional tedding? May be necessary for grass, probable for

alfalfa

Hay Raking Systems

• Parallel bar rake The lowest amount of hay loss,

particularly with legumes. Usually ground drive system.

• Rotary rakes Some are dual function (rake or ted).

• Wheel rakes Operated at a higher speed (saves time) Tend to leave more in the field.

Hay Curing Management

• Conditioner? YES.• Wide or narrow swath? Wide as possible• When to mow? Early as possible• Ted it? YES, but only when damp and

toward the end of when the dew is on. Avoid tedding legumes when > 50%

moisture

• Moisture at raking? 35-40% for legumes 20-25% for grass/legume mixes ~<20% for bermudagrass

• Moisture at baling? Small square = 18%, Round bales = 15%

Square vs.Round

Square vs. Round•Round bales

Large (800-2000 lbs) Easy to handle, if you have a tractor Less expensive ($/dry ton) Lots of waste

If stored outside If fed on ground If accessible over long periods

•Square (small rectangular) bales Small (40-75 lbs) Relatively easy to handle and store More expensive ($/dry ton) Fed with less waste, usually Labor intensive

Bale AccumulatorBale Accumulator

Bale Grapple (“Grabber”)Bale Grapple (“Grabber”)

Bale Grapple (“Grabber”)Bale Grapple (“Grabber”)

Baled Silage

Baled SilageBaled Silage• More nutrients are

preserved• Less dependent on weather

• High Quality! But, “Garbage in = garbage out”

• Much lower harvest and storage losses

• Min. amount of additional machinery• No specialized machinery for

feeding• No effluent problems if wilted

• High Quality! But, “Garbage in = garbage out”

• Much lower harvest and storage losses

• Min. amount of additional machinery• No specialized machinery for

feeding• No effluent problems if wilted

AdvantagesAdvantages

• Higher cost than conventional hay methods costs are offset by losses in hay methods

• Bales can be very heavy• Some balers can’t bale wet forage

Rare these days

• Tears or punctures can lead to spoilage

• Possibility of spoiled silage causing sickness

• Disposal of used plastic

• Higher cost than conventional hay methods costs are offset by losses in hay methods

• Bales can be very heavy• Some balers can’t bale wet forage

Rare these days

• Tears or punctures can lead to spoilage

• Possibility of spoiled silage causing sickness

• Disposal of used plastic

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Details at End of DayDetails at End of Day

Resources on CDResources on CD

How to Produce High Quality Hay II: How to cure and handle hay.

How to Produce High Quality Hay II: How to cure and handle hay.

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

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