MINIMIZING LOSSES IN

HAY STORAGE AND FEEDING

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MINIMIZING LOSSES IN HAYSTORAGE AND FEEDINGEach year more than 60 million acresof forage crops are harvested for hay inthe United States. Annual productionfrom this acreage is over 150 milliontons of hay valued at more than 12billion dollars. Hay is the most widelygrown mechanically-harvested agro-nomic crop in the United States.

As a source of nutrition for live-stock, hay offers numerous advantages.It can be made from many differentcrops; when protected from theweather it can be stored indefinitelywith little nutrient loss; package sizesand shapes can vary greatly; andharvesting, storage, and feeding canvary from being done by hand to beingcompletely mechanized. Hay often canmeet, or almost meet, the nutrientneeds of many classes of livestock.

Because of its many merits, hay isthe most commonly used stored feedon livestock farms across the nation.Unfortunately, losses of hay duringstorage and feeding are often high,particularly with round bales storedoutside in high rainfall areas such asthe eastern United States. It is esti-mated that the total value of haystorage and feeding losses nationwideexceeds three billion dollars annually!On some farms, such losses account forover 10% of the cost of livestockproduction.

These are real, and not just poten-tial, losses (time, labor, and monetaryinputs are lost along with the hay).Unfortunately, many producersprobably do not realize how large theirlosses really are, or that with relativelylittle effort or expense they could bereduced considerably. The purpose ofthis publication is to provide informa-tion as to how and why hay lossesoccur, and how they can be reduced.

TYPES OF STORAGE LOSSESHay storage losses vary greatly depend-ing upon several factors, but storagetechnique is of utmost importance.Losses of dry hay stored inside a barnare usually of little concern. However,even for barn stored hay, losses risesharply as moisture levels increaseabove 20%, and losses from roundbales stored outside under adverseconditions can be much larger.During storage, hay can be subject todry matter losses as well as losses offorage quality.

Dry Matter LossesDry matter losses during storage resultfrom plant respiration (the continua-tion of normal plant processes),microbial activity, and weather deterio-ration. Even at low moisture levels(20% or less) there is some loss due torespiration and low numbers ofmicroorganisms, but this is constantacross hay types and essentiallyunavoidable.

At higher moisture levels (above20%) where mold growth is likely tobe visibly detectable, dry matter lossesare greater, and significant levels ofheating (which can also lower foragequality) occur due to microbial activity.Although numerous bacteria arepresent in hay, fungi account for mostof the microbial growth.

Heating of hay is related to moisturecontent. Peak temperature is oftenreached within a week after baling, butwith higher moisture hay and condi-tions which limit heat escape, it maytake as much as three weeks. At safemoisture levels (less than: 20% forrectangular bales; 18% for round bales;and 16% for large rectangular pack-ages) inside storage losses are typicallyaround 5% of dry matter, but lossesseveral times higher have been reportedfor extremely moist hay.

“Weathering” (the term which iscommonly used to refer to the effects

which climatic conditions have on hay)is partially a physical process. Some ofthe dry matter loss which occursduring outside storage is caused byleaching, which refers to the dissolvingand removal of nutrients by the passageof rain water over the surface of, andthrough, the bale. The more digestiblenutrients are, the more soluble theyare, and thus the more likely they areto be removed by leaching.

The switch from small rectangularbales to large round bales on most U.S.farms has resulted in higher storagelosses (in many cases, several timeshigher). Round bales are not inherentlysubject to greater losses, but they aremuch more likely to be subjected toadverse storage conditions, oftenremaining outside with no protectionbetween baling and feeding. Feedinglosses are usually sharply higher withround bales as well, partly because biground bales are generally fed on sodwhile rectangular bales are often fedin bunks.

The extent of weathering damageduring outside storage varies mainlywith climatic factors and with foragespecies. Weathering primarily affectshay in the outside circumference of alarge round bale rather than in theends. Consequently, package size(mainly the diameter) affects theproportion of the bale contained in thesurface layer, and thus the magnitudeof losses (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Dry matter loss vs. average spoilage depth inround bales of various diameters.*

1 2 3 4 5 6Average spoilage depth (inches)

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Bale diameter = 3 ft.

4 ft.5 ft.

6 ft.

*SOURCE: Buckmaster, D.R., 1993. Evaluator for RoundHay Bale Storage. J. Prod. Agric., 6:378-385.

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In the eastern United States it is notunusual for 4 to 8 or more inches ofspoilage to occur on the outside oflarge round bales stored outside withno protection. A weathered layer 6inches in depth on a 5.6 foot x 5.6 footbale contains about one-third of thepackage volume. Other things beingequal, the percentage of hay lostdecreases as bale size increases because asmaller proportion of the bale volumeis contained in the surface layer. Thishas important implications regardingbaler purchase decisions.

Forage Quality LossesStorage conditions can also have adramatic effect on hay chemicalcomposition and feeding value. Typicaleffects on the interior (unweathered)and exterior (weathered) portions ofbales on crude protein, acid detergentfiber (ADF), and in vitro digestible drymatter (IVDDM) are shown in Table1. Even if there were no dry matterlosses or additional feeding losses withweathered hay, changes in foragequality would be of great concern.

Total crude protein declines with

weathering, but the percentage ofcrude protein may increase due to drymatter losses (a phenomenon whichhas been reported to also occur withrain damage of field-curing hay). This

is because protein is less subject thanother plant constituents to weatheringloss. However, the proportion ofdigestible crude protein may decrease,especially if the hay undergoes heatingdue to excessive moisture.

Soluble carbohydrates, which arehighly digestible, decline duringweathering as shown by increases in

ADF and decreases in IVDDM; thuscarbohydrate levels differ greatlybetween the weathered and unweath-ered portions of round bales. Declinesin hay quality from weathering are

HAY QUALITY- THE KEY TOANIMAL PERFORMANCEHay quality is critically important, especially for animals havinghigh nutritional requirements, and the ultimate test of hay qualityis animal performance. Hay quality is considered satisfactory whenanimals consuming it perform as desired. For anyone who isproducing, feeding, buying, or selling hay, forage quality should bea major consideration.

Factors which affect hay quality include: growing conditions,fertility, species, varieties, pests, presence of weeds, harvesting,curing, handling, and storage. However, the stage of maturity whenharvested is the most important factor, and the one wheremanagement can have the greatest impact.

As plants advance from the vegetative to the reproductivestages, fiber and lignin increase, while protein, digestibility,metabolizable energy, and acceptability to livestock decrease. Earlycut hay makes a more desirable feed because it contains morenutrients. Hay cut at an early stage of maturity is also morepalatable and is more readily consumed by livestock.

Evaluating Hay QualitySeveral methods exist for evaluating hay quality: visual, chemical,near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS), and animalperformance. Visual estimates can help, but vary considerably.Descriptions based on these estimates show high quality hay to beearly cut, leafy, soft, free of mold and foreign material, and havinga pleasant odor. Color can be misleading, because hay having abright green color may be mature and fibrous, while faded haymay often have excellent nutritional value.

The most precise way to determine the nutrient content ofhay is through laboratory analysis. If a representative sample istaken and analyzed for nutritive content, the results can helpdetermine how much and what type of supplementation, if any, isneeded in order to meet the nutrient requirements of the animalsbeing fed, and to obtain the level of performance desired. Thisleads to efficient and economical feeding programs.

Sampling For Forage Quality AnalysesWhen hay is tested, a random, representative sample must beobtained because laboratory results will be only as accurate as thesample submitted. A sample should be taken for each lot of hay. A“lot” represents a group of bales of hay which were grown in thesame field, harvested under the same conditions and at the sametime, and stored in the same way.

When collecting samples, a hay probe should be used whichhas a minimum cutting diameter of 1/2 inch and a minimumlength of 12 inches. Samples should be taken from the ends ofconventional rectangular bales or from the radial sides of largeround bales, with 15 to 20 probe samples being composited andthen submitted for analysis from each lot of hay. Samples shouldbe stored in an airtight bag for shipment to the laboratory.Sampling of weathered hay for nutritive value is more complexthan sampling unweathered hay. Ideally, weathered andunweathered portions of bales should be sampled separately andthe analysis results from the two fractions weighted according totheir relative contributions to entire bales.

Portions Crude Acid detergentOf Bales protein fiber IVDDM_____________________________________________________________

- - - - - - - - % of dry weight - - - - - -Interior 18.9 38.6 61.4Exterior 19.4 45.8 46.9_____________________________________________________________

*SOURCE: Anderson, P.M., W.L. Kjelgaard, L.D. Hoffman, L.L. Wilson, and H.W. Harpster. 1981. Harvestingpractices and round bale losses. Trans. ASAE.24:841-842.

Table 1. Forage quality of the interior and exterior portions of alfalfa roundbales stored outside.*

Sampling each lot of hay for nutritive analysis isnecessary if hay is to be fed in an efficient manner.

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usually greater for legumes than forgrasses (Table 2).

Some heating of hay is normal, butextreme heating (above 120oF) lowersforage quality along with dry matter.Microbial activity associated withheating uses soluble carbohydrates,which reduces digestibility andincreases fiber levels. A reduction involuntary intake accompanies excessiveincreases in NDF.

UNDERSTANDING THEWEATHERING PROCESSFrom the preceding discussion, itshould be obvious that most of the haystorage losses which occur are associ-ated with hay being stored outside in asituation in which it is exposed to theelements, resulting in weathering. Thelonger hay is exposed to unfavorableweather conditions, the greater losseswill be.

How Weathering OccursBales stored outside on the groundwithout covers increase sharply inmoisture content during storage. Thisis especially true for the outer 2 to 3inches of the bale in which moisturemay increase by as much as 120%.Weathering begins slowly, but thenaccelerates because weathered hay ismore easily penetrated by rain, anddoesn’t dry as rapidly thereafter.

In areas of high and/or frequentrainfall, or with hay which does notshed water readily, the method ofstorage can make the differencebetween less than 5%, or more than50%, dry matter loss from weathering!

Furthermore, losses of more than 14%of the total crude protein and morethan 25% of the total digestiblenutrients can occur in the most highlyweathered portions of a bale. Animportant associated factor is that thepalatability of weathered portions ofbales is decreased, which lowers intakeand increases refusal.

Thatch FormationIn theory, a round bale should form athatch that will, at least initially, shedalmost all of the rain which falls on thetop of the bale, but any of severalfactors may prevent this from occur-ring. Examples of forage crops whichhave the potential to thatch well whenpackaged in a uniform, dense bale arefine-stemmed, leafy, weed-freebermudagrass or tall fescue.

Hay made from coarse-stemmedforage crops will not thatch well. Thisis due to large stems, hollow stems, orother physical factors which do notallow thatch formation. For example,water can easily penetrate the tops ofbales of many summer annual grasses,thus quickly beginning the weatheringprocess. Coarse-stemmed weeds withinhay can also provide an avenue forwater to penetrate bales.

Once a wet layer forms, a bale doesnot shed water well and moisture levelsinside the bale are likely to continue toincrease during the storage period. Asthe wet, moldy area on the top of thebale deepens, less and less dryingoccurs between rains. Hence, onceweathering gets underway, it usuallyproceeds much faster than with newlybaled hay.

Understanding the importance ofthatch formation is made easier byconsidering the amount of water whichmust be shed during storage. A 6 footlong by 6 foot diameter bale willreceive about 22 gallons of water foreach inch of rain. Therefore, if there

Table 2. Losses of forage quality during storage of round-baledgrass and grass-legume hay.*___________________________________________________________________________

in vitro Relative $ valueCrude digestible feed

Hay type Fraction protein dry matter value loss___________________________________________________________________________

- - - % of dry wt. - - - index $/TGrass unweathered 13.5 58.8 72 —

weathered 16.4 42.5 75 9.72Alfalfa unweathered 14.2 56.5 86 —

weathered 16.9 34.2 79 22.68____________________________________________________________________________*SOURCE: Lechtenberg, V.L., K.S. Hendrix, D.C. Petritz, and S.D. Parsons. 1979. Compositional changes and lossesin large hay bales during outside storage. pp. 11-14 In Proc. Purdue Cow-Calf Res. Day. West Lafayette, IN, 5Apr. 1979. Purdue Univ. Agric. Exp. Stn. West Lafayette, IN.1 Hay value determined: Y = (0.81 x RFV index) - 14.8 where Y = $/ton of hay. Minnesota Quality-TestedHay Auction Data. SOURCE: Martin, N.R., & Duane Schriever. 1996. Minnesota forage update Vol. XXI, No. 2, p. 5.

In addition to causing huge dry matter losses,weathering lowers forage quality, reduces palatabilityand intake, and increases feeding losses due toanimal refusal. Cattle ate only the center portion ofthis highly weathered bale.

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are 30 inches of rainfall during thestorage period, a bale will receive 660gallons of water.

Location Of WeatheringFor hay harvested at a low moisturelevel, weathering usually occurs inthree layers. The outside is typicallywet, dark, and rotten and has nofeeding value. Underneath is a thinnerlayer of moist and heavily molded haywhich is of relatively low quality. Athird transition layer, which mayexhibit light mold and have a highermoisture content than the outer surfacelayers, usually surrounds the unweath-ered interior.

The sides of round bales shed waterbetter than the tops because less surfaceis directly exposed to rain. Therefore,an isolated uncovered bale should haveless weathering on the sides than onthe top. However, moisture can betrapped where bales touch on therounded sides, and this trappedmoisture delays drying and thus resultsin greater weathering during storage.

Data suggest that often 50% ormore of the storage losses associatedwith outside storage occur in thevicinity of the bale/soil interface (thatis, at the bottom of the bale). Dry haytouching damp soil draws moistureinto the bale. Hence, if hay and soil arein contact, large weathering losses

occur on the bottoms of bales evenwhen they are stored on a well-drainedsite. As a bale begins to weather on thebottom, it will flatten and allow evenmore hay/soil contact, and more toparea will be horizontally exposed torainfall, each of which increases theamount and rate of weathering.

FACTORS AFFECTING OUTSIDESTORAGE LOSSESIn research trials in the eastern UnitedStates in which large round bales havebeen stored outside without protectionfor six months or more, dry matterlosses of 30% or greater have beencommon. Some of the most importantfactors relating to the extent and dollarvalue of outside storage losses areas follows:

Bale DensityIn general, the denser or more tightlyhay is baled, the lower the amount ofspoilage that will occur, assuming haymoisture at baling is 18 to 20% orlower. Bale density is affected greatly bythe type of baler being used, with somelarge round balers providing a densityup to twice as great as other balers. Theaverage density of a bale is less criticalthan the density on the outer surface.

Other factors may also affect baledensity. By making proper baleradjustments and taking time to do agood job, an experienced baler operatorcan often produce bales which aremuch tighter than those someone elsemight produce using the same equip-ment. Some fine-stemmed hays such asbermudagrass naturally tend to pro-duce a tight bale which sheds watermuch better than coarse-stemmed hayssuch as johnsongrass, pearl millet, orsorghum-sudangrass.

Having well-formed, tight bales isan important factor in reducing storagelosses. Most haying equipment compa-nies can provide information that

discusses the steps (or tricks) required toproduce dense, uniform bales whenusing their products. The density ofround bales (at least in the outer fewinches) should be a minimum of 10pounds of hay/cubic foot.

While increased bale densityreduces spoilage by reducing moisturepenetration, it also reduces the rate atwhich moisture and heat can escapefrom a bale.

Thus, as density increases, it becomesincreasingly important to make certainthat hay is in a safe moisture range forbaling. Unfortunately, leaf shatter fromlegume hays also increases with decreas-ing hay moisture levels.

Other Field OperationsOr TechniquesReduction of storage losses can beginwith the formation of the hay swathprior to baling. A uniform swath ofproper size for the baler being used willhelp to produce a dense, uniform bale.Other things being equal, smallerwindrows facilitate dense bales becausethey result in more layers per roll;however, leaf shatter of legumes, as wellas baling time, may be increased.Operating rakes, tedders, and balers inthe same direction as hay was cut mayalso help make a tighter bale.

A low moisture content, use of a forage crop withstems fine enough to form a thatch, and a baledensity of at least 10 pounds/cubic foot in theouter portions of bales are important factorsaffecting resistance to weathering during outsidestorage.

In the eastern United States, storing bales outsideunprotected for several months will typically resultin at least 5 or 6 inches of hay around the topand sides which has essentially no feeding value.Losses on the bottoms of bales are usually evengreater due to contact with wet soil.

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Moisture content at baling can be animportant consideration, and this isespecially true in the case of large haypackages. Some studies have shownthat hay baled at only 2 to 3% highermoisture than other hay from the samefield will maintain a higher moisturecontent for several months thereafter,thus favoring microorganism growth.Because large hay packages haverestricted ability to lose moisture, evenrelatively small differences in moisturelevel can have a measurable negativeimpact (lower total and digestible drymatter and higher fiber).

Bale wrapping has some influenceon storage losses of large round balesstored outside. A Missouri studyshowed weathering losses increased asthe spacing between the twine on balesincreased from 2 to 8 inches. However,wrapping bales with twine spacedclosely together increases costs becausemore twine is used and more time isrequired for wrapping.

Most studies have shown net wrapto be slightly better than twine inpreventing storage losses. Producerswho use net wrap have also indicatedthat they can wrap a bale with only twoto three revolutions and produce morebales per hour than with twine. Netwrap has the additional advantage ofstabilizing bales better than twine, thusmaking bale handling and storageeasier, but it also increases cost.

Though not a storage procedure perse, a preservative is sometimes appliedto the swath or to forage as it enters thebaler. The preservative is often abuffered acid which decreases moldand mildew growth. This allows hay tobe baled at a higher moisture levelwhich may increase leaf retention oflegume hays, thus slightly improvingharvest yield and forage quality, aswell as hastening baling by one-halfto one day, thus reducing the risk ofrain damage.

Acid-treated hay which is protectedfrom rain during storage may haveslightly lower storage losses thanuntreated hay if stored for only a fewmonths, but after storage for as long assix months, there may be no differencebetween treated and untreated hay.Acid treatment does not appear toretard the weathering process with haystored outside, however. Furthermore,acids can result in corrosion ofhay equipment.

Injecting hay with anhydrousammonia increases crude protein byadding nonprotein nitrogen. It has alsobeen shown to increase digestibility ofgrass hay, and can be quite effective inreducing or eliminating mold growthand heating. In addition, becauseinjected bales must be sealed airtight toavoid ammonia loss, weathering loss isavoided. However, the caustic nature ofthis product creates danger to humans,and has occasionally caused hay to betoxic to animals (particularly with highmoisture, high quality hays).

As fields are cut, baled, and stored,some system for identifying hay as tofield and cutting date should beimplemented. This information isuseful in determining the effect ofmanagement practices on foragequality and/or animal performance,and in testing the nutritive quality ofhay to allow the formulation of rationswhich efficiently meet animal nutri-tional requirements.

Climatic InfluencesClimatic conditions obviously play animportant role in determining theextent of spoilage loss of hay storedoutside. In general, the higher therainfall during outside storage, thegreater the amount of storage losswhich will occur. However, rainfalldistribution also has an influence (infact, results from some studies haveimplied that rainfall distribution can be

DEFINITION OF SELECTEDFORAGE QUALITY TERMS

CRUDE PROTEIN (CP)The total quantity of true protein and nonprotein nitrogenpresent in plant tissue. This can be calculated by multiplyingthe nitrogen fraction by 6.25.

DRY MATTER (DM)The percentage of a plant sample which remains after allwater has been removed.

NEUTRAL DETERGENT FIBER (NDF)The percentage of cell walls or other plant structuralmaterial present. This constituent is only partially digestibleby animals. Lower NDF levels are generally associated withhigher animal intake.

ACID DETERGENT FIBER (ADF)The percentage of highly indigestible plant material. HigherADF levels are generally associated with lower digestibility.

DIGESTIBLE DRY MATTER (DDM)The percentage of a sample which is digestible. DDM is acalculated estimate based on feeding trials and from themeasured ADF concentration.

IN VITRO DIGESTIBLE DRY MATTER(IVDDM)is a similar term which indicates that the digestibility levelwas determined via a laboratory test as opposed to onewhich utilized live animals fitted with a port open to therumen which allows digestion of small samples insidethe animal.

DRY MATTER INTAKE (DMI)This is the amount of forage an animal will eat in a givenperiod of time. Estimates of DMI are based on results fromanimal feeding trials and the measured NDF concentrationof a forage or feed.

DIGESTIBLE DRY MATTER INTAKE (DDMI)An estimate of how much DDM an animal will consume in agiven period of time. It is calculated as follows:DDM X DMI/100.

RELATIVE FEED VALUE (RFV)A measure of a forage’s intake and energy value. Itcompares one forage to another according to therelationship DDM X DMI/100 divided by a constant. RFV isexpressed as percent compared to full bloom alfalfa whichhas an RFV of 100. In most cases, as RFV increases foragequality also increases.

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considerably more important thanrainfall amount). To illustrate, arainstorm which results in 2 inches ofrain falling very quickly is likely tohave much less impact than the samerainfall coming in small amounts everyother day over a period of two weeks.

Other climatic factors such as highhumidity, which slows drying of wethay, likewise enhance storage losses.Temperature also has an effect, becausemicrobial activity within the bale isfavored when warm, humid, overcastconditions prevail. Hay which is storedin a sunny area which receives thebenefit of unobstructed breezes driesmore quickly and tends to have lowerspoilage losses than hay stored in shadyand/or less well-ventilated areas.

Outside storage of hay normallypresents little or no problem in the aridwestern United States, so in this arealarge stacks of hay are often storedoutside totally unprotected from theelements. However, in high rainfall/high humidity areas, outside storagelosses can be extensive and quite costly.

Site SelectionIf hay is to be stored outside, it isdesirable to locate the storage site closeto the feeding area because balesbecome more difficult to handle asthey weather. It is easier to move thema greater distance when they are newand tightly wrapped.

Well-drained upland storage sites arebest. Bottom areas should generally beavoided as they tend to be heavier soils.Also, many bottom areas are prone toflooding, which is detrimental to hayand may limit vehicle access duringrainy periods. Hay/soil contact shouldbe avoided if at all possible, but if haymust touch the soil, a sandy, well-drained area is greatly preferable to aheavy soil and/or a poorly drained site.

It is also advisable to select a storagesite where the danger of fire is mini-mized. Several steps which can betaken to reduce the likelihood of fireare discussed in a later section titled“Reducing Fire Risk.”

Bale Orientation/PlacementOnce the storage site has been located,attention should be given to baleplacement and orientation. Exceptwhen multiple-bale covers are used,large round bales should be stored inrows with sides not touching so as toavoid creating a moisture-holding areabetween sides. However, the flat endsof bales should be firmly butted againstone another. This conserves space andmay help protect the bottoms of bales(other than the one on the upper sideof the slope) from water flowing downthe slope. Properly done, this protectsthe ends almost as well as if they werepart of one continuous bale.

If possible, rows should run northand south so as to allow maximumexposure of the rounded sides to thesun. This increases drying of therounded surface of bales duringthe day. At least 3 feet should beleft between bale rows to ensuresunlight penetration and allow goodair circulation.

If direct hay/soil contact cannot beavoided, taking steps to minimize theamount of water reaching the bales,and the length of time they stay wet,will at least help. A gently sloping site(preferably with a southern exposure tomaximize solar drying) will allow waterto quickly drain away from the hay.Bales should be oriented up and downthe slope so that they will not create adam for surface water, and placed nearthe top of the slope to minimize theamount of water flowing aroundthe hay.

Protecting The Tops Of BalesThere are numerous types of commer-cially available coverings for largeround hay bales, and they vary in botheffectiveness and cost. These includesmall “caps” which are staked orpinned to the bale and which cover thetop third to half of the bale. If handledcarefully, such products often can beused more than one season, whichmakes them less expensive and there-fore more feasible to use. Some indi-vidual bale covers may be difficult tokeep securely in place for an extendedperiod of time.

One can also buy a large roll ofplastic sheeting and cut individual balecovers, although experience has proventhis method to be time consuming andthe pieces somewhat awkward tohandle. If plastic sheeting is used, itshould be at least 6 mil thick.Individual bale covers are most suitablefor producers who use relativelysmall quantities of hay in a givenfeeding season.

The expense of a tarp, plasticsheeting, or other fabric covering, aswell as the labor involved to cover hay,can be reduced by placing a group ofbales under one cover. Often bale rowsare stacked in a triangular fashion withtwo or three rows forming the base.This gives either three or five rows ofhay per stack, with the total numberof bales varying with the length ofthe stack.

A cover must be secured firmly toprevent wind from blowing it offduring storage. It is desirable to leavethe flat ends of the outside balesuncovered and to leave a few inchesuncovered along the sides of the rowsto allow moisture to escape and air tocirculate under the bales. However,winds of only 15 to 20 mph can exert aconsiderable lifting force as it blowsacross the top of a plastic or tarp, andeven a slight breeze may lift a looseedge of a poorly secured cover.

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Another disadvantage of usingplastic sheets is that condensation mayoccur under the bales if hay was moistwhen stored or if water gets under, andinto, the bales. The result is that asignificant amount of spoilage mayoccur next to the plastic even thoughrain cannot reach the hay. (This makesa strong case for making certain anyhay stored using this technique is quitedry, preferably 18% moisture or less,before being covered and is not incontact with the soil.) In addition,disposal of plastic after use may bea problem.

At least one commercially availablehay cover is made from a slightlyporous fabric. It is marketed in largetarp-sized sheets, and can be used tocover several bales at a time, usuallywith one row of bales stacked on top oftwo other rows in triangular fashion.This reusable product offers theadvantage of shedding a high percent-age of rain water while still allowingmoisture to escape during sunny,drying days. However, bottom spoilagemay occur on bales which touch theground unless steps are taken toprevent it.

If a cover is used (particularly aplastic cover), it may be desirable torelate the size of individual stacks tothe rate at which hay is to be fed. Oncea row end is uncovered and bales areremoved for feeding, covers are seldomplaced back as securely as they wereinitially. The result is that wind mayblow a cover off, or partially off,resulting in some weathering of the

remaining hay. Therefore, minimizingthe amount of hay stored under onecover may help reduce weatheringlosses in some situations.

Other companies market equipmentwhich places either individual bales orseveral bales inside plastic “sleeves.”This approach effectively protects thetops and sides of bales, but it is quiteimportant to make certain that the hayis dry when baled and to make certainthere is no way for moisture to enterthe bales or for condensation to “pool”at the bottom of the plastic duringstorage. Otherwise, there may be highspoilage losses on the bottoms of bales.When each sleeve covers only one bale,the sleeve should be tight. Despite theplastic on the bale bottoms, individu-ally sleeved bales should not be storeddirectly on the ground.

Some companies produce equip-ment which completely wraps or sealsindividual bales in stretch plastic. Donecorrectly, this may be the most effectiveway to eliminate weathering losses withoutside storage. However, dependingon the equipment design, this may beexpensive in terms of labor, equipment,and plastic, plus disposal of plastic afterfeeding is required.

Several research studies have in-volved spraying bales with waterrepellent substances. Hydrogenatedanimal fats and plant oils have beenused most frequently, and offer theattributes of being natural, environ-mentally friendly, and biodegradable.With most such products, animalrefusal of treated hay does notappear to be a problem, but the fat oroil may attract insects, which caninclude fire ants in areas where theyare present. Additional research isneeded to determine the feasibility ofthis approach.

Protecting The Bottoms Of BalesSeveral studies have shown that it canbe more important to protect the

bottoms, as opposed to the tops, ofbales. The bottoms of bales can beprotected in countless ways, limitedonly by imagination and ingenuity.The bale bottom is protected when it isheld off the ground by something thatdoes not trap and hold water. Forexample, wooden pallets, telephoneposts, scrap pipe, and cross ties have allbeen successfully used in hay storage.The most important point is to preventhay/soil contact, but providing someair flow under the hay is also desirable.

Wooden pallets offer an inexpensivemethod of eliminating hay/soil contact,but are labor intensive as they need tobe moved as hay is used. They make iteasy to change storage location(s) fromyear to year because they have to bemoved anyway. However, palletscontain nails which can puncture tiresor cause other damage.

Another relatively inexpensive andeffective storage technique is to placehay on rock pads. A good rock padkeeps bales off the soil, and alsoprovides all weather support forequipment. Rocks 1 to 3 inches indiameter should be piled 4 to 8 inchesdeep, depending on the soil type andthe weight of the equipment to beused. This size rock traps no water andeffectively channels water away.

Rock pads last for many seasons andcan easily be repaired if damaged. Anerosion cloth can be placed below therock pad to help slow the rate at whichheavy equipment may push rocksdown into the soil and thereforeincrease the life of the pad (which canbe ten years or more).

COSTS VERSUS BENEFITS OFHAY STORAGEMany producers probably do not fullyrealize the economic importance ofstorage losses because the amount ofloss is difficult to determine on a farm,and total hay costs are considerablyhigher than out-of-pocket expenses.

Use of a rock pad is one effective yet inexpen-sive way to eliminate hay/soil contact.

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Before making decisions regardinghay storage, a producer shouldobtain and study hay budgets todetermine the actual cost of hayproduction and the dollar value ofhay storage losses. Budgets are usuallyavailable from County AgriculturalExtension Agents.

Cost Of Hay LossesProper hay storage has a cost in termsof both time and effort, and this mustbe considered by producers seeking toreduce losses. Material and labor costsexpended to store hay, as well as thenutritional value of hay, dictate whichstorage techniques are most costeffective. The higher the quality of thehay, the greater the economic cost ofstorage and feeding losses (Table 3).

Storage losses increase the quantityof hay needed, plus they may lowerforage quality of the remaining hayenough that additional supplementa-tion of animal diets is required. Thecost of storage losses can readily becalculated based on the selling price ofhay of various qualities. The economicvalues of dry matter losses provided inTable 4 were calculated using

Minnesota quality-tested hay auctionprices. This information can be used tocalculate how much one can afford tospend in constructing overhead storageor in improving site drainage.

Table 4 illustrates that as hay valueincreases, a greater investment in time,energy, and money can be justified toreduce losses. Furthermore, in additionto the value which is lost due toweathering, the lost hay must then bereplaced. For example, dry matterlosses of 15 to 20% require a livestock

producer to harvest 15 to 20% morehay, which further adds to the costs ofproduction, harvesting, and storage.

Barn StorageBarn storage is usually considered to bea consistently highly effective methodof storing hay, so it is often used as thestandard against which other tech-niques are compared. When the typicaldry matter storage loss of dry hayduring inside storage (usually around5%) is compared to the 30% or morecommon with hay stored outside inthe humid portions of the UnitedStates, it isn’t difficult to see thatreduced losses can often providepayback on barn construction within afew years. The more valuable or porousthe hay, the higher and/or morefrequent the rainfall, and/or the longerthe period of storage, the more easilybarn construction can be justified.

For commercial hay producers theremay also be considerable benefit fromthe improved appearance which resultsfrom barn storage. Outside storagehurts the appearance of hay even whenactual losses are minimal. Appearanceis not closely linked to nutrientcontent or feeding value, but it is oftenimportant in marketing, and mayjustify barn storage even in relativelylow rainfall climates.

Table 3. Cost of hay consumed as affected by storage and feeding losses.———————————————————————————————

Beginning hay value, $/ton1

———————————————————————————————% Loss 50 70 80———————————————————————————————5 52.69 73.68 94.7410 55.55 77.78 100.0015 58.87 82.35 105.8820 62.50 87.50 112.5025 66.68 93.33 120.00———————————————————————————————1 Numbers listed under a given beginning hay value represent the cost of unweathered hay fed (that is,

losses due to storage and feeding, in essence, increase the cost of hay).

Table 4. Economic value of loss (storage and feeding) of hay by quality test.___________________________________________________________________________

Average quality Value of loss2

Test standard RFV1 Price 5% 10% 20% 40%___________________________________________________________________________

index - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - $/T - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Prime 168 121 6.05 12.10 24.20 48.401 138 97 4.85 9.70 19.40 38.802 115 78 3.90 7.80 15.60 31.203 97 64 3.20 6.40 12.80 25.604 81 51 2.55 5.10 10.20 20.405 60 34 1.70 3.40 6.80 13.60_________________________________________________________________

1 Represents the mean test values from 11 years of quality test auction data in Minnesota.2 Y = (0.81 x RFV index) - 14.8, where Y = $/ton of hay. This calculated loss value assumes a 4 inchweathering loss and 5 foot diameter bales (25% of the hay volume).

10

Storage buildings may providebenefits in addition to those whichresult from storing hay. For example,part of a haybarn might beused for otherpurposesduring aportion of theyear. Further-more, theoverall value ofa farm shouldincrease withthe addition ofa hay barn.

Bale densityis anotherimportantconsiderationaffecting thecost effective-ness of barnstorage. Thedensity of small rectangular bales isusually around 9 pounds per cubicfoot, while the density of large roundbales can vary from less than 5 to morethan 10. Even when high densityround bales are used, at least a thirdless round bale hay than rectangularbale hay can be stored in a givenstorage structure due to the wastedspace between bales.

When a storage facility isconstructed for round bale storage,dimensions should be based on thediameter and length of the bales thatwill be stored. For such structures, adesign which does not require interiorroof-supporting poles is desirable sothat equipment operation will notbe impeded.

Costs And Risks Of Barn StorageThe cost of building a hay storagestructure can vary greatly. Comparisonsof structures of various types and sizesshould be made on a cost-per-square-

foot basis. Material costs are higher insome areas than others, and climatelargely determines siding costs. Even in

high rainfall areas at least one sidemay be left open without significantadverse results.

Labor costs typically account foraround 35% of the cost of erecting ahay storage structure. Thus, a producerwho can provide most or all of thelabor for building a storage structurecan substantially reduce out-of-pocketconstruction expenses.

Costs other than construction whichare associated with barn storage aregreater than might be expected. Beforemaking decisions regarding erectingstorage facilities or pricing hay whichhas been stored inside, the followingitems should be taken intoconsideration.

Shrinkage- Hay which has beenstored inside for several months willtypically lose 5 to 10% of its weight ascompared to freshly baled hay due to acombination of dry matter loss andmoisture loss.

Depreciation- The economic value

of a building declines steadily overtime. Generally, depreciation is consid-ered to be around 5% of the initial

value per year.Interest on

investment- This is“opportunity cost”or the amount ofreturn which couldhave been madewith the moneyused to build astorage structure if ithad been investedelsewhere.

Repairs- A goodfigure to use is thatapproximately 1 to2% of the value of abuilding mustannually be spenton repairs. Most ofthis will occurduring the latter

part of its useful life.Taxes and insurance- Taxes vary

greatly with location, so to determinetax costs a producer should check withlocal officials. Having insurance on astorage facility is generally advisable,but each producer must decide whetherhe needs it and, if so, how much. Somefarm policies may cover such additionalbuildings at little extra cost. Often thecombined costs of taxes and insuranceamount to about 1% of the averagevalue of the building over its useful life.

Other- If a barn has an earth floor,water from outside should not beallowed to run under the hay. Other-wise, spoilage will occur on the bottombales even though the hay is undershelter.

Bale dimensions, how high baleswill be stacked, and the anticipatedlength of usefulness of the storagefacility will also affect the economics ofbarn storage. For example, if a buildingcosts a certain amount per square foot

On many farms, particularly in the eastern United States, reduced hay storage losses can providepayback on barn construction within a few years.

11

to build, but bales will be stacked threehigh and the facility is expected to lastfor 20 years, the cost per square footfor bale storage per year (constructioncost only) can be determined bydividing the construction cost by 3 andthen by 20. The cost/bale/year canthen be obtained by multiplying thecost per square foot by the squarefootage of the size of bales to be stored(for example, a 5 foot x 6 foot balewill occupy about 30 square feet ofstorage space).

In the final analysis, in order todetermine whether it is economicallyfeasible to build a hay storage structurea producer must calculate anticipatedconstruction costs, then compare thisfigure with an estimate of the value ofhay being lost without it. Figure 2provides the break even costs for barnconstruction at various loss levels,costs/square foot, and hay values.

The costs versus the benefits ofusing other techniques to protect hayshould be compared to: (1) hay storedoutside with no protection, and (2)building a hay storage facility. Experi-ments have generally shown that morethan half (and sometimes nearly all)

the difference in storage lossesbetween outside storage on theground with no protection andbarn stored hay can be eliminatedthrough the use of variousstrategies. A summary of 12experiments comparing storagelosses of barn stored hay tovarious other storage techniquesis provided in Table 5.

Barn Safety ConsiderationsSafety considerations should be ahigh priority when planning barn

storage of hay. These include makingcertain that equipment available on thefarm is capable of safely placing balesin stable stacks, having a shield onstacking equipment to prevent injuryto the operator if a bale falls, andmaking certain that excessive pressurewill not be exerted on the walls orsupports of the storage facility(stacking bales on end reduces thelatter hazard).

REDUCING FIRE RISKEach year there are many reports of haybarns burning, as well as of firesoccurring in hay stored outside. Fire isalways a concern with hay, but it takeson even greater importance when anexpensive barn can be lost in additionto the hay.

Fire in stored hay may occur fromeither external or internal causes.Internally started fires are a result ofhay going through an extreme heat.As discussed earlier, heating is a directresult of microorganism activity in haystored at excessively high moisturelevels. Even if excessive heating doesnot result in a fire, it will reduceforage quality.

Combustion Due ToExtreme HeatingThe principal way to avoid fire result-ing from internal heating (sometimesreferred to as “spontaneous combus-tion,” though this term is misleading)is to bale hay at proper moisture levels.Hay in round bales should contain nomore than 18% moisture when placedinside a barn, while hay in smallrectangular bales should contain nomore than 20% moisture. Hay that is

Table 5. Average and range of increase of percentages of dry matter anddigestible dry matter with barn storage as compared to various protectiontechniques used for hay stored outside. (Medium rainfall areas.)*

Increase With Barn Storage, % UnitsTreatment Compared To Barn Storage Dry Matter Digestible Dry MatterOn Ground Without Cover 8.7 12.7

(3.6 - 14.5)1 (3.3 - 17.2)Drained Surface (Rock, Pallets, etc.) 2.4 6.8

(-1.3 - 6.7) (-0.4 - 13.4)Plastic Cover On Bale Tops 3.2 3.6

(0.6 - 4.6) (2.9 - 4.3)Drained Surface + Plastic Cover 0.3 -1.4On Bale Tops (0.9 - 2.9) (-2.1 - 1.8)Net Wrap 1.5 —

(0.6 - 1.5) —Plastic Sleeve 0.6 —

(-1.4 - 2.7)Pyramid Stack + Cover On Top 3.7 —

*SOURCE: Russell, Jim, and Ray Huhnke. 1997. Winter Feed Management To Minimize Cow-Calf ProductionCosts: Hay Storage And Feeding. The Forage Leader (a periodical published by the American Forage andGrassland Council, Georgetown, TX). 1Parentheses denote the range of values in tests included in this summary.

40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

Average spoilage depth (inches)

25

20

15

10

5

0

Outside storage loss = 25%

20%

15%

10%

Brea

keve

n ba

rn c

ost

($/s

q. ft

)

SOURCE: Buckmaster, D.R. 1993. Evaluator for RoundHay Bale Storage. J. Prod. Agric., 6:378-385.

Figure 2. Break even barn cost for various levels ofstorage loss and varying hay value at harvest.(This analysis includes the following assumptions: in-barnaverage stacking height of three bales, ten-year barnamortization, and construction cost of $7.50/square foot.Inputs other than storage loss and hay value arenot included.)

12

suspected of being too wet should bestored outside for about three weeksuntil the danger of combustion due toheating is past. New crop hay shouldnever be placed against dry hay.

The danger of fire from heating ofhay of higher-than-optimum moisturecan be decreased somewhat by “loosestacking” the bales so good air move-ment and ventilation can occur. Haypreservatives, which reduce fungal andbacterial growth, sprayed on hayduring the baling process help reduce(though do not always prevent)excessive heating in higher moisturehay. Bales known to contain, orsuspected of containing, excessivemoisture can be temporarily looselystacked outside, then moved insideafter the danger of fire is past.

External CausesExternal fires have many causes rangingfrom lightning to the mindless tossingof a cigarette. Common sense and analert eye can eliminate most causes ofexternal fires. For example, it is best toavoid stacking hay close to anythingthat can attract lightning such as powerlines, metal fence posts, trees, or towerssuch as antennas.

It is also advisable to avoid storinghay adjacent to vegetation that mightsupport a fire, and to maintain a no-vegetation buffer area around stackedhay to prevent wildfire from movinginto the stored hay. This is especiallytrue if the grass or other plants in thestorage area are warm season speciesthat go dormant in winter. Risk of hayloss from fire can further be reduced bystoring hay in two or more sites ratherthan just one.

It is a good idea to post “No Smok-ing” signs in conspicuous placesaround a hay barn and to strictlyenforce this policy. A herbicide ortillage can be used to create a bareground buffer zone at least 3 feet wide

around the edge of the barn to reducerisk from wildfire.

If there is a need to check thetemperature of hay, it can be done byfitting a sharpened end on a 10-footsection of 1/2 inch pipe, then driving itinto the hay, followed by lowering athermometer into the pipe. Tempera-tures below 120oF are normal, and120o to 140o are in the caution range.Hay heating to 160o or higher is inserious danger of catching fire. Tem-perature can build in hay, particularlywithin the first week or two afterbaling, and therefore periodic monitor-ing of temperature until it is clear thereis no danger of fire is advisable.

HAY FEEDINGOn many farms, hay feeding losses areas high as storage losses, particularly ifhay is fed outside (This is logicalbecause as the amount of weatheredhay increases, animal refusal alsoincreases). Some hay losses duringfeeding can be expected with anyfeeding system, but the amount of lossvaries with the system used. The majorobjective for any feeding system shouldbe to keep losses to a practical mini-mum level, thus permitting animals toconsume the majority of hay offeredat feeding.

Feeding losses include trampling,leaf shatter, chemical and physicaldeterioration, fecal contamination, andrefusal. The levels and costs of theselosses will be determined by feedingmethod, intervals between feedings,amounts fed at a time, weather condi-tions, the number of animals being fed,and forage quality or hay value.

In research trials, feeding losses haveranged from less than 2% when greatcare was exercised, to more than 60%where no attempts were made toreduce loss. Feeding losses of 3 to 6%are quite acceptable for most feedingprograms, although such low levels of

loss are usually associated with systemswhich require high labor inputs anddaily feeding.

Use Of Hay Quality InformationHay can be most efficiently fed whenseparated into lots according to quality,and when classes of animals areseparated and fed according to needs.This allows hay quality to be matchedto livestock needs. For example, on acattle farm the best quality hay mightbe fed to animals having high nutri-tional requirements such as youngcalves, yearlings, bred heifers, andlactating cows. Lower quality hay couldbe saved for mature, dry pregnant cowsand bulls when not in breeding season.

High quality hay is early cut, leafy,pleasant smelling, and free of foreignmaterial and toxic factors. Whenchemically analyzed, such hay willusually be high in protein and digest-ible energy, and low in fiber. The bestquality hay will also be the mostvaluable hay and thus should be fedwith the greatest care.

Feeding MethodsIf not ground for use in formulating atotal mixed ration, small rectangularbales are normally stored under shelter,then are usually either moved from theshelter and placed in some type ofstructure (bunk, manger, rack, wagon,trough, etc.) or taken to an outside areawhere cattle are located. Either systemrequires a considerable amount oflabor. Most large hay packages arefed on sod whether stored insideor outside.

Feeding hay on sod offers theadvantage of distributing hay onpasture land rather than concentratingit along a feed bunk or in a barn.When hay is fed on sod, livestockusually waste and refuse less hay insituations in which they have a solidfooting. Dry, well-drained, or frozen

13

sites should therefore be chosen forfeeding hay outside.

Feeding in only one area permitsselection of a convenient feedinglocation which is easily accessible andwhich minimizes the size of the area inwhich sod is killed. However, it causesexcessive sod destruction, usuallycreates muddy conditions, often resultsin heavy spring weed pressure, and canresult in soil compaction and/or ruts inthe field.

Some livestock producers who feedin only one area prefer to feed onconcrete or to haul in large gravel sothe hay can be placed on a solidfoundation. Also, some producersfeed the lowest quality hay first, thusinitially causing excessive hay wastagebut providing a foundation forfurther feeding.

Frequently moving the feeding areaallows manure to be spread moreuniformly over the field(s) and there-fore improves the soil fertility in bareor thin spots, while reducing theseverity of (though not necessarily thetotal area which sustains) sod damage.It can also facilitate the “trampling in”of legume seed (usually white clover orred clover) which was broadcast over afield during early winter. Regardlessof the approach used when feedinghay on sod, any areas where sod killis encountered should be reseededas soon after the feeding seasonas possible.

When hay is fed on sod, the amountof hay wasted will be much less whenonly a one-day hay supply is given, andwhen hay is fed in such a manner thatall animals have access. However,unrestricted animal access to largeround bales or stacks will result ingrossly excessive feeding waste.

If substantial quantities of hay mustbe put out at one time, erecting abarrier between the hay and the feedinganimals will reduce waste. The barrier

can be an electric wire, feeding racks orrings, panels, wagons, or gates. Feedingracks and rings are available in a varietyof shapes and sizes (racks whichprevent hay from contacting theground are particularly effective). Inaddition, blueprints for home con-struction of bale protectors are avail-able through many universities,including from County AgriculturalExtension Agents.

When racks or panels are not used,enough animals are needed to eat theamount of hay offered in a relativelyshort period of time. Waste can bereduced by having at least one cow foreach foot of outside dimension (cir-cumference) of the hay package.Forcing animals which have lownutritional requirements to clean uphay in feeding areas before more hay isput out can also help reduce waste.

A few producers use balers whichpackage hay in relatively small roundbale packages which are left in the fieldand later fed at the spot where theywere dropped from the baler. Thissystem lends itself to large hay storagelosses if hay is stored in this manner forvery long because the hay is unpro-tected from the elements and there ishigh bale surface area exposure. Whenthis system is used, an electric wireshould be used to limit access and thusat least reduce feeding losses.

Feeding Priority Of Various HaysObviously, the longer hay is exposed tothe elements, the greater storage losseswill be. Therefore, hay stored outsideshould generally be fed before haystored inside. Porous hay which ishighly susceptible to damage should befed before hay which is tightly baled.Other things being equal, the bestquality hay stored outside should befed before lower quality hay, thoughanimal nutritional requirements mayalso affect feeding priority.

Altering Hay Bales Before FeedingSeveral types of equipment are availablefor grinding, shredding, unrolling, orcutting and windrowing large haypackages. These methods usuallyrequire additional equipment, but canwork well under proper management.Grinding or shredding hay facilitateslimit feeding (limiting the amount fedat a time) and also tends to lowerfeeding losses by reducing the abilityof animals to selectively consumeunweathered hay and refuseweathered material.

The least expensive method is tosimply unroll the bale to enablelivestock to line up much like at a feedbunk. Again, feeding only enoughfor one day reduces waste butincreases labor.

Placing a barrier between the hay and the animals will reduce feeding losses.

14

Minimizing Hay RequirementsThe objective of any hay feedingprogram is to provide adequatequantities of high quality hay to meetlivestock needs not being met bypasture. However, stored feed, includ-ing hay, is normally much moreexpensive than pasture forage, so it iseconomically advantageous to mini-mize stored feed requirements to theextent possible. Examples of ways thismight be done include stockpilingforage, grazing crop residues, andlengthening the grazing season bygrowing various pasture crops whichhave differing periods of production.

KEY CONCEPTS REGARDINGOUTSIDE HAY STORAGE1. Weathering of hay results in losses

of dry matter, lowered foragequality, and (perhaps even lesswell recognized) reduced hayintake and greater refusal.

2. The more valuable the hay, theeasier it is to justify spendingtime and money to reducestorage losses.

3. Hay/soil contact is usually themost important source of spoil-age of hay stored outside andshould be eliminated if possible.This can be accomplished byplacing bales on crushed rock, aconcrete pad, or some object suchas wooden pallets. If placing baleson the ground cannot be avoided,selection of a well-drained area(preferably with sandy soil)

should be selected.4. Water should quickly drain away

from any bales stored on theground. Storing bales near thetop of a sloping area reduces theamount of water flowing aroundthem. Bale rows should run upand down a sloping area to avoidtrapping surface water.

5. Hay should be stored in a sunnylocation, preferably in an areawhere frequent breezes occur.Hay should never be stored undertrees or other areas where dryingis slow.

6. It is preferable for bale rows to runnorth and south rather than eastand west. Also, a southern, ratherthan a northern, exposure is best.

7. The flat ends of bales should bebutted together, but the roundedsides should not touch. Unlessrows are put together to facilitatecovering with sheets of plastic orsimilar material, at least 3 feet ofspace should be left between rowsto allow air circulation.

8. The larger the bale, the lower thetotal percentage of weathering ofhay stored outside. However, thereare some disadvantages associatedwith handling larger bales.

9. As hay density is increased (par-ticularly in the outer portion ofthe bale), outside storage losses

decline. A minimum of 10 poundsof hay/cubic foot is recommendedfor round bales stored outside.Course-stemmed forages are morevulnerable to weathering thanfine-stemmed forages which forma thatch.

10. The efficiency and cost of variousmethods of storing hay outsidevary greatly. Whether a particulartechnique or combination oftechniques can be justified de-pends on the cost of thetechnique(s) versus the value ofhay which will otherwise be lost.

Bales should not be allowed to be instanding water, even on a temporarybasis.

The rounded sides of bales should nottouch.

Hay should not be placed under trees.

EXAMPLES OF THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT DO

15

KEY CONCEPTS REGARDINGHAY FEEDING1. Hay quality should be matched to

animal needs.2. When animals are fed outside, a

well-drained site should be selectedto reduce feeding losses.

3. Hay stored outside should be fedbefore hay stored inside; coarse,porous hay stored outside should befed before fine-stemmed, denselybaled hay stored outside; otherthings being equal, high value haystored outside should be fed beforelow value hay stored outside.

4. Putting a barrier between animalsand hay will help reduce feedinglosses. Hay racks can be particularly effective.

5. Minimizing the amount of hay towhich animals have access at onetime will reduce feeding losses.

6. Forcing clean up of hay by animalswhich have low nutrient require-ments before feeding more hay canhelp reduce hay waste.

PREPARED BY:

DR. DON BALLExtension Agronomist/Alumni ProfessorAuburn University

DR. DAVID BADEExtension Forage SpecialistTexas A&M University

DR. GARRY LACEFIELDExtension Agronomist/ProfessorUniversity of Kentucky

DR. NEAL MARTINExtension Agronomist-Forages and ProfessorUniversity of Minnesota

DR. BRUCE PINKERTONAssociate Professor/Extension AgronomistClemson University

The authors gratefully acknowledgereviews of this publication provided by:

DR. DENNIS BUCKMASTER

Associate Professor of Agricultural EngineeringPenn State University

DR. MIKE COLLINS

Professor of Agronomy, University of Kentucky

DR. BILL KUNKLE

Professor and Extension Animal ScientistUniversity of Florida

DR. DAVID PETRITZ

Professor and Extension Agricultural EconomistPurdue University

DR. ALAN ROTZ

Research Agricultural Engineer, USDA/ARS,East Lansing, MI

DR. JIM RUSSELL

Professor of Animal Science, Iowa StateUniversity and Issue Team Leader, The LeopoldCenter, Ames, IA.

No objects near hay which arelikely to attract lightning

Flat ends of bales buttedtightly together

Bale rows run up and downslope with north/southorientation; a southernexposure is best

High bale density resists waterpenetration

Tops and sides of bales can beprotected from rain with any ofa number of different typesof covers

OUTSIDE HAY STORAGE RECOMMENDATIONS

Bright, sunny location; no treesor other objects near hay toslow drying after rains

Storage area located on agently sloping, well-drained site

Hay/soil contact avoided byplacing bales on rock, woodenpallets, etc.

Rounded sides of bales nottouching; at least 3 feet ofspace between rows

Fire risk can be reduced bystoring hay in more than onelocation and by maintaining ano-vegetation zone of at least3 feet in width around thestorage area

Printing of this publicationwas funded by the followingcommercial companies:

ABI ALFALFA

AGCO CORPORATION

AGRIBIOTECH, INC.AGWAY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

BASF CORPORATION

CAL/WEST SEEDS

CELPRIL INDUSTRIES

CROPLAN GENETICS

DEKALB GENETICS CORPORATION

DOWELANCO

HARVEST TEC, INC.IMC AGRICO

IMC KALIUM

JOHN DEERE OTTUMWA WORKS

MISSISSIPPI CHEMICAL CORPORATION

MYCOGEN SEEDS

NOVARTIS SEEDS, INC.PENNINGTON SEED, INC.PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.RESEARCH SEEDS, INC.SEEDBIOTICS

TEXAS CRUSHED STONE COMPANY

VERMEER MFG. CO.W-L RESEARCH, INC.ZENECA AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

Many Different Approaches Can Be Used To Reduce Hay Storage Losses.