Producing Quality Oat Hay

Chapter 7
Making oat hay
Cutting
Cutting is the first stage of the hay making
operation. The objectives of the cutting
operation are to:
• cut the hay so that it sits on the cut stems to
promote rapid drying;
• produce a gently domed windrow that
sheds water;
• have a windrow wide enough to fill the full
width of the bale pick-up. This may be
achieved by tedding or raking rows into one
just before baling.
Cutting, conditioning and the formation of a
suitable windrow may be achieved in a single
operation using an all-in-one mower conditioner
or super conditioner. However, where disc or
PRODUCING QUALITY OAT HAY
knife cutting mower conditioners are used a
super conditioner may be required to reduce
curing time.
The time of cutting in relation to plant growth
stage, cutting height and direction, all impact on
hay quality.
Cutting time
Choice of cutting time is based on achieving a
balance between yield and quality. Optimum
cutting time is determined by the growth stage
of the plant (Figure 7.1). Research has shown
that the ideal time for cutting high quality hay is
from flowering (GS60), when the top floret has
anthers protruding, to the watery ripe stage
(GS71), when the ‘grain’ in the top floret is
squashed it releases a clear greenish fluid
(Figure 7.2).
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