Minimizing Losses in Hay Storage and Feeding - MSUcares

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, includinghay, is normally much moreexpensive than pasture forage, so it iseconomically advantageous to minimizestored 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 lossesof 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 spoilageof 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)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 (particularlyin the outer portion ofthe bale), outside storage lossesEXAMPLES OF THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT DOBales should not be allowed to be instanding water, even on a temporarybasis.The rounded sides of bales should nottouch.should be selected.4. Water should quickly drain awayfrom 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.Hay should not be placed under trees.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 dependson the cost of thetechnique(s) versus the value ofhay which will otherwise be lost.14