Minimizing Losses in Hay Storage and Feeding - MSUcares

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 percentageof 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 theUse of a rock pad is one effective yet inexpensiveway to eliminate hay/soil contact.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, individuallysleeved bales should not be storeddirectly on the ground.Some companies produce equipmentwhich 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 involvedspraying bales with waterrepellent substances. Hydrogenatedanimal fats and plant oils have beenused most frequently, and offer theattributes of being natural, environmentallyfriendly, 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 thebottoms, 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.8