Components of Forage Waste: Field curing Harvesting Storage Feeding Harvesting 7-15% loss Harvesting 7-15% loss Field curing 5-25% loss Field curing 5-25%

Dr. Dennis Hancock Extension Forage Specialist

Crop and Soil Sciences – UGA

Dr. Dennis Hancock Extension Forage Specialist

Crop and Soil Sciences – UGA

How to cure and handle hay.

How to cure and handle hay.

Components of Forage Waste:

Field curing

Harvesting

Storage

Feeding Harvesting7-15% loss Harvesting7-15% loss

Field curing5-25% lossField curing5-25% loss

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

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

Mowing and Curing SystemsMowing and Curing Systems

Mower OptionsMower Options

h Sickle Cutterbarh 10-20% less expenseh Require 30% less hph Repairs are less

expensive

h Disk Cutterbarh Faster ground speed h Cuts through ant hills

better h Maintenance is 20-30%

lessh Better if crop is lodged


expensive




Mower OptionsMower Options


expensive





expensive




Conditioner StylesConditioner Styles

Impeller (flail) Roller (crimper)

Conditioner StylesConditioner Styles

Impeller (flail) 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

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Yie

ld L

oss

(%

)

No conditioner Rubbercrimping roller

Steel flail Plastic V-flail

The Effect of Conditioner on the Relative Drying Rate of Alfalfa

The Effect of Conditioner on the Relative Drying Rate of Alfalfa

Alfalfa GrassRelative Drying Rate

Not-tedded Tedded------ (difference from control) -----

No conditioner ** +17%Rubber crimping roll +18% +48%Steel flail +24% +50%Plastic V-flail +14% +35%

“My Buddy, Ted”“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 SystemsHay 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 ManagementHay 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. RoundSquare 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 Wagon (Trailed or Self-Propelled)


Photo Credit: Pat Meyer, flickr.com







Bale Wagon (Trailed or Self-

Propelled)


Propelled)



Propelled)


Propelled)


Bale AccumulatorBale Accumulator

Bale AccumulatorBale Accumulator

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

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

Bale Banding SystemBale Banding System







Bale Identification SystemBale Identification System

Resources in Notebook or on Our Webpage

Resources in Notebook or on Our Webpage

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

www.georgiaforages.co

m

www.georgiaforages.co

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Documents

Components of Forage Waste: Field curing Harvesting Storage Feeding Harvesting 7-15% loss Harvesting 7-15% loss Field curing 5-25% loss Field curing 5-25%