the art and science of “putting up”...
TRANSCRIPT
The Art and Science of “Putting Up” Hay
Mylen Bohle Area Extension Agronomist
Greg Mohnen Manager, McGinnis Ranch
What Are Your Goals?
• Sell Hay • Feed Hay to Your Animals • Life Style • Good Steward of the Land • Responsible Neighbor • Participate in the Industry
– Central Oregon Hay Growers’ Association – Oregon Hay and Forage Association – Oregon Forage and Grassland Council – Other Ag Organizations
What Do You Want From a Hay Field?
• Yield
• Feed Quality – High Carb/Sugar Forage
– Low Carb/Sugar Forage
• Palatability
• Durability
• Longevity
• Aesthetics
Efficiency of Utilization with Various Harvesting Methods
Method of Harvest Percent Lost (%)
Percent Utilization (%)
Continuous Grazing 50 50
Rotational Grazing 35 65
Strip Grazing 30 70
Hay 18 82
Silage 13 87
Green Chop 8 92
Wisconsin Study in 1957
Time of Day Harvest Affects Sugar and Starch Content of Hay
Mowing or Swathing
• Cutting in the Morning – Lower Starch, Sugars, and Non-structural
Carbohydrates
• Cutting in the Afternoon – Higher Starch, Sugars, and Non-structural
Carbohydrates
• Cutting Height Considerations – Plant Stand Longevity
– Regrowth
– Quality
Mowing Equipment
• Sickle Mowers
– Generally Have a Width of 5-9 Feet
• Advantages
– Inexpensive to Purchase
– Can Use with Existing Tractor
• Disadvantages
– Clogs Easily with Thick Grass & Lodged Plants
– Has a Limited Swath Width
– Can’t Crimp or Condition the Plants in One Operation
Mowing Equipment
• Sickle Haybine or Swather
– Cuts and Conditions at Same Time
– Cost is About 10-20% Less per Foot
– Requires about 50% Less Power per Foot
– Open Station Tractors can be Used
– Less Streaking in Light Crops
– Lower Repair Costs if Major Obstruction Hit
(Shinners, Wisconsin)
Mowing Equipment
• Rotary Disk Mower or Swather – Cuts and Conditions at the Same Time
– Faster Ground Speed (Only the Smoothness of the Field Limits your Speed
– Better Cutting in Lodged Crops
– Better Cutting in Fine Stem Grasses
– Will Cut Through Gopher Mounds and Ant Hills
– Replacing Knives is Simpler and Faster
– No Reel Needed – Less Moving Parts
– Disadvantage: They can Cut Forage Way Too Short
Effect of Windrow Width on Alfalfa Drying Rate at KES, Klamath Falls, OR
Effect of Moisture and Swath Thickness on Dry-Matter Losses During Raking
Respiration Loss from Hay Curing is Proportional to Forage Moisture Content and Air Temperature
Alfalfa Losses of DM and Leaves During Various Haymaking Operations Operation % of DM Lost % of Leaves Lost
Mowing 1 2
Mowing/Conditioning
Reciprocating Mower, fluted collars 2 3
Disc Mower, fluted rollers 3 4
Disc Mower, flail conditioner 4 5
Different Sources: Pitt. , Kjelgaard, Hundtoft, and Rotz
Raking
• Side Delivery Rake
• Pin Wheel or Wheel Rake
• Rotary Wheel Rake (Series of rotary wheels)
• Tedders can be Designed to Rake
Raking (Cont.)
• 30-40% Moisture
• Wait Until the Dew is Off for Grass
• Rake with the Dew on for Alfalfa or Rake Prior to Leaves Being Too Dry, so Leaves Will Not Fall Off.
• Some are Raking Just Before Baling Grass
Raking (Cont.)
• If in a Narrow Windrow, Then the Windrow is Turned Once to Dry the Bottom Prior to Baling
• Make Sure Your Rake Tines are Up and Off of the Soil So not to Mix in Soil.
– This Increases Ash Content and Can Cause Detrimental Health Effects to the Animals Being Fed the Hay
Alfalfa Losses of DM and Leaves During Various Haymaking Operations Operation % of DM Lost % of Leaves Lost
Raking
70% Moisture 2 2
60% Moisture 2 3
50% Moisture 3 5
33% Moisture 7 12
20% Moisture 12 21
Different Sources: Pitt. , Kjelgaard, Hundtoft, and Rotz
The Effect of Forage Moisture on Dry Matter Loss During Raking of Alfalfa Hay
Tedding
• Tedding is Spreading and Fluffing the Hay Out in as Large of Swath as Possible
• Inverters are Machines That Pick Up the Windrow and Completely Invert the Windrow so the Bottom can Dry
Alfalfa Losses of DM and Leaves During Various Haymaking Operations Operation % of DM Lost % of Leaves Lost
Tedding
70% Moisture 1 2
60% Moisture 1 3
50% Moisture 3 5
33% Moisture 6 12
20% Moisture 11 21
Different Sources: Pitt. , Kjelgaard, Hundtoft, and Rotz
Equilibrium Moisture Content of Hay is Proportional to the Relative Humidity in the Air and the Air
Temperature Graph
Baling
• Bale Too Wet and you get spoilage
• Bale Too Dry and you get sticks (alfalfa)
• The whole windrow is dry and brittle (grass)
• The hay must be pliable and retain leaves (alfalfa)
Baling (Cont.)
• Stem moisture is the key
• Alfalfa baled at 15-22% moisture
• Grass baled at 10-12% moisture
• Last Cutting alfalfa can be baled at much higher moisture level than other cuttings
Round Bales
• Small
• Medium
• Large
• 30%% of a 6 Foot Round Bale is Wrapped in the Outer 6-inch Layer
• More Difficult to Market
• More Difficult to Transport Long Distances
• Easy to Handle if Set Up Right
Square Bales
• 2-Tie: 18-22% Moisture for Alfalfa
• 3-Tie:
• Mid-Size
• Large: 4 x 4 x 8 feet (“1-ton bales”)
– 16% Moisture for alfalfa
Alfalfa Losses of DM and Leaves During Various Haymaking Operations Operation % of DM Lost % of Leaves Lost
Baling, Pickup + Chamber
25% Moisture* 3 4
20% Moisture 4 6
12% Moisture 6 8
* Requires Preservative for Safe Storage
Different Sources: Pitt. , Kjelgaard, Hundtoft, and Rotz
Alfalfa Losses of DM and Leaves During Various Haymaking Operations Operation % of DM Lost % of Leaves Lost
Baling at 18% Moisture
Conventional Rectangular baler with Ejector
5 8
Round Baler, Variable Chamber 6 10
Round Baler, Fixed Chamber 13 21
Different Sources: Pitt. , Kjelgaard, Hundtoft, and Rotz
Effects of Rain
• Increases and Prolongs Plant Respiration Which Reduces Soluble Carbohydrates, Which Reduces the Overall Energy Content of the Forage
• Leaching of Soluble Carbohydrates, Protein (more difficult), and Certain Minerals (ex: K)
• Color Bleaching
(Rankin and Undersander, Wisconsin)
Effects of Rain (Cont.)
• Leaf Shattering and Loss, Removing the Highly Digestible and High Protein Portion of the Forage
• In Wisconsin. Collins Measured Dry Matter Losses of 22% When Alfalfa was Subjected to 1-inch of Rain, One Day After Cutting
Rankin and Undersander, Wisconsin