The Art and Science of “Putting Up”...

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


Raking

70% Moisture 2 2

60% Moisture 2 3

50% Moisture 3 5

33% Moisture 7 12

20% Moisture 12 21


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


Tedding

70% Moisture 1 2

60% Moisture 1 3

50% Moisture 3 5

33% Moisture 6 12

20% Moisture 11 21


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


Baling, Pickup + Chamber

25% Moisture* 3 4

20% Moisture 4 6

12% Moisture 6 8

* Requires Preservative for Safe Storage



Baling at 18% Moisture

Conventional Rectangular baler with Ejector

5 8

Round Baler, Variable Chamber 6 10

Round Baler, Fixed Chamber 13 21


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

The Art and Science of “Putting Up”...

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