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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
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
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
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
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)
Bale Wagon (Trailed or Self-Propelled)
Photo Credit: Pat Meyer, flickr.com
Bale Wagon (Trailed or Self-Propelled)
Bale Wagon (Trailed or Self-Propelled)
Photo Credit: Pat Meyer, flickr.com
Bale Wagon (Trailed or Self-Propelled)
Bale Wagon (Trailed or Self-Propelled)
Photo Credit: Pat Meyer, flickr.com
Bale Wagon (Trailed or Self-
Propelled)
Bale Wagon (Trailed or Self-
Propelled)
Photo Credit: Pat Meyer, flickr.com
Bale Wagon (Trailed or Self-
Propelled)
Bale Wagon (Trailed or Self-
Propelled)
Photo Credit: Pat Meyer, flickr.com
Bale AccumulatorBale Accumulator
Bale AccumulatorBale Accumulator
Bale Grapple (“Grabber”)Bale Grapple (“Grabber”)
Bale Grapple (“Grabber”)Bale Grapple (“Grabber”)
Bale Banding SystemBale Banding System
Bale Banding SystemBale Banding System
Bale Banding SystemBale Banding System
Bale Banding SystemBale Banding System
Bale Banding SystemBale Banding System
Bale Banding SystemBale Banding System
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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