MINIMIZING LOSSES IN HAY
STORAGE AND FEEDING
Each year more than 60 million acres
of forage crops are harvested for hay in
the United States. Annual production
from this acreage is over 150 million
tons of hay valued at more than 12
billion dollars. Hay is the most widely
grown mechanically-harvested agronomic
crop in the United States.
As a source of nutrition for livestock,
hay offers numerous advantages.
It can be made from manv different
crops; when protected from the
weather it can be stored indefinitely
with little nutrient loss; package sizes
and shapes can vary greatly; and
harvesting, storage, and feeding can
vary from being done by hand to being
completely mechanized. Hay often can
meet, or almost meet, the nutrient
needs of many classes of livestock.
Because of its many merits, hay is
the most commonly used stored feed
on livestock farms across the nation.
Unfortunately, losses of hay during
storage and feeding are often high,
particularly with round bales stored
outside in high rainfall areas such as
the eastern United States. It is estimated
that the total value of hay
storage and feeding losses nationwide
exceeds three billion dollars annuallv!
On some farms, such losses account for
over 10% of the cost of livestock
production.
These are real, and not just potential,
losses (time, labor, and monetary
inputs are lost along with the hay).
Unfortunately, many producers
probably do not realize how large their
losses really are, or that with relatively
little effort or expense they could be
reduced considerably. The purpose of
this publication is to provide information
as to how and why hay losses
occur, and how thev can be reduced.
TYPES OF STORAGE LOSSES
Hay storage losses vary greatly depending
upon several factors, but storage
technique is of utmost importance.
Losses of dry hay stored inside a barn
are usually of little concern. However,
even for barn stored hay, losses rise
sharply as moisture levels increase
above 2O%, and losses from round
bales stored outside under adverse
conditions can be much larger.
During storage, hay can be subject to
dry matter losses as well as losses of
forage quality.
Dry Matter Losses
Dry matter losses during storage result
from plant respiration (the continuation
of normal plant processes),
microbial activity, and weather deterioration.
Even at low moisture levels
(20% or less) there is some loss due to
respiration and low numbers of
microorganisms, but this is constant
across hay types and essentially
unavoidable.
At higher moisture levels (above
20%) where mold growth is likely to
be visibly detectable, dry matter losses
are greater, and significant levels of
heating (which can also lower forage
quality) occur due to microbial activity.
Although numerous bacteria are
present in hay, fungi account for most
of the microbial growth.
Heating of hay is related to moisture
content. Peak temperature is often
reached within a week after baling, but
with higher moisture hay and conditions
which limit heat escape, it may
take as much as three weeks. At safe
moisture levels (less than: 20% for
rectangular bales; 18% for round bales;
and 16O/o for large rectangular packages)
inside storage losses are typically
around 5% of dry matter, but losses
several times higher have been reported
for extremely moist hay.
"Weathering" (the term which is
commonly used to refer to the effects
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which climatic conditions have on hay)
is partially a physical process. Some of
the dry matter loss which occurs
during outside storage is caused by
leaching, which refers to the dissolving
and removal of nutrients by the passage
of rain water over the surface of, and
through, the bale. The more digestible
nutrients are, the more soluble they
are, and thus the more likely they are
to be removed by leaching.
The switch from small rectangular
bales to large round bales on most U.S.
farms has resulted in higher storage
losses (in many cases, several times
higher). Round bales are not inherently
subject to greater losses, but they are
much more likely to be subjected to
adverse storage conditions, often
remaining outside with no protection
between baling and feeding. Feeding
losses are usually sharply higher with
round bales as well, partly because big
round bales are generally fed on sod
while rectangular bales are often fed
in bunks.
The extent of weathering damage
during outside storage varies mainly
with climatic factors and with forage
species. Weathering primarily affects
hay in the outside circumference of a
large round bale rather than in the
ends. Consequently, package size
(mainly the diameter) affects the
proportion of the bale contained in the
surface layer, and thus the magnitude
of losses (Figure 1).
Figure I. Dry matter loss vs. average spoilage depth in
round bales of various diameters.*
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0% I I I I I I
I 2 3 4 5 6
Average spoilage depth (inches)
*SOURCE: Buckmaster, D.R., 1993. Evaluator for Round
Hay Bale Storage. J. Prod. Agric., 6378485.
In the eastern United States it is not
unusual for 4 to 8 or more inches of
spoilage to occur on the outside of
large round bales stored outside with
no protection. A weathered layer 6
inches in depth on a 5.6 foot x 5.6 foot
bale contains about one-third of the
package volume. Other things being
equal, the percentage of hay lost
decreases as bale size increases because a
smaller proportion of the bale volume
is contained in the surface layer. This
has important implications regarding
baler purchase decisions.
Forage Quality Losses
Storage conditions can also have a
dramatic effect on hay chemical
composition and feeding value. Typical
effects on the interior (unweathered)
and exterior (weathered) portions of
bales on crude protein, acid detergent
fiber (ADF), and in vitro digestible dry
matter (IVDDM) are shown in Table
1. Even if there were no dry matter
losses or additional feeding losses with
weathered hay, changes in forage
quality would be of great concern.
Total crude protein declines with
Sampling each lot of hay for nutritive analysis is
necessary ifhuy is to be fed in an efjk'cjent munneY:
is because protein is less subject than
other plant constituents to weathering
loss. However, the proportion of
digestible crude protein may decrease,
especially if the hay undergoes heating
due to excessive moisture.
Soluble carbohydrates, which are
highly digestible, decline during
weathering as shown by increases in
Table 1. Forage quality of the interior and exterior portions of alfalfa round
bales stored outside.*
Portions Crude
Of Bales protein
Acid detergent
fiber IVDDM
Interior
Exterior
- I 0 0 0 I 0 - % of dry weight - - - - - -
18.9 38.6 61.4
I 9.4 45.8 46.9
*SOURCE: Anderson, P.M., W.L. Kjelgaard, L.D. Hoffman, L.L. Wilson, and H.W. Harpster, I98 I. Harvesting
practices and round bale losses. Trans. ASAE.24:84 I-842.
weathering, but the percentage of
crude protein may increase due to dry
matter losses (a phenomenon which
has been reported to also occur with
rain damage of field-curing hay). This
ADF and decreases in IVDDM; thus
carbohydrate levels differ greatly
between the weathered and unweathered
portions of round bales. Declines
in hay quality from weathering are
HAY QUAllTYm THE KEY i0
ANlHAL PERFORMANCE
Hay quality is critically important, especially for animals having
high nutritional requirements, and the ultimate test of hay quality
is animal performance. Hay quality is considered satisfactory when
animals consuming it perform as desired. For anyone who is
producing, feeding, buying, or selling hay, forage quality should be
a major consideration.
Factors which affect hay quality include: growing conditions,
fertility, species, varieties, pests, presence of weeds, harvesting,
curing, handling, and storage. Wowever, the stage of maturity when
harvested is the most important factor, and the one where
management can have the greatest impact.
As plants advance from the vegetative to the reproductive
stages, fiber and lignin increase, while protein, digestibility,
metabuhrable energy9 and acceptability to livestock decrease. Early
cut hay makes a more desirable feed because it contains more
nutrients, Nay cut at an early stage of maturity is also more
patatabfe and is more readily consumed by livestock.
Evaluating Hay Quality
Several methuds exist for evaluating hay quality: visual, chemical,
near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (MM), and animal
performance.Visual estimates can help, but vary considerably.
Descriptions based on these estimates show high quality hay to be
early cut, leafy9 s&, free of mold and foreign material, and having
a pleasant odor. Color can be misleading, because hay having a
bright green color may be mature and fibrorrs, while faded hay
may aften have excellent nutritionai value.
The most precise way to determine the nutrient content of
hay is through laboratory analysis. If a representative sample is
taken and analyzed for nutritive content, the results can help
determine how much and what type of supplementation, if any, is
needed in order to meet the nutrient requirements of the animals
being fed, and to obtain the level of performance desired. This
leads to efficient and economical feeding programs.
Sampling Fur Forage Quality Analyses
When hay is tested, a random, representative sample must be
obtained because laboratory results will be only as accurate as the
sample submitted. A sample should be taken fur each tot of hay. A
"lot" represents a gruup of bales of hay which were grown in the
same field, harvested under the same conditions and at the same
time, and stored in the same way.
When collecting samples, a hay probe should be used which
has a minimum cutting diameter of l/2 inch and a minimum
length of 12 inches. Samples should be taken from the ends of
conventional rectangufar bales or frum the radial sides of large
round bates, with 15 to 20 probe samples being cornposited and
then submitted for analysis from each lot of hay. Samples should
be stored in an airtight bag fur shipment to the laboratory.
Sampling uf weathered hay for nutritive value is more complex
than sampling unweathered hay. Ideally, weathered and
unweathered portions of bales should be sampled separately and
the analysis results from the two fractions weighted according to
their relative cuntributiuns to entire bales,
usually greater for legumes than for
grasses (Table 2).
Some heating of hay is normal, but
extreme heating (above 120°F) lowers
forage quality along with dry matter.
Microbial activity associated with
heating uses soluble carbohydrates,
which reduces digestibility and
increases fiber levels. A reduction in
voluntary intake accompanies excessive
increases in NDF.
In addition to causing huge dry matter losses,
weathering lowers forage quality, reduces palatability
and htuke, and increases feeding losses due to
animal refusal. Cattle ate only the center portion of
this highly weathered bale.
UNDERSTANDING THE
WEATHERING PROCESS
From the preceding discussion, it
should be obvious that most of the hay
storage losses which occur are associated
with hay being stored outside in a
situation in which it is exposed to the
elements, resulting in weathering. The
longer hay is exposed to unfavorable
weather conditions, the greater losses
will be.
How Weathering Occurs
Bales stored outside on the ground
without covers increase sharply in
moisture content during storage. This
is especially true for the outer 2 to 3
inches of the bale in which moisture
may increase by as much as 120%.
Weathering begins slowly, but then
accelerates because weathered hay is
more easily penetrated by rain, and
doesn't dry as rapidly thereafter.
In areas of high and/or frequent
rainfall, or with hay which does not
shed water readily, the method of
storage can make the difference
between less than 5%, or more than
5O%, dry matter loss from weathering!
Furthermore, losses of more than 14%
of the total crude protein and more
than 25% of the total digestible
nutrients can occur in the most highly
weathered portions of a bale. An
important associated factor is that the
palatability of weathered portions of
bales is decreased, which lowers intake
and increases refusal.
Thatch Formation
In theory, a round bale should form a
thatch that will, at least initially, shed
almost all of the rain which falls on the
top of the bale, but any of several
factors may prevent this from occurring.
Examples of forage crops which
have the potential to thatch well when
packaged in a uniform, dense bale are
fine-stemmed, leafy, weed-free
bermudagrass or tall fescue.
Hay made from coarse-stemmed
forage crops will not thatch well. This
is due to large stems, hollow stems, or
other physical factors which do not
allow thatch formation. For example,
water can easily penetrate the tops of
bales of many summer annual grasses,
thus quickly beginning the weathering
process. Coarse-stemmed weeds within
hay can also provide an avenue for
water to penetrate bales.
Once a wet layer forms, a bale does
not shed water well and moisture levels
inside the bale are likely to continue to
increase during the storage period. As
the wet, moldy area on the top of the
bale deepens, less and less drying
occurs between rains. Hence, once
weathering gets underway, it usually
proceeds much faster than with newly
baled hay.
Understanding the importance of
thatch formation is made easier by
considering the amount of water which
must be shed during storage. A 6 foot
long by 6 foot diameter bale will
receive about 22 gallons of water for
each inch of rain. Therefore, if there
occur on the bottoms of bales even discusses the steps (or tricks) required to
when they are stored on a well-drained produce dense, uniform bales when
site. As a bale begins to weather on the using their products. The density of
bottom, it will flatten and allow even round bales (at least in the outer few
more hay/soil contact, and more top inches) should be a minimum of 10
area will be horizontally exposed to pounds of hay/cubic foot.
rainfall, each of which increases the While increased bale density
amount and rate of weathering. reduces spoilage by reducing moisture
penetration, it also reduces the rate at
which moisture and heat can escape
from a bale.
Thus, as density increases, it becomes
increasingly important to make certain
that hay is in a safe moisture range for
baling. Unfortunately, leaf shatter from
legume hays also increases with decreasing
hay moisture levels.
FACTORS AFFECTING OUTSIDE
In research trials in the eastern United
States in which large round bales have
been stored outside without protection
for six months or more, dry matter
losses of 30% orgreate r have been
common. Some of the most important
factors relating to the extent and dollar
value of outside storage losses are
as follows:
are 30 inches of rainfall during the
storage period, a bale will receive 660
gallons of water.
_------_I.-.-----l-~~---.--" -.. .^ " _ -_- " _._.- - ~-.-"~-.-.--
Location Of Weathering
For hav harvested at a low moisture
level, weathering usually occurs in
three layers. The outside is typically
wet, dark, and rotten and has no
feeding value. Underneath is a thinner
layer of moist and heavily molded hay
which is of relatively low quality. A
third transition layer, which may
exhibit light mold and have a higher
moisture content than the outer surface
Bale Density
In general, the denser or more tightly
hay is baled, the lower the amount of
spoilage that will occur, assuming hay
moisture at baling is 18 to 20% or
lower. Bale density is affected greatly by
the type of baler being used, with some
large round balers providing a density
up to twice as great as other balers. The
average density of a bale is less critical
than the densitv on the outer surface.
A low moisture content, use of a forage crop with
stems fine enough to form a thatch, and a bale
density of at least I 0 poundslcubic foot in the
outer portions ofbales ure ir~portunt factors
affecting resistance to weathering during outside
storage. layers, usually surrounds the unweathered
interior.
The sides of round bales shed water
better than the tops because less surface
is directly exposed to rain. Therefore,
an isolated uncovered bale should have
less weathering on the sides than on
the top. However, moisture can be
trapped where bales touch on the
rounded sides, and this trapped
moisture delays drying and thus results
in greater weathering during storage.
Data suggest that often 50% or
more of the storage 1.osses associated
with outside storage occur in the
Other Field Operations
Or Techniques
Reduction of storage losses can begin
with the formation of the hay swath
prior to baling. A uniform swath of
proper size for the baler being used will
help to produce a dense, uniform bale.
Other things being equal, smaller
windrows facilitate dense bales because
they result in more layers per roll;
however, leaf shatter of legumes, as well
as baling time, may be increased.
Operating rakes, tedders, and balers in
the same direction as hay was cut may
also help make a tighter bale.
Other factors mav also affect bale
density. By making proper baler
adjustments and taking time to do a
good job, an experienced baler operator
can often produce bales which are
much tighter than those someone else
might produce using the same equipment.
Some fine-stemmed hays such as
bermudagrass naturally tend to produce
a tight bale which sheds water
much better than coarse-stemmed havs
such as johnson grass, pearl millet, or
sorghum-sudangrass.
vicinity of the bale/soil interface (that
is, at the bottom of the bale). Dry hay
touching damp soil draws moisture
into the bale. Hence, if hay and soil are
in contact, large weathering losses
Having well-formed, tight bales is
an important factor in reducing storage
losses. Most haying equipment companies
can provide information that
DEFINITION OF SELECTED Moisture content at baling can be an Acid-treated hay which is protected
FORAGE QUALITY TERMS important consideration, and this is from rain during storage may have
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The total quantity of true protein and nonprotein nitrogen
present in plant tissue. This can be calculated by multiplying
the nitrogen fraction by 6.25.
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The percentage of a sample which is digestible. DDM is a
calculated estimate based on feeding trials and from the
measured ADF concentration.
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i's a similar term which indicates that the,digestibility level
was determined via a laboratory test as opposed to one
which utilized live animals fitted with a port open to the
rumen which allows digestion of small samples inside
the animal.
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This is the amount of forage an animal will eat in a given
period of time. Estimates of DMI are based on results from
animal feeding trials and the measured NDF concentration
of a forage or feed. ,
y, "'\\" il / ;,' y/I
q &I 1 {I\\ 4 6 \$I $;;;; /,,,,\a \"'" ,\\I// , :"tti
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,I/ /1///,1 ,/ '~~~'~~ ~~~,~~~~,~ f;> \I ,,! I,\ J;
f '$:\I ;I;;: 'j y '\,
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A measure of a forage's intake and energy value. It
compares one forage to another according to the
relationship DDM X DMI/I 00 divided by a constant. RFV is
expressed as percent compared to full bloom alfalfa which
has an RFV of 100. In most cases, as RFV increases forage
quality also increases.
especially true in the case of large hay
packages. Some studies have shown
that hay baled at only 2 to 3% higher
moisture than other hay from the same
field will maintain a higher moisture
content for several months thereafter,
thus favoring microorganism growth.
Because large hay packages have
restricted ability to lose moisture, even
relatively small differences in moisture
level can have a measurable negative
impact (lower total and digestible dry
matter and higher fiber).
Bale wrapping has some influence
on storage losses of large round bales
stored outside. A Missouri study
showed weathering losses increased as
the spacing between the twine on bales
increased from 2 to 8 inches. However,
wrapping bales with twine spaced
closely together increases costs because
more twine is used and more time is
required for wrapping.
slightly lower storage losses than
untreated hay if stored for only a few
months, but after storage for as long as
six months, there may be no difference
between treated and untreated hav.
Acid treatment does not appear to
retard the weathering process with hay
stored outside, however. Furtherm ore,
acids can result in corrosion of
hay equipment.
reducing or eliminating mold growth
and heating. In addition, because
Most studies have shown net wrap
to be slightly better than twine in
bales per hour than with twine. Net
preventing storage losses. Producers
who use net wrap have also indicated
wrap has the additional advantage of
that they can wrap a bale with only two
to three revolutions and produce more
stabilizing bales better than twine, thus
making bale handling and storage
easier, but it also increases cost.
Though not a storage procedure per
se, a preservative is sometimes applied
to the swath or to forage as it enters the
injected bales
avoid ammon
m
ia
ust be sealed airtight to
loss, weathering loss is
avoided. However, the caustic nature of
this product creates danger to humans,
and has occasionally caused hay to be
toxic to animals (particularly with high
moisture, high quality hays).
As fields are cut, baled, and stored,
some system for identifying hay as to
field and cutting date should be
implemented. This information is
useful in determining the effect of
baler. The preservative is often a
buffered acid which decreases mold
and mildew growth. This allows hay to
be baled at
which mav
a higher moisture level
leaf retention of increase
legume hays, thus slightly improving
harvest yield and forage quality, as
well as hastening baling by one-half
to one day, thus reducing the risk of
rain damage.
Climatic conditions obviously play an
management practices on forage
important role in determ
quality and/or animal performance,
ining the
extent of spoilage loss of hay stored
and in testing the nutritive quality of
outside. In general, the higher the
rainfall during outside storage, the
hay to allow the formulation of rations
greater the amount of storage loss
which will occur. However, rainfall
which efficiently meet animal nutridistribution
also has an influence (in
fact, results from some studies have
tional requirements.
implied that rainfall distribution can be
Climatic Influences
considerably more important than
rainfall amount). To illustrate, a
rainstorm which results in 2 inches of
rain falling very quickly is likely to
have much less impact than the same
rainfall coming in small amounts every
other day over a period of two weeks.
Other climatic factors such as high t
humidity, which slows drying of wet
hay, likewise enhance storage losses.
Temperature also has an effect, because
microbial activity within the bale is
favored when warm, humid, overcast
conditions prevail. Hay which is stored
in a sunny area which receives the
benefit of unobstructed breezes dries
more quickly and tends to have lower
spoilage losses than hay stored in shady
and/or less well-ventilated areas.
Outside storage of hay normally
presents little or no problem in the arid
western United States, so in this area
large stacks of hay are often stored
outside totally unprotected from the
elements. However, in high rainfall/
high humidity areas, outside storage
losses can be extensive and quite costly.
Site Selection
If hay is to be stored outside, it is
desirable to locate the storage site close
to the feeding area because bales
become more difficult to handle as
they weather. It is easier to move them
a greater di stante when they are new
and tightly wrapped.
Well-drained upland storage sites are
best. Bottom areas should generally be
avoided as they tend to be heavier soils.
Also, many bottom areas are prone to
flooding, which is detrimental to hay
and may limit vehicle access during
rainy periods. Hay/soil contact should
be avoided if at all possible, but if hay
must touch the soil, a sandy, welldrained
area is greatly preferable to a
heavy soil and/or a poorly drained site.
It is also advisable to select a storage
site where the danger of fire is minimized.
Several steps which can be
taken to reduce the likelihood of fire
are discussed in a later section titled
"Reducing Fire Risk."
Bale Orientation/Placement
Once the storage site has been located,
attention should be given to bale
placement and orientation. Except
when multiple-bale covers are used,
large round bales should be stored in
rows with sides not touching so as to
avoid creating a moisture-holding area
between sides. However, the flat ends
of bales should be firmly butted against
one another. This conserves space and
may help protect the bottoms of bales
(other than the one on the upper side
of the slope) from water flowing down
the slope. Properly done, this protects
the ends almost as well as if they were
part of one continuous bale.
If possible, rows should run north
and south so as to allow maximum
exposure of the rounded sides to the
sun. This increases drying of the
rounded surface of bales during
the day. At least 3 feet should be
left between bale rows to ensure
sunlight penetration and allow good
air circulation.
If direct hay/soil contact cannot be
avoided, taking steps to minimize the
amount of water reaching the bales,
and the length of time they stay wet,
will at least help. A gently sloping site
(preferably with a southern exposure to
maximize solar drying) will allow water
to quickly drain away from the hay.
Bales should b e oriented up and down
the slope so that they will not create a
dam for surface water, and placed near
the top of the slope to minimize the
amount of water flowing around
the hay.
Protecting The Tops Of Bales
There are num.erous types o f commercially
available coverings for large
round hay bales, and they vary in both
effectiveness and cost. These include
small "caps" which are staked
pinned to the bale and which
or
cover the
top third to half of the bale. If handled
carefully, such products often can be
used more than one season, which
makes them less expensive and therefore
more feasible to use. Some individual
bale covers may be difficult to
keep securely in place for an extended
period of time.
One can also buy a large roll of
plastic sheeting and cut individual bale
covers, although experience has proven
this method to be time consuming and
the pieces somewhat awkward to
handle. If plastic sheeting is used, it
should be at least 6 mil thick.
individual bale covers are most suitable
for producers who use relatively
small quantities of hay in a given
feeding season.
The expense of a tarp, plastic
sheeting, or other fabric covering, as
well as the labor involved to cover hay,
can be reduced by placing a group of
bales under one cover. Often bale rows
are stacked in a triangular fashion with
two or three rows forming the base.
This gives either three or five rows of
hay per stack, with the total number
of bales varying with the length of
the stack.
A cover must be secured firmly to
prevent wind from blowing it off
during storage. It is desirable to leave
the flat ends of the outside bales
uncovered and to leave a few inches
uncovered along the sides of the rows
to allow moisture to escape and air to
circulate under the bales. However,
winds of only 15 to 20 mph can exert
considerable lifting force as it blows
across the top of a plastic or tarp, and
even a slight breeze may lift a loose
edge of a poorly secured cover.
Another disadvantage of using
plastic sheets is that condensation may
occur under the bales if hay was moist
when stored or if water gets under, and
into, the bales. The result is that a
significant amount of spoilage may
occur next to the plastic even though
rain cannot reach the hay. (This makes
a strong case for making certain any
hay stored using this technique is quite
dry, preferably 18% moisture or less,
before being covered and is not in
contact with the soil.) In addition,
disposal of plastic after use may be
a problem.
At least one commercially available
hay cover is made from a slightly
porous fabric. It is marketed in large
tarp-sized sheets, and can be used to
cover several bales at a time, usually
with one row of bales stacked on top of
two other rows in triangular fashion.
This reusable product offers the
advantage of shedding a high percentage
of rain water while still allowing
moisture to escape during sunny,
drying days. However, bottom spoilage
may occur on bales which touch the
ground unless steps are taken to
prevent it.
If a cover is used (particularly a
plastic cover), it may be desirable to
relate the size of individual stacks to
the rate at which hay is to be fed. Once
a row end is uncovered and bales are
removed for feeding, covers are seldom
placed back as securely as they were
initially. The result is that wind may
blow a cover off, or partially off,
resulting in some weathering of the
remaining hay. Therefo re, minimizing
the amount of hay stored under one
bottoms, as opposed to the tops, of
bales. The bottoms of bales can be
protected in countless ways, limited
only by imagination and ingenuity.
cover may help reduce weathering
in some situations. losses
The bale bottom is protected when it is
held off the ground by something that
does not trap and hold water. For
example, wooden pallets, telephone
posts, scrap pipe, and cross ties have all
been successfully used in hay storage.
The most important point is to prevent
hay/soil contact, but providing some
air flow under the hav is also desirable.
Other companies market equipment
which places either individual bales or
several bales inside plastic "sleeves."
This approach effectively protects the
tops and sides of bales, but it is quite
important to make certain that the hay
is dry when baled and to make certain
there is no way for moisture to enter
the bales or for condensation to "pool"
at the bottom of the plastic during
storage. Otherwise, there may be high
spoilage losses on the bottoms of bales.
When each sleeve covers only one bale,
the sleeve should be tight. Despite the
plastic on the bale bottoms, individuallv
sleeved bales should not be stored
directly on the ground.
Wooden pallets offer an inexpensive
method of eliminating hay/soil contact,
but are labor intensive as thev need to
be moved as hay is used. They make it
easy to change storage location(s) from
year to year because they have to be
moved anyway. However, pallets
contain nails which can puncture tires
or cause other damage.
Another relatively inexpensive and
effective storage technique is to place
hay on rock pads. A good rock pad
keeps bales off the soil, and also
Some companies produce equipment
which completely wraps or seals
individual bales in stretch plastic. Done
correctly, this may be the most effective
way to eliminate weathering losses with
outside storage. However, depending
on the equipment design, this may be
expensive in terms of labor, equipment,
and plastic, plus disposal of plastic after
feeding is required.
provides all weather support for
equipment. Rocks 1 to 3 inches in
diameter should be piled 4 to 8 inc1
1 1 1 ' 1 -1 aeep, aependmg on the son type and
the weight of the equipment to be
used. This size rock traps no water and
effectively channels water away.
Several research studies have involved
spraying bales with water
repellent substances. Hydrogenated
animal fats and plant oils have been
used most frequently, and offer the
attributes of being natural, environmentally
friendly, and biodegradable.
With most such products, animal
refusal of treated hay does not
appear to be a problem, but the fat or
oil may attract insects, which can
include fire ants in areas where they
are present. Additional research is
needed to determine the feasibility of
this approach.
Rock pads last for many seasons and
can easily be repaired if da maged . An
erosion cloth can be placed below the
rock pad to help slow the rate at which
heavy equipment may push rocks
down into the soil and therefore
increase the life of the pad (which can
be ten years or more).
COSTS VERSUS BENEFITS OF
HAY STORAGE
Many producers probably do not fully
realize the economic importance o f
storage losses because the amount of
loss is difficult to determine on a farm,
and total hay costs are considerably
higher than out-of-pocket expenses.
Protecting The Bottoms Of Bales
Several studies have shown that it can
be more important to protect the
Use ofa rock pad is one effective yet inexpensive
way to eliminate hay/soil contact.
Before making decisions regarding
hay storage, a producer should
obtain and study hay budgets to
determine the actual cost of hay
production and the dollar value of
hay storage losses. Budgets are usually
available from County Agricultural
Extension Agents.
Cost Of Hay Losses
Proper hay storage has a cost in terms
of both time and effort, and this must
be considered by producers seeking to
reduce losses. Material and labor costs
expended to store hay, as well as the
nutritional value of hay, dictate which
storage techniques are most cost
effective. The higher the quality of the
hay, the greater th e economic cost of
storage and feeding losses (Table 3).
Storage losses increase the quantity
of hay needed, plus they may lower
forage quality of the remaining hay
enough that additional supplementation
of animal diets is required. The
cost of storage losses can readily be
calculated based on the selling price of
hay of various qualities. The economic
values of dry matter losses provided in
Table 4 were calculated using
Minnesota quality-tested hay auction
prices. This information can be used to
calculate how much one can afford to
spend in constructing overhead storage
or in improving site drainage.
Table 4 illustrates that as hay value
increases, a greater investment in time,
energy, and money can be justified to
reduce losses. Furthermore, in addition
to the value which is lost due to
weathering, the lost hay must then be
replaced. For example, dry matter
losses of 15 to 20% require a livestock
producer to harvest 15 to 20% more
hay, which further adds to the costs of
production, harvesting, and storage.
Barn Storage
Barn storage is usually considered to be
a consistently highly effective method
of storing hay, so it is often used as the
standard against which other techniques
are compared. When the typical
dry matter storage loss of dry hay
during inside storage (usually around
5%) is compared to the 30% or more
common with hav stored outside in
the humid portions of the United
States, it isn't difficult to see that
reduced losses can often provide
pavback on barn construction wi ' a I J
thin a
)orous few years. The more valuable or I
the hay, the higher and/or more
frequent the rainfall, and/or the
the period of storage, the more c
barn construction can be just&
onger
dy
1.
kor commercial nay proaucers there
mav also be considerable benefit from
the improved appearance which results
from barn storage. Outside storage
hurts the appearance of hay even when
actual losses are minimal. Appearance
is not closely linked to nutrient
content or feeding value, but it is often
important in marketing, and may
justify barn storage even in relatively
low rainfall climates.
Storage buildings may provide foot basis. Material costs are higher in of a building declines steadily over
benefits in addition to those which some areas than others, and climate time. Generally, depreciation is considresult
from storing hay. For example, largely determines siding costs. Even in ered to be around 5% of the initial
part of a hay
barn might be
used for other
purposes
during a
portion of the
year. Furthermore,
the
overall value of
a farm should
increase with
the addition of
a hay barn.
Bale density
is another
important
consideration
affecting the
cost effectiveness
of barn
storage. The
payback on barn construction within a few years.
density of small rectangular bales 1s
usuallv around 9 pounds per cubi C
foot, while the density of large round
bales can vary from less than 5 to more
than 10. Even when high density
round bales are used, at least a third
less round bale hay than rectangular
bale hay can be stored in a given
storage structure due to the wasted
space between bales.
When a storage facility is
constructed for round bale storage,
dimensions should be based on the
diameter and length of the bales that
will be stored. For such structures, a
design which does not require interior
roof-supporting poles is desirable so
that equipment operation will not
be impeded.
Costs And Risks Of Barn Storage
The cost of building a hay storage
structure can vary greatly. Comparisons
of structures of various types and sizes
should be made on a cost-per-squarehigh
rainfall areas at least one side
may be left open without significant
adverse results.
Labor costs typically account for
around 35% of the cost of erecting a
hay storage structure. Thus, a producer
who can provide most or all of the
labor for building a storage structure
can substantially reduce out-of-pocket
construction expenses.
a
Costs other than construction which
re associated with barn storage are
greater than
making deci
might be
sions rega
expec
rding
ted. Before
erecting
storage facilities or pricing hay which
has been stored inside, the following
items should be taken into
consideration.
Shrinkage- Hay which has been V
stored inside for several months will
typically lose 5 to 10% of its weight as
compared to freshly baled hay due to a
combination of dry matter loss and
moisture loss.
Depreciation- The economic value I
value per year.
Interest on
investment- This is
"opportunity cost"
or the amount of
return which could
have been made
with the money
used to build a
storage structure if it
had been invested
elsewhere.
Repairs- A good
figure to use is that
approximately 1 to
2% of the value of a
building must
annually be spen
on repairs. Most
1 . -11
t
o f
this will occur
during the latter
part of its useful life.
Taxes and insurance- Taxes vary
greatly with location, so to determine
tax costs a producer should check with
local officials. Having insurance on a
storage facility is generally advisable,
but each producer must decide whether
he needs it and, if so, how much. Some
farm policies may cover such additional
buildings at little extra cost. Often the
combined costs of taxes and insurance
amount to about 1% of the average
value of the building over its useful life.
Other- If a barn has an earth floor,
water from outside should not be
allowed to run under the hay. Otherwise,
spoilage will occur on the bottom
bales even though the hay is under
shelter.
Bale dimensions, how high bales
will be stacked, and the anticipated
length of usefulness of the storage
facility will also affect the economics of
barn storage. For example, if a building
costs a certain amount per square foot
Table 5. Average and range of increase of percentages of dry matter and
digestible dry matter with barn storage as compared to various protection
techniques used for hay stored outside. (Medium rainfall areas.)*
Increase With Barn Storage, % Units
to build, but bales will be stacked three
high and the facility is expected to last
for 20 years, the cost per square foot
for bale storage per year (construction
cost only) can be determined by
dividing the construction cost by 3 and
then by 20. The cost/bale/year can
then be obtained by multiplying the
cost per square foot by the square
footage of the size of bales to be stored
(for example, a 5 foot x 6 foot bale
will occupy about 30 square feet of
storage space).
In the final analysis, in order to
determine whether it is economically
feasible to build a hay storage structure
a producer must calculate anticipated
construction costs, then compare this
figure with an estimate of the value of
hay being lost without it. Figure 2
provides the break even costs for barn
construction at various loss levels,
costs/square foot, and hay values.
Treatment Compared To &rn Storage Dry Matter Digestible Dry Matter
On Ground Without Cover 8.7 12.7
( 3 . 6 - 143' (3.3 - 17.2)
Drained Surface (Rock, Pallets, etc.) 2.4 6.8
(-1.3 - 6.7) (-0.4 - 13.4)
Plastic Cover On Bale Tops
Drained Surface + Plastic Cover
On Bale Tops
Net Wrap
Plastic Sleeve
3.2 3.6
(0.6 - 4.6) (2.9 - 4.3)
0.3 - 1 . 4
(0.9 - 2.9) (-2.1 - 1.8)
I . 5
(0.6 - 1.5) -
0.6
(-1.4 - 2.7)
Pyramid Stack + Cover On Top 3.7
*SOURCE: Russell, Jim, and Ray Wuhnke. 1997. Winter Feed Management To Minimize Cow-Calf Production
Costs: Hay Storage And Feeding. The Forage teader (a periodical published by the American Forage and
Grassland Council, Georgetown, TX). 'Parentheses denote the range of values in tests included in this summary.
The costs versus the benefits of
using other techniques to protect hay
should be compared to: (1) hay stored
outside with no protection, and (2)
building a hay storage facility. Experiments
have generally shown that more
than half (and sometimes nearly all)
the difference in storage losses
40 50 60 70 80 90 100 II0 I20
between outside storage on the
ground with no protection and
barn stored hay can be eliminated
through the use of various
strategies. A summary of 12
experiments comparing storage
losses of barn stored hay to
various other storage techniques
is provided in Table 5.
Barn Safety Considerations
Average spoilage depth (inches) Safety considerations should be a
high priority when planning barn
Figure 2. Break even barn cost for various levels of
storage of hay. These include making
storage loss and varying hay value at harvest. certain that equipment available on the
(This analysis includes the following assumptions: in-barn farm is capable of safely placing bales
average stacking height of three bales, ten-year barn in stable stacks, having a shield on
amortization, and construction cost of $7.50/square foot.
Inputs other than storage loss and hay value are
stacking equipment to prevent injury
not included.)
to the operator if a bale falls, and
SOURCE: Buckmaster, D.R. 1993. Evaluator for Round
making certain that excessive pressure
will not be exerted on the walls or
Hay Bale Storage. J. Prod. Agric., 6378485. supports of the storage facility
(stacking bales on end reduces the
latter hazard).
REDUCING FIRE RISK
Each year there are many reports of hay
barns burning, as well as of fires
occurring in hay stored outside. Fire is
always a concern with hay, but it takes
on even greater importance when an
expensive barn can be lost in addition
to the hay.
Fire in stored hay may occur from
either external or internal causes.
Internally started fires are a result of
hay going through an extreme heat.
As discussed earlier, heating is a direct
result of microorganism activity in hay
stored at excessively high moisture
levels. Even if excessive heating does
not result in a fire, it will reduce
forage quality.
Combustion Due To
Extreme Heating
The principal way to avoid fire resulting
from internal heating (sometimes
referred to as "spontaneous combustion,"
though this term is misleading)
is to bale hay at proper moisture levels.
Hay in round bales should contain no
more than 18% moisture when placed
inside a barn, while hay in small
rectangular bales should contain no
more than 20% moisture. Hay that is
suspected of being too wet should be
stored outside for about three weeks
until the danger of combustion due to
heating is past. New crop hay should
never be placed against dry hay.
The danger of fire from heating of
hay of higher-than-optimum moisture
can be decreased somewhat by "loose
stacking" the bales so good air movement
and ventilation can occur. Hay
preservatives, which reduce fungal and
bacterial growth, sprayed on hay
during the baling process help reduce
(though do not always prevent)
excessive heating in higher moisture
hav. Bales known to contain, or
External Causes
External fires have many causes ranging
from lightning to the mindless tossing
of a cigarette. Common sense and an
alert eye can eliminate most causes of
external fires. For example, it is best to
avoid stacking hay close to anything
that can attract lightning such as power
lines, metal fence posts, trees, or towers
such as antennas.
It is also advisable to avoid storing
hay adjacent to vegetation that might
support a fire, and to maintain a novegetation
buffer area around stacked
hay to prevent wildfire from moving
into the stored hay. This is especially
true if the grass or other plants in the
storage area are warm season species
that go dormant in winter. Risk of hay
loss from fire can further be reduced by
storing hay in two or more sites rather
than just one.
It is a good idea to post "No Smoking"
signs in conspicuous places
around a hay barn and to strictly
enforce this policy. A herbicide or
tillage can be used to create a bare
ground buffer zone at least 3 feet wide
around the edge of the barn to reduce
risk from wildfire.
If there is a need to check the
temperature of hay, it can be done by
fitting a sharpened end on a lo-foot
section of l/2 inch pipe, then driving it
into the hay, followed by lowering a
thermometer into the pipe. Temperatures
below 120'F are normal, and
120" to 140' are in the caution range.
Hay heating to 160' or higher is in
serious danger of catching fire. Temperature
can build in hay, particularly
within the first week or two after
baling, and therefore periodic monitoring
of temperature until it is clear there
is no danger of fire is advisable.
HAY FEEDING
On many farms, hay feeding losses are
as high as storage losses, particularly if
hay is fed outside (This is logical
because as the amount of weathered
hay increases, animal refusal also
increases). Some hay losses during
feeding can be expected with any
feeding system, but the amount of loss
varies with the system used. The major
objective for any feeding system should
be to keep losses to a practical minimum
level, thus permitting animals to
consume the
at feeding.
majority of hay offered
Feeding losses include trampling,
leaf shatter, chemical and physical
deterioration, fecal contamination, and
refusal. The levels and costs of these
losses will be determined by feeding
method, intervals between feedings,
amounts fed at a time, weather conditions,
the number of animals being fed,
and forage quality or hay value.
In research trials, feeding losses have
ranged from less than 2% when great
care was exercised, to more than 60%
where no attempts were made to
reduce loss. Feeding losses of 3 to 6%
are quite acceptable for most feeding
programs, although such low levels of
loss are usually associated with systems
which require high labor inputs and
daily feeding.
Use Of Hay Quality Information
Hay can be most efficiently fed when
separated into lots according to quality,
and when classes of animals are
separated and fed according to needs.
This allows hay quality to be matched
to livestock needs. For example, on a
cattle farm the best quality hay might
be fed to animals having high nutritional
requirements such as young
calves, yearlings, bred heifers, and
lactating cows. Lower quality hay could
be saved for mature, dry pregnant cows
and bulls when not in breeding season.
High quality hay is early cut, leafy,
pleasant smelling, and free of foreign
material and toxic factors. When
chemically analyzed, such hay will
usually be high in protein and digestible
energy, and low in fiber. The best
quality hay will also be the most
valuable hay and thus should be fed
with the greatest care.
Feeding Methods
If not ground for use in formulating a
total mixed ration, small rectangular
bales are normally stored under shelter,
then are usually either moved from the
shelter and placed in some type of
structure (bunk, manger, rack, wagon,
trough, etc.) or taken to an outside area
where cattle are located. Either system
requires a considerable amount of
labor. Most large hay packages are
fed on sod whether stored inside
or outside.
Feeding hay on sod offers the
advantage of distributing hay on
pasture land rather than concent
it along a feed bunk or in a barn.
When hay is fed on sod, livestock
usually waste and refuse less hay in
situations in which thev have a solid
footing. Dry, well-drained, or frozen
location which is easily accessible and
which minimizes the size of the area in
which sod is killed. However, it causes
excessive sod destruction, usually
creates muddy conditions, often results
in heavy spring weed pressure, and can
result in soil compaction and/or ruts in
the field.
Some livestock producers who feed
in only one area prefer to feed on
concrete or to haul in large gravel so
the hay can be placed on a solid
foundation. Also, some producers
feed the lowest quality hay first, thus
initially causing excessive hay wastage
but providing a foundation for
further feeding.
Frequently moving the feeding area
allows manure to be spread more
uniformly over the field(s) and therefore
improves the soil fertility in bare
or thin spots, while reducing the
severity of (though not necessarily the
total area which sustains) sod damage.
It can also facilitate the "trampling in"
of1
red
egume
clover)
seed (usuallv white clover or
which was broadcast over a
field during early winter. Regardless
of the approach used when feeding
hay on sod, any areas where sod kill
is encountered should be reseeded
as soon after the feeding season
as possible.
When hay is fed on sod, the amount
of hav wasted will be much less when
onlv a 0ne-dav hay supply is given, and
when hay is fed in such a manner that
all animals have access. However,
unrestricted animal access to large
round bales or stacks will result in
grossly excessive feeding waste.
If substantial quantities of hay must
be put out at one time, erecting a
barrier between the hay and the feeding
animals will reduce waste. The barrier
Placing Q barrier between the hay and the animals will reduce feeding losses.
can be an electric wire, feeding racks or
rings, panels, wagons, or gates. Feeding
racks and rings are available in a variety
of shapes and sizes (racks which
prevent hay from contacting the
ground are particularly effective). In
addition, blueprints for home construction
of bale protectors are available
through many universities,
including from County Agricultural
Extension Agents.
When racks or panels are not used,
enough animals are needed to eat the
amount of hay offered in a relatively
short period of time. Waste can be
reduced by having at least one cow for
each foot of outside dimension (circumference)
of the hay package.
Forcing animals which have low
nutritional requirements to clean up
hay in feeding areas before more hay is
put out can also help reduce waste.
A few producers use balers which
package hay in relatively small round
bale packages which are left in the field
and later fed at the spot where they
were dropped from the baler. This
system lends itself to large hay storage
losses if hay is stored in this manner for
very long because the hay is unprotected
from the elements and there is
high bale surface area exposure. When
this system is used, an electric wire
should be used to limit access and thus
at least reduce feeding losses.
Feeding Priority Of Various Hays
Obviously, the longer hay is exposed to
the elements, the greater storage losses
will be. Therefore, hay stored outside
should generally be fed before hay
stored inside. Porous hay which is
highly susceptible to damage should be
fed before hay which is tightly baled.
Other things being equal, the best
quality hay stored outside should be
fed before lower quality hay, though
animal nutritional requirements may
also affect feeding priority.
Altering Hay Bales Before Feeding
Several types of equipment are available
for grinding, shredding, unrolling, or
cutting and windrowing large hay
packages. These methods usually
require additional equipment, but can
work well under proper management.
Grinding or shredding hay facilitates
limit feeding (limiting the amount fed
at a time) and also tends to lower
feeding losses by reducing the ability
of animals to selectively consume
unweathered hav and refuse
weathered material.
The least expensive method is to
simply unroll the bale to enable
livestock to line up much like at a feed
bunk. Again, feeding only enough
for one dav reduces waste but
increases labor.
KEY CONCEPTS REGARDING
OUTSIDE HAY STORAGE
hvestock needs iot-being met by
Minimizing Hay Requirements
pasture. However, stored feed, including
hay, is normally much more
The objective of any hay feeding
expensive than pasture forage, so it is
economically advantageous to miniprogram
is to provide adequate
mize stored feed requirements to the
extent possible. Examples of ways this
quantities of high quality hay to meet
might be done include stockpiling
forage, grazing crop residues, and
lengthening the grazing season by
growing various pasture crops which
have differing periods of production.
intake and greater refusal.
2. The more valuable the hay, the
1. Weathering of hay results in losses
easier it is to justify spending
time and money to reduce
of dry matter, lowered forage
storage losses.
quality, and (perhaps even less
well recognized) reduced hay
. It is preferable for bale rows to run
north and south rather than east
and west. Also, a southern, rather
than a northern, exposure is best.
3. Hay/soil contact is usually the
most important source of spoilage
of hay stored outside and
should be eliminated if possible.
This can be accomplished by
placing bales on crushed rock, a
concrete pad, or some object such
as wooden pallets. If placing bales
on the ground cannot be avoided,
selection of a well-drained area
(preferably with sandy soil)
7. The flat ends of bales should be
butted together, but the rounded
6
sides should not touch. Unless
rows are put together to facilitate
covering with sheets of plastic or
similar material, at least 3 feet of
space should be left between rows
to allow air circulation.
8, The larger the bale, the lower the
total percentage of weathering of
hay stored outside. However, there
are some disadvantages associated
with handling larger bales.
9. As hay density is increased (particularly
in the outer portion of
the bale), outside storage losses
should be selected.
Water should quickly drain away
from any bales stored on the
ground. Storing bales near the
top of a sloping area reduces the
amount of water flowing around
them. Bale rows should run up
and down a sloping area to avoid
trapping surface water.
Hay should be stored in a sunny
location, preferably in an area
where frequent breezes occur.
Hay should never be stored under
trees or other areas where drying
is slow.
decline. A minimum of 10 pounds
of hay/cubic foot is recommended
for round bales stored outside.
Course-stemmed forages are more
vulnerable to weathering than
fine-stemmed forages which form
a thatch.
10. The efficiency and cost of various
methods of storing hay outside
vary greatly. Whether a particular
technique or combination of
techniques can be justified depends
on the cost of the
technique(s) versus the value of
hay which will otherwise be lost.
No objects near hay which are
likely to attract lightning
Flat ends of bales butted
tightly together
Bale rows run up and down
slope with north/south
orientation; a southern
exposure is best
High bale density resists water
penetration
Tops and sides of bales can be
protected from rain with any o
a number of different types
of covers
\
f
KEY CONCEPTS REGARDING
HAY FEEDING
1. Hay quality should be matched to
animal needs.
2. When animals ate fed outside, a
well-drained site should be selected
to reduce feeding losses.
3. Hay stored outside should be fed
before hay stored inside; coarse,
porous hay stored outside should be
fed before fine-stemmed, densely
baled hay stored outside; other
things being equal, high value hay
stored outside should be fed before
low value hay stored outside.
/ 'r\ . 1 . 1 . 1 4. Yuttmg a barrier between an1 11
and hay will help reduce feet 1
losses. Hay racks can be
particularly effective.
5. Minimizing the amount of h
which animals have access at
. '11 1 r 1' 1 time will reduce teeding losses.
6. Forcing clean up of hay by animals
which have low nutrient requirements
before feeding more hay can
help reduce hay waste.
mals
ing
ty to
one
Bright, sunny location; no trees
or other objects near hay to
slow drying after rains \
Storage area located on a
gently sloping, well-drained site
Hay/soil contact avoided by
placing bales on rock, wooden
pallets, etc.
Rounded sides of bales not
touching; at least 3 feet of
space between rows
Fire risk can be reduced by
storing hay in more than one
location and by maintaining a
no-vegetation zone of at least
3 feet in width around the
storage area
_ _ ..__ _ _. _.._..._. _ _