Category: Livestock Equipment

Improving Forage Quality with Technology, Storage & Moisture Management

By Jaclyn Krymowski for American Cattlemen 

Hay remains a sizable feed expense for many beef operations. It may well be the single largest one if feeding a herd over the winter. Between skyrocketing fuel costs and drought conditions, the price of hay reflects the increase in input costs. 

Even when forage yields are strong, significant losses can occur between cutting and feeding. 

Research consistently shows that storage alone can result in dry matter losses ranging from less than 5% under ideal conditions to more than 30% in poorly managed outdoor storage systems, per the University of Wisconsin Extension. 

But with the right combination of baling technology, moisture management and proper storage practices, forage losses can be reduced significantly without sacrificing nutrient quality from harvest through feeding. 

Capturing Forage Quality 

A forage’s nutrient quality is set. Unfortunately, it can only go down from there, and how much depends on when and how it’s harvested, handled and stored. 

The first big factor in forage quality hinges on timing of harvest. One of the most important factors affecting forage quality is the stage of maturity. Even with the best seeding, delayed harvest reduces protein and digestibility. 

There is simply no technology that can fully compensate for overmature forage. 

As far as equipment goes, there’s a lot to be said about working with what you’ve got and not sinking a fortune into something new just because it’s perceived as “better.” That said, there are a few details you should know about the nuances of working with older versus newer equipment. 

Balers 

The first consideration should be the relationship between your balers and hay harvesting. For example, per the Virginia Tech Extension bulletin Management Tips for Round Bale Hay Harvesting, Moving, and Storage, “Hay producers select large round balers over small rectangular balers because of their high capacity, lower cost and lower labor requirements. One person, with properly sized equipment, can usually bale, store and feed all the hay for most average size operations.” 

Authors Robert “Bobby” Grisso and John Fike make note that dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) losses tend to be greater with large round bales compared to small squares. For grass hays, this may not be as concerning as costly legume hays, which experience shatter loss. 

“Because of this potential loss, timely field operations are more critical with large round bales than with small rectangular bales,” they write. “Use equipment and management techniques specifically designed for large round bales, since baling, transport, storage and feeding losses of large round bales can be higher than with small rectangular bales.” 

While round bales dominate much of the beef industry due to labor savings and handling efficiency, small square bales still offer advantages in certain situations. Their denser packing and easier handling can reduce some storage and feeding losses, particularly for higher-value forages. Large square bales have also gained popularity on larger operations because they combine much of the efficiency of round bales with improved stacking, transportation and storage characteristics. 

Ultimately, the right choice depends on labor availability, storage capacity, feeding system and the value of the forage being harvested. 

Moisture Sensors 

One of the handiest devices in modern haymaking are real-time moisture readings on balers to reduce the guesswork. 

Baling at the proper moisture can be a balancing act. Hay that is slightly wetter can help preserve leaves and reduce shatter losses, especially in alfalfa and other legumes. However, excessive moisture creates risks ranging from mold development and heating to outright spoilage. Moisture sensors allow producers to make adjustments in real time rather than relying solely on feel, appearance or experience. 

GPS and Yield Monitoring

There are a variety of new yield monitoring tools, software programs and GPS systems to use the same way as precision planting or harvesting. But aside from the obvious, these tools are also ways to improve your management to improve current and future decisions before, during and after a cutting. 

Yield maps can help identify consistently productive and underperforming areas of a field, allowing producers to target fertility, drainage or renovation efforts where they are needed most. GPS-guided records can also help track harvest timing, field conditions and forage inventories across multiple cuttings. Over time, this information can reveal trends that improve both forage quality and overall efficiency. 

Storage Improvements Save Hay 

Many producers focus heavily on production while overlooking storage losses that quietly erode forage inventory throughout the year. 

One of the biggest safeguards storage offers is protecting hay against losses (dry matter, mold, nutrient) and weathering. 

According to a bulletin from Mississippi State, Hay Storage: Dry Matter Losses and Quality Changes, uncovered round bales stored directly on the ground may experience substantial losses depending on climate and management. It comes as no surprise that this option is, unfortunately, the cheapest as well. 

“Most storage losses occur where hay bales touch soil. Place round bales on gravel, pallets or tires to minimize dry matter losses but be aware that tires may hold water,” writes author Rocky Lemus, a plant and soil sciences professor. “Elevation is not necessary for bales covered in solid plastic because the plastic layer provides a barrier against moisture movement from the soil. Some studies have shown that these techniques reduce storage losses by 15%.” 

Gravel pads work as a decent alternative to direct ground storage as they do provide better drainage and less bottom moisture. However, they don’t offer the same air movement and minimal ground contact that pallets or other elevated surfaces do. 

For indoor storage, there are a variety of options that all work similarly as well. Even a tarp shelter, assuming that ground contact is minimal, can still significantly reduce weathering losses. 

Remember that even properly wrapped and secured bales will still need some degree of monitoring to make sure that there aren’t tears or other damages exposing oxygen. 

Moisture Management 

Whether producing dry hay or baleage, moisture remains one of the most important variables affecting forage quality and storage success. 

Moisture levels that are too high increase the risk of mold growth, excessive heating, protein damage, and even spontaneous combustion. Conversely, forage that becomes overly dry before baling is more susceptible to leaf shatter and harvest losses, particularly in legumes where many of the most valuable nutrients are concentrated in the leaves. 

Recommended moisture levels vary by forage system. Dry hay is generally baled at 14-18% moisture for small square bales, 12-16% for large round bales and 10-15% for large square bales. Baleage systems typically perform best between 40% and 60% moisture. 

Fortunately, producers have more tools than ever available for monitoring moisture. Handheld moisture testers remain a popular and affordable option for spot checks in the field. Inline baler sensors provide continuous readings throughout the baling process and can alert operators to changing conditions. As always, lab analysis remains the gold standard for accuracy when evaluating forage samples. 

Modern baling technologies allow producers to harvest forage more efficiently and within increasingly narrow weather windows. Improved storage systems can substantially reduce dry matter losses and protect feed value. Moisture management remains the common thread linking harvest success and storage performance. 

Putting It Together 

Investments in sensors, preservatives, storage improvements and monitoring systems should be evaluated not only by equipment cost but by the amount of forage quality preserved. 

In today’s cattle market, every bale represents a significant investment. Protecting that investment through better technology and management can improve both herd performance and overall operation profitability. 

 

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