1. Recommended rates for applying organic acid preservatives to hay
Hay moisture level
(%-DM)
Rate (%)
Dry weight basis
lbs. of acid
per ton of hay %
0.5 10 %
1.0 20 %
1.5 30
C.C. Sheaffer and N. P. Martin Ext Folder 489, University of Minnesota

2. Tons of Production Hay Acreage Tons / Acre Tons of Production 25 50 75
100
125
150
175
200
225
250
1.5 38
113
188
263
300
338
375
2.0
350
400
450
500
2.5 63
313
438
563
625
3.0
525
600
675
750
3.5 88
613
700
788
875
4.0
800
900
1000
4.5
1013
1125
5.0
1250
5.5
138
275
413
550
688
825
963
1100
1238
1375
6.0
1050
1200
1350
1500
6.5
163
325
488
650
813
975
1138
1300
1463
1625
7.0
1225
1400
1575
1750
7.5
938
1313
1688
1875
8.0
1600
1800
2000
8.5
213
425
638
850
1063
1275
1488
1700
1913
2125
Tons / Acre
Tons of Production

3. Particle size recommendations for chopped forage and TMR diets
Screen
Pore Size
Particle Size
Corn Silage
Haylage
TMR
Upper Sieve
.75”
> .75”
3% - 8%
10% - 20%
2% - 8%
Middle Sieve
.31”
.31” - .75”
45% - 65%
30% - 50%
Lower Sieve
.05” *
.07” - .31”
30% - 40%
Bottom Pan -
< .07”
< 5%
< 20%
*Pores are square, so the largest opening is the diagonal, which is .07 inches. This is the reason the largest particles that can pass through the Lower Sieve are .07 inches in length
Source: Heinrichs, J and P. Kononoff. Evaluating particle size of forages and TMRs using the New Penn State Particle Separator. Penn State Cooperative Publication Das

4. Can I afford to build a barn?
Source: Forage Crop Pocket Guide

5. Can I afford to build a barn?
Source: Forage Crop Pocket Guide

6. Storage Options Tarped Stacks Hay Sheds Hoop Structures $1.50 – 2.50
$ –
$3.50+
$2.00 – 3.00

7. Hoop Structures for Hay Storage

8. Hoop Structures for Hay Storage
Adjustable tension to keep cover tight

9. Hoop Structures for Hay Storage
Cost:
Package (hoops, cover) $6,000-7,000
Posts, concrete, lumber, gravel, labor = $1,000-3,000
Total Materials Cost = ~ $7, ,000
bales
Assuming 10-year structure life
(prorated 16-year warranty on cover)
$10,000/10 yr = $1000 per year
$1000/300 bales = $3.00 per bale

10. Long-term Hay Storage DM Loss (Undercover) Net wrap or plastic sleeves
5-8% 1st year, little thereafter
Net wrap or plastic sleeves
5-8% 1st yr, 2-5% ea yr
Twine on the ground
Don’t even think about it!
Vitamin A content of old hay

11. Feeding Losses Method 1 day 7 day ---- % Waste---- Unrolled 12.3 43.0
Ring

12. Feeding Losses Ring 4 - 7 Trailer 10 - 13 Cradle 15 - 20 Item % Waste
Cone
Ring
Trailer
Cradle
Adapted from: Southern Forages (4th ed.) and
Buskirk et al., J. Anim. Sci. 81:

13. What About Baled Silage??
Advantages:
Minimize harvest loss
Decrease influence of weather
Capture high-quality
Flexible system
Disadvantages:
Potential for ‘operator error’
Cost of materials
Added labor
Keeping vermin out

14. 14 inches
~74% of the bales volume is contained in that 14 inches.

15. Moisture distribution of mixed grass-legume round bales stored on the ground
Twine Wrapped
Net Wrapped
Moisture differences at 4 inches due to wrap appear to be greater with predominately alfalfa bales as compared with grass bales.
Wisconsin researchers noted little change in bale core nutrient profiles due to wrap.
This is due to low moisture (less than 20%) in the core of bales studied.
Change in nutrient composition of the outer portion of the bales tends to be higher with twine wrapping as compared to net wrapping.
(Reference: Shinners et al., 2002 ASAE International meeting, paper )
Shinners, University of Wisconsin

16. Moisture distribution of mixed grass-legume round bales stored on the ground vs. elevated
Twine Wrapped
On a Pallet
Moisture differences at 4 inches due to wrap appear to be greater with predominately alfalfa bales as compared with grass bales.
Wisconsin researchers noted little change in bale core nutrient profiles due to wrap.
This is due to low moisture (less than 20%) in the core of bales studied.
Change in nutrient composition of the outer portion of the bales tends to be higher with twine wrapping as compared to net wrapping.
(Reference: Shinners et al., 2002 ASAE International meeting, paper )
Shinners, University of Wisconsin

17. Heat Damage to Crude Protein
DM Intake
Useable
Protein
Heat-Damaged
Protein
Protein
Heat

18. Every little bit helps!

19. If it has to be outside… Store bales with N/S orientation
Don’t store under trees
Make dense bales
Shed water better
Elevate the bales

20. Typical Hay Storage Losses
Twine
Net wrap
(% of dry weight)
Pole barn
2-5%
Hoop structure
Tarp
5-10%
5-8%
Stack pad,
covered stack
uncovered stack
15-40%
10-30%
Plastic wrap
N/A
Outside on ground,
well-drained
20-40%
poor drainage/shaded
30-60%
30-45%

21. Hay Storage Research Storage Weathered DM Method Depth Loss (in.) (%)
(Kentucky)
Storage Weathered DM
Method Depth Loss
(in.) (%)
Twine
Netwrap
Solid plastic
Shed <

22. Storage Losses
Source: Forage Crop Pocket Guide

23. Storage Losses
Source: Forage Crop Pocket Guide

24. The True Cost of Storage and Feeding Losses
About 3 billion dollars of hay is lost per year from storage and feeding in the U.S.
(37.5 million tons)

25. Losses During Storage
Even when hay is baled at the target moisture (15% moisture for round bales; 18% for squares), the forage will go through a “sweat” for 2-3 wks.
Moisture is driven off, heat is given off, and DM dec.
A 1% decrease in moisture ≈ 1% decrease in DM
Moisture tends to equilibrate at 12% during storage
20% Moisture
12% Moisture
CO2
H2O +
1000 lbs DM
920 lbs DM