As important as it is, choosing the right hay cover is only one piece of the puzzle. Proper hay preparation before covering is just as essential for preserving quality during storage. This chapter will guide you through the essential steps of preparing hay for covering, from achieving the ideal bale shape and density to managing moisture content and weed control.
Consider Bale Shape and Density
Since different bale shapes have characteristics that affect their stability, water-shedding ability, and overall suitability for covering, their shape and density play a crucial role in how effectively you can cover and store them.
Round Bales
Round bales are easy to handle and shed water effectively. Their rounded shape allows rain and snow to run off, reducing the risk of moisture penetration. However, round bales can be more challenging to cover, especially with larger bales. They require more attention to properly secure the cover to prevent gaps that might allow moisture or pests to enter.
Square Bales
Square bales offer the advantage of being easier to stack and cover tightly. Their flat surfaces allow space to be used more efficiently and minimize gaps between bales. However, proper stacking technique is still essential since water can pool on top of the bales or seep between them and ruin the hay if they're stacked incorrectly.
Density
Maintaining correct and consistent density within each bale is essential for successful hay storage regardless of shape. Dense bales minimize air pockets within the hay, reducing mold growth and the danger of spontaneous combustion. Use proper baling techniques and maintain your equipment to ensure your bales are dense and uniform.
Moisture Content
Proper moisture content is critical for successful hay storage. Baling hay at the correct moisture level helps prevent spoilage, mold growth, and spontaneous combustion.
Ideal Moisture Levels
The ideal moisture content for baling hay varies depending on the type of hay and the baling method.
- Small Square Bales: Aim for 18-20% moisture content. Legume hays can often tolerate the higher end of this range.
- Large Square Bales: A slightly lower moisture content of 16-18% is recommended. Again, legume hays may tolerate slightly higher moisture.
- Round Bales: 15-17% moisture is generally ideal. As with the other bale types, legume hays can often be baled at the higher end of this range.
Baling hay that is too wet can induce excessive heating within the bale, creating an environment that encourages mold growth and may cause spontaneous combustion. On the other hand, baling hay that is too dry can result in excessive leaf shatter, reducing the quality and nutritional value of the hay.
Testing Moisture Content
Always test the moisture content of your hay before baling to ensure it falls within the recommended range. You have several options for testing moisture content:
- Some experienced farmers can estimate moisture content simply by feeling the hay with their hands. However, this method is highly subjective and doesn't provide precise measurements.
- Hand-held electronic moisture testers use a probe to provide instant readings of hay moisture. Still, they can be less accurate with high-moisture hay.
- In oven drying, a hay sample is weighed, dried completely in a laboratory oven, then weighed again. The weight difference indicates how much moisture was lost. Oven drying in a lab is very precise, but it can be inconvenient if you need quick results on-site.
- While it's not quite as accurate, the microwave oven technique is faster and more convenient than laboratory oven drying. If you use this method, monitor the sample carefully to keep it from catching fire.
- Koster testing involves a portable device that uses a heating element and a balance to determine moisture content. It's quick and easy to use on-site.
Conditioning and Curing
The conditioning and curing processes reduce moisture content, promote drying, and minimize degradation.
Conditioning
In conditioning, hay stems are crimped or crushed to accelerate drying. This encourages stems and leaves to dry evenly and establish ideal conditions for storage. Conditioning is especially important for legume hays, which have thicker stems that take longer to dry.
Curing
In curing, the hay is allowed to dry in the field until it reaches the ideal moisture content for baling. Curing time varies based on weather conditions, hay type, and conditioning method. Monitoring the hay's moisture content during curing is crucial to ensure it dries evenly. Hay should never be allowed to become too dry, which can cause leaf shatter and nutrient loss.
Best Practices for Conditioning and Curing
- Choose the right equipment: Use a mower-conditioner or other conditioning equipment appropriate for your hay type and field conditions.
- Adjust conditioning intensity: Adjust the conditioning intensity based on the thickness of the hay stems and the weather conditions.
- Monitor weather forecasts: Pay close attention to weather forecasts and adjust your curing time accordingly. If rain is expected, consider tedding or raking the hay to promote faster and more even drying.
- Test moisture content regularly: Use a moisture tester to monitor the hay's moisture content throughout the curing process.
- Avoid over-drying: Don't let the hay become too dry, as this can lead to leaf shatter and loss of nutrients.
Weed Control
Weeds in your hay can pose challenges for covering and storing it effectively. Weeds can retain moisture, increasing the risk of mold growth and spoilage under the cover, especially if the hay was baled at a slightly higher moisture content. Some weeds attract pests, including rodents, that may damage hay covers or contaminate the stored hay with urine and droppings.
Weeds can also dry unevenly, creating moisture pockets within the bale that encourage rotting. And since weeds generally have lower nutritional value than forage grasses and legumes, they reduce the overall quality of the hay.
You have some options to consider if you find weeds in your hay after baling. If possible, separate bales with a high weed content from the rest of your hay to prevent the spread of weed seeds and reduce the risk of deterioration. Keep a close eye on bales containing weeds during storage, and inspect them regularly for signs of mold or excessive moisture. Try to use the weedy hay earlier in the season to minimize the risk of problems during storage.
Wrapping It Up
With careful preparation, your hay covers will maximize quality and storage life. Controlling bale shape, density, and moisture content, following effective conditioning and curing practices, and managing weeds help establish ideal conditions for storage so your hay remains a valuable feed source for your livestock. Remember that these preparation steps are just as necessary as choosing the right cover.
