Storage Losses
 

• Bale density/shape (ability to shed rain)

Weather damage to hay stored outside depends on:

• Storing rows too tightly together

• Storing hay on a flat, poorly drained versus sloping site

Weather damage to hay stored outside depends on:
Bale storage method

• stored on ground: 43% handling+storage waste

• stored on wooden rack: 31% handling+storage waste

Images courtesy of Dr. Kevin Shinners, U of Wisconsin

• Bale wrap (mesh vs. sisal twine)
• Fescue hay wrapped: 2” weathered layer
• Fescue hay unwrapped: 4.4” weathered layer
• Net Wrapping costs $1.50/bale

Images courtesy of Dr. Kevin Shinners, University of Wisconsin

• Hay stored on wooden racks: 31%
• Hay stored on wooden racks w/ tarp: 12%
• Hay stored in a pole barn: 2%
• Often difficult to keep hay covered plus disposal of worn out tarps

Feeding Losses
 

• Dispersing the bale allowing “boss” cows and timid cows to consume the same bale at the same time
• Reducing hoof action damage by relocating where the hay is unrolled and dispersing the cows over a larger stretch of land
• Control the amount of hay allotted by proportioning bales

Image source: D. Buskirk, Michigan State University, JAS

Image source: D. Buskirk, Michigan State University, JAS

Image source: D. Buskirk, Michigan State University, JAS

Reducing hay losses can be accomplished by

• Evaluating how hay is harvested
• Evaluating how hay is stored
• Evaluating how hay is offered