Marion Barnes, Senior County Extension Agent – Clemson University
The goal of any hay feeding program should be to provide high-quality hay in adequate quantities that meet the animal’s nutritional needs. The most significant operational cost in most livestock operations is stored or harvested feed, so reducing storage and feeding losses makes sense. It is estimated that more than half of the annual cost of feeding a beef cow is winter feed. Due to the cost of machinery, fuel, fertilizer, labor, storage, and feeding hay, it is critical to maximize feeding efficiency and minimize storage and feeding waste.
Research indicates that improper storage and feeding techniques often result in losses upwards of fifty percent. Round bales stored outside in high rainfall areas have some of the highest losses. A study by the University of Tennessee compared different methods of storing large round bales of grass hay. The hay was harvested in June; bales were weighed at harvest and storage, then weighed again the following January at the time of winter feeding. Different storage methods were used, and testing indicated the level of loss. The following are the results of the various storage methods of large round bales in the University of Tennessee study.
- Hay stored on the ground with no cover thirty-seven percent loss.
- Hay stored on tires with no cover, twenty-nine percent loss.
- Hay stored on the ground and covered, twenty-nine percent loss.
- Hay stored on tires and covered, eight percent loss.
- Hay net wrapped and stored on the ground, nineteen percent loss.
- Hay stored in a barn, six percent loss.
This research indicates significant losses were incurred depending on the type of storage method selected. Many producers may not realize how significant their losses are or how expensive improper storage methods can be. Some dry matter losses during storage result from respiration and are essentially unavoidable. Losses are typically around five percent when hay is stored inside at safe moisture levels. However, several times higher losses have been recorded at extremely high moisture content.
Hay with a high internal temperature (heating) can cause mold to form and forage quality to suffer. Moldy hay can be detrimental to livestock health. Barn fires have resulted from storing hay that has not been adequately cured and has a high moisture content. High moisture hay can go through a “heat” also referred to as “sweating” and is at greater risk of fire due to spontaneous combustion (internal heating).
Hay stored outside is also subject to leaching losses, which occur when soluble nutrients are dissolved and removed from the hay by rainwater passing through the bale. The frequency, amount, and duration of rain events and the length of time unprotected hay bales remain outside influence nutrient loss by leaching.
Weather affects hay on the outside circumference of a round bale more than the ends; therefore, the larger the bale, the more loss occurs. For example, consider a large round bale measuring four feet by five feet that is stored outside, uncovered on the ground. The four-inch outside layer represents thirty percent of the entire dry matter content of the bale. If that four-inch layer is damaged or degraded by weather and not eaten by cattle, that equates to a three-hundred-pound loss for a one thousand-pound round bale. So, one can see the importance of properly storing hay and the need to reduce storage losses.
Feeding losses can be as high as storage losses on farms that do not employ an efficient feeding system. Feeding losses can be attributed to trampling, soiling of hay by livestock, physical deterioration, refusal, and overconsumption. Hay feeding losses can be controlled to some extent with proper management and are influenced by feeding method, intervals between feedings, weather conditions, amount of hay feed at one time, and the number of animals being fed. The most significant losses occur when large round bales are fed without animal restrictions. The lowest losses occur with hand feeding the amount of hay livestock will consume at one time. However, this method is time-consuming and labor-intensive.
In order to reduce waste when feeding large round bales, some restrictive barriers must be used to limit livestock access. Barriers such as feeding racks, hay rings, panels, or feeding wagons are commonly used when feeding large round bales. In a study conducted at
Texas A&M University research showed that feeding large round bales free choice resulted in a twenty-four percent feeding loss. The use of a feeding rack reduced feeding losses to four percent. Feeding losses of this magnitude justify using feeding racks or other barriers to conserve hay and reduce cost.
The following are a few suggestions to reduce feeding losses:
- Feed hay in small amounts to reduce spoilage and trampling.
- Use a hay feeder such as a feeding rack or hay ring to restrict animal access.
- Feed hay in well-drained areas.
- Rotate hay-feeding areas to minimize traffic and damage to pasture sod during wet weather. Feeding in different locations will distribute nutrients (manure) and improve soil fertility.
- Feed hay stored outside before feeding hay stored inside.
No cattle producer would intentionally think of throwing away a third of their hay supplies, but that often happens when hay is not stored correctly, and fed. Hay can provide an economical and nutritional feed source for cattle if producers pay close attention to hay quality and employ a hay-feeding system to reduce feeding losses.
For more information on forage and livestock production, contact your local Clemson Extension Office.
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.
