Hay bale storage, a vital aspect of cattle production, takes center stage, particularly in winter when natural forages are scarce. The staggering 4.6 million acres of hay harvested in Texas in 2023 underscore the pivotal role of hay production in sustaining livestock operations. However, when drought conditions worsen, the challenge of acquiring sufficient hay bales intensifies, making it crucial for producers to optimize their hay storage practices. This ensures the longevity and nutritional value of their hay supply, a key factor in maintaining a reliable source of supplemental nutrition for their livestock.
As a cattle producer, your role in hay bale storage is pivotal. It’s not just about creating the perfect hay bale but also about how you store it. This can significantly impact its quality and longevity, ensuring it remains a valuable resource through the winter months. The good news is that proper hay storage is not a complex task; it’s about implementing five simple yet effective rules to keep your bales dry and protected from the elements.
In this blog post, we will delve into the essential strategies for proper hay bale storage, offering practical insights and expert tips. By following these straightforward guidelines, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence needed to safeguard your hay investment and ensure a reliable source of supplemental nutrition for your livestock when they need it most. We will start by discussing the importance of packing your bales tightly, then move on to the benefits of storing them indoors, and finally, we’ll cover the significance of keeping your bales off the ground and in the right location. Remember, proper hay storage is not a complex task; it’s about implementing five simple yet effective rules.
It is all about how you pack them.
Ensuring high-quality bales for later in the year is crucial for maintaining optimal cattle nutrition. The hay bale must start off right in order to feed high-quality hay later. No type of storage will improve low-quality hay, so it’s essential to focus on the initial quality of the bales.
The bales that you make should be packed very tightly when they come out of the machine. If the bale is too loose, moisture will get inside it and ruin your hard work. It only takes a little to lose the dry matter content. Depending on the size of your bale, just 2 inches of loss can account for 10% of its dry matter.
The first step in ensuring that your bales are packed tight is to ensure that the setting on your baler is set correctly. You may not like it, but reading the operator’s manual is required for this to happen. In order to do this, it may take a couple of bales to get it where it needs to be, but it is worth it in the end. In a previous post, I go into more detail, “4 steps to the perfect hay bale”.
A good rule of thumb for knowing if the bale is tight enough is pressing it down with the palm of your hand. If the bale goes down more than 1/2 inch, then it is too loose. Too loose means more nutritional value will be lost over time.
Store hay bale in a barn if possible
Now that you have a field full of correctly packed hay bales, you will need to look at how you will store them. The general consensus is that keeping them inside is the best option to go with.
Storing bales inside is a highly effective method that ensures you retain a significant amount of dry matter. The loss of dry matter is significantly reduced when the outer parts of the bale are not exposed to the elements as they would be stored outside. A study by Oklahoma State showed that bales stored under a roof only lost 3-10% of their dry matter over 12-18 months versus 15-50% when they were just stored outside in the elements. This fact reassures you that by implementing proper hay storage techniques, you can secure a substantial portion of your hay supply, providing a reliable source of nutrition for your livestock.
The problem with storing them inside is that only some have the financial or simple desire to build an entire building to hold their hay. If this is you, there is still nothing to worry about. You can get the same results by having some sort of roof or just using a tarp. They must be kept from the elements.
Keep your hay bale off the ground.
Now that we have the top covered, it is time to look at taking care of the bottom of the bale. Ground contact can account for almost over half of the dry matter loss that occurs. Being directly in contact with the ground will allow the bales to absorb the moisture from the soil. In the event of rain, it will also prevent wicking and drying out action that could occur.
Allowing your bale to constantly absorb moisture can lead to significant issues. Not only does it cause dry matter loss, but it also promotes mold growth. Moldy hay is of no use to your animals and can even lead to bales catching fire, resulting in additional costs. It’s crucial to prevent these problems by storing your hay bales correctly.
It is unnecessary for you to build a large platform to store your hay and keep it off the ground. You can get away with having a bed of crushed rock, which is an option you can choose. When going with the crushed rock idea, make sure that the bed is 6 inches deep. Going with this depth is an excellent way to get the best drainage. What you are looking for with this option is something with good drainage. Good drainage means the bales do not sit in water for any period of time.
Pick the right spot to store your hay.
Another essential thing to consider is where you store your hay bales to reduce bale loss. Select a site that is not under a shade tree. Also, please select a location with good airflow to help with the drying-out process.
Stack the bales in a north/south direction with about 3 feet of space between the rows. The 3 feet of space will let the sun get good penetration and the airflow easier to keep any water from standing.
Use the oldest hay bale first.
When you are stacking hay, you need to stack them in a rotation. The need for rotation is because the older bales are towards the front of the stack. This rotation will reduce the amount of time that the bale is in storage. Less time in storage means reducing the amount of dry matter loss that will occur under normal circumstances.
Where you select to store them will be the determining factor on this one.
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