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March 2, 2001

Round bale realities
Tips for reducing hay storage, quality, and feeding losses

By Lana Robinson
Field Editor

The switch from square bales of yesteryear to round bales may have saved money in terms of labor costs associated with getting it out of the field and into the barn, but storage, quality, and feeding losses may be defeating the purpose. The truth is, you can't afford to let a lot of it waste in storage and in feeding.

"There is more loss than you think," said Dr. David Bade, Extension forage specialist, in a session for forage producers during the recent Texas Farm Bureau Leadership Conference in Austin. "A review of over 20 studies indicates dry matter losses vary from 2 percent to 52 percent from weathering. A 1 inch loss on the surface of a 5 ft. to 6 ft. round bale is about 5 percent. On average, you're losing 4 inches, or 20 percent of that bale. So you're really losing one out of every five bales."

Round bales are not inherently subject to greater losses, but they are much more likely to be subjected to adverse storage conditions, often remaining outside with no protection between baling and feeding. Feeding losses are usually sharply higher with round bales as well, partly because big round bales are generally fed on sod while rectangular bales are often fed in bunks.

Raising hay risky business

"Hay is one of the riskiest crops. More things can happen to that crop growing, harvesting, storing and during the feed. Everybody who feeds round bales has paid for a haybarn in losses, but most of them don't have a haybarn," Bade pointed out.

According to Bade, hay losses associated with round bales nationwide run about $3 billion annually. On some farms, such losses account for over 10 percent of the cost of livestock production. He said storage losses: 1) increase the quantity of hay needed; 2) lower forage quality of the remaining hay enough that additional supplementation of animal diets is required; and 3) increase the money invested per pound of good hay.

"The real cost of hay is more than the cost of hay," Bade noted. "Hay is very expensive. If you have good quality hay, you need fewer supplements."

Factors which affect hay quality include: growing conditions, fertility species, varieties, pests, presence of weeds, harvesting, curing, handling, and storage. However, the stage of maturity when harvested is the most important factor, and the one where management can have the greatest impact.

"Your hay is never any better than the day you cut it. It goes down from there," he said.

Outside storage tips

"One inch of rain translates into 22.4 gallons of water falling on a 6 ft. x 6 ft. round bale. That means 650 gallons of water falls on a round bale in an area receiving 30 inches of rainfall during the hay storage period. Weathered hay gets loose and won't shed water as well in the second rain event," he said.

Bade indicated that hay bonnets work pretty well to protect round bales. They cost about $3 each, but can be used over and over again. Wrappings help to prevent damage on the tops and sides of bales, but do not offer protection for the bottom, where most loss occurs. Net wrap helps keep the bale tight and prevents loss. He said studies show the more string, the better.

"Condensation can be a problem, more of one under white wrapping. I don't recommend plastic unless you're putting up haylage," he said.

Bade recommends lining bales up north and south rather than east and west to take advantage of sunlight. He also said to stack hay under good drainage conditions and warned producers not to put it under a shade tree.

"That's for the top and sides, but most of the loss is from the bottom," he said. Dry hay on the ground wicks up water. To prevent that, you can build a rock pad—3 inches to 6 inches deep. The rainfall passes on through and the hay dries. Some people use truck tires or pallets. You could also put the hay on cedar posts or railroad ties to keep it up off the ground," he suggested.

Hay economics explored

Bade estimates hay production in Texas at close to 4.75 million acres—a big industry.

"The price of hay follows drought. In a localized market, if you don't build up clientele, you can't sell it. When you have hay, you're neighbors have hay. When they have a drought, you don't have any hay to sell them," he said.

He reminded cattlemen of the importance of not overstocking and maintaining a good forage system, which decreases the amount of hay needed.

"You can buy hay cheaper than you can raise it yourself. You're bringing nutrients from his ranch to yours instead of using yours. Consider clover systems and grazing systems, and remember—feed hay only when you need it and not just because it's the first of December."

Round bales are much more likely to be subjected to adverse conditions, often remaining outside with no protection.

Key concepts for feeding hay

1. Hay quality should be matched to animal needs.

2. When animals are fed outside, a well-drained site should be selected to reduce feeding losses.

3. Hay stored outside should be fed before hay stored inside; coarse, porous hay stored outside should be fed before fine-stemmed, densely baled hay stored outside; other things being equal, high value hay stored outside should be fed before low value hay stored outside.

4. Putting a barrier between animals and hay will help reduce feeding losses. Hay racks can be particularly effective.

5. Minimizing the amount of hay to which animals have access at one time will reduce feeding losses.

6. Forcing clean up of hay by animals which have low nutrient requirements before feeding more hay can help reduce hay waste.