Wright County Government: U Of M Extension Offering Advice To Farmers About Storing Hay

Press release from the Wright County Government:

October 18, 2021

By Joe Armstrong, DVM, University of Minnesota Extension educator, cattle production systems

Whether there is an excess of hay or a shortage in your system, efficiently feeding your hay can drastically affect the success of your operation.

Hay is expensive, even if you make your own. Avoiding waste can mean you don’t have to buy hay and could mean you have excess hay you can sell. Either way, using your hay efficiently results in more money in the long run.

Hay storage

Storing hay indoors is the best option for avoiding spoilage. But if you cannot keep all of your hay inside, other strategies can also help reduce spoilage. Reducing spoilage reduces waste, so it is important to remember that the outer portion of a bale contains a large proportion of the total hay in the bale.

Limit access time to round bale feeders

When given free choice access, cattle waste a significant amount of the hay available. Round bale feeders are a staple of feeding hay, but producers should consider limiting access to the feeders to reduce waste.

Limit feed in a bunk or on frozen ground

Limiting feed on a per head basis is best done with the help of a nutritionist to ensure your cattle maintain the proper body condition and meet their nutrient requirements. Success with limit-feeding is entirely dependent on having adequate bunk space.

Test your hay

Measuring your forage quality allows you to target nutritional goals more effectively by matching forages to animal requirements. This targeted approach improves efficiency and gives insight into the need for supplementation. Work with your nutritionist to develop the most efficient plan.

This press release was produced by the Wright County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.