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Ideas On Hay Use During Difficult Economic Times

Ideas On Hay Use During Difficult Economic Times . Brian Pugh Oklahoma State University. Feeding hay during periods of reduced forage production dates to 750 BC in Great Britain. Producing High Quality Hay. High Quality = Timely Management. Quantity: Rainfall , Temp. Variety

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Ideas On Hay Use During Difficult Economic Times

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  1. Ideas On Hay Use During Difficult Economic Times Brian Pugh Oklahoma State University

  2. Feeding hay during periods of reduced forage production dates to 750 BC in Great Britain.

  3. Producing High Quality Hay

  4. High Quality = Timely Management Quantity: Rainfall, Temp. Variety Time of Harvest Fertility #1 Storage Quality: Rainfall, Temp. Variety Time of Harvest #1 Fertility #2 Storage For cow hay, we want enough quality to maintain the cow during the winter feeding period with the least amount of supplemental grain. 8+ protein, 54%+ TDN

  5. The #2 most controllable factor affecting quality, and the #1 factor affecting yield is…??? Soil Fertility!

  6. Phases of Maturity For Bermudagrass, this is going to be 4 to 6 weeks. Reprint from MSU Forage News. May 2009

  7. Effects of Age on the Quality of Fertilized Bermudagrass. Weeks of Regrowth CPTDN . 2 16.0 56.3 4 13.6 57.1 6 9.0 52.6 8 7.5 47.9 10 8.3 46.1 Source: University of Florida extension Publication #SS-AGR-60

  8. Things to consider! • Timing of nutrient Applications • Utilizing commercial N in our fertility system: Trading Resources! • Nitrogen: Effects on Protein and TDN! • Weed Control: Effects on fertility! • Cost of Inputs: $ per extra ton of production!

  9. Effect of Nitrogen on Crude Protein in Bermudagrass Source: Dr. Darren Redfern, Extension Forage Specialist, OSU

  10. This effect is not limited to spring. • Nitrogen applications in summer can improve the yield and Quality of the forages grown in late summer. • Requires rainfall! 

  11. Indianola Harvest August 30, 2005 A B B LSD = 702 June 14 application of 100 units N – 294 lb/ac ammonium nitrate, 217 #/ac urea, or 217 lb/ac of urea+Agrotain.

  12. Indianola No statistics were run: These are just sample means.

  13. Indianola No statistics were run: These are just sample means.

  14. Fertility and weed control! • Weeds like fertilizer!!!! • Grass does not grow well in low fertility soils!!!! • Integrated management of weeds and fertility can pay off big in grass production!

  15. Cost of Inputs!! • Fertilizer is Expensive! • Weed control: Seems to be the cheapest thing we can do. • Or is it? • Both depend on the grass response we get!

  16. Hartshorne 2003 PH-5.3 N-4 P-10(65) K-200 Do Nothing Herbicide only 100#N + P + K 100#N + P + K and 2,4-D Rainfall: April=5.8, May= 3, June= 6.5 Total = 15.3 inches

  17. Costs per acre and cost of increased production. Cost analysis by J.J. Jones, S.E. District Ag. Econ. Cost per Extra Cost/ac Treatment Ton of Prod. $36 100 units N $34.90 $46.49 100 N + P $33.47 $ 0 Do nothing no extra $44.50 100 N + grazon $31.24 $54.99 N+P + grazon $25.77 $52.99 N+P + 2,4-D $30.30 $8.50 Grazon 1 pt. $98.84 Can you buy a ton of hay for this price? No Statistical analysis. These are just numbers!

  18. What does hay actually cost???

  19. What does hay actually cost? • Many producers claim hay can be baled cheaper than you can buy it. • This makes sense…or does it? • The truth is, it depends. Usually hay is not cheap to bale.

  20. Forage Production Costs • Forage production costs depend on • Cost of establishment • Years of stand life • Maintenance costs agecon.okstate.edu/budgets

  21. Example AGMACH$Input and Report Windows

  22. Custom Costs • Most custom harvesters are charging from $18 to $25 per round bale. • True, but what if we baled it ourselves? Would we save money? • Personal harvest does allow you to get the hay rolled at the ideal stage of production, this is worth something!

  23. Cost per Harvested Acre for Owning Haying Equipment $31 per Acre

  24. Custom Costs • On average bermuda produces 2 tons/acre or 3-1300 lb bales. This is $11 per bale (at $1 fuel costs) • This 200 acres @ 2 ton production produces enough hay for 270 cows over 150 days, that’s 5 months! • Most OK producers don’t need that quantity of hay! Meaning they bale less acreage and bale cost goes up accordingly.

  25. Custom Costs • OK average owner harvest costs (100 acres harvested) are about $60 per acre, or $20 per 1300 lb. round bale. • Honestly, compare this to custom harvesters at $18 to $25 per round bale, is it worth the difference for the headache? • Don’t forget the cost of nutrients removed, herbicide used, and loss after baling!

  26. Cost of feeding hay in 2012?1200 lb round bale example N-P-K replacement cost $36.90 Herbicide (2,4-D) $1.17 Harvesting $19.00 Stacking and feeding $ 2.32 Storage loss $ ? Feeding loss $ ? Total $ 59.39 Even if you assume $10 harvest, it’s easy to see you may be better buying hay.

  27. Minimizing Dry Matter Losses

  28. Hay Production & DM Losses • Field losses • Mowing - 0% • Respiration – 2% to 16% • Raking – 5% to 20% • Weather – 0% to 35% • (3-50% for 2 winter storage) We will concentrate on losses due to weathering.

  29. Amount of Dry Matter in Outer Layers of Large Round Bales The outside 4” on a 6 ft. bale is 21% of the weight!!! The outside 6” comprises 1/3 of that bale!!

  30. Percent Dry Matter Loss of Round Hay Bales We can lose this outside 4” on exposed hay before winter is over!!!

  31. Value of Hay Lost in Storage Assuming our $59 bale cost, $100 per ton. With 100 acres mowed, 200 tons x $20 = $4000 x 10 yrs = $40,000 loss This would easily build a 50x75 metal barn with a life of 30 years plus!

  32. Weather damage to hay stored outside depends on: Bale density/shape (ability to shed rain) This bale is coarse stemmed, lumpy, and squatted These are recipes for disaster! Note dark areas of water infiltration

  33. Weather damage to hay stored outside depends on: Bale density/shape (ability to shed rain) This bale is FINE stemmed, smooth, tight and round These are recipes for success! Net wrap removed showing no signs of rot after 6 months

  34. Weather damage to hay stored outside depends on: Storing method and location Bales are not butted together on ends, are on a flat, poorly drained site, rows are too close together and run east/west

  35. Weather damage to hay stored outside depends on: Storing method and location Bales are tightly butted together on ends to shed rain Stored on a south exposure slope that is well drained North/south Rows are 3-4 feet apart to allow wind/south sun to enter Picture: JAN 2010 These rows were baled in Aug. 2008 Notice the outer deterioration, but net-wrap holding a nice tight circle. Note beginning water marks on west side of this bale Baled in June 2009 Feed your low quality, old, and exposed hay first before bad weather arrives!!

  36. REMEMBER:Thelarger the bale, the lower the spoilage ring loss. A 3 to 4” spoilage layer on a 5’ bale equals 18 to 22% hay loss.

  37. Weather damage to hay stored outside depends on: Bale storage method stored on ground: 43% handling+storage waste stored on wooden rack: 31% handling+storagewaste

  38. Moisture distribution of twine wrapped alfalfa/grass round bales stored on the ground or pallets Soil Contact Pallet Images courtesy of Dr. Kevin Shinners, U of Wisconsin

  39. Weather damage to hay stored outside depends on: Bale wrap (mesh vs. sisal twine) after 9 months Fescue hay wrapped: 2” weathered layer Fescue hay unwrapped: 4.4” weathered layer On a 6ft. Bale that is a 10% difference in hay loss If the hay values @ $59, then wrap saved $5.90! Net Wrapping costs $1.50-2/bale & 8-10 seconds Twine Costs $0.75/bale & ~2 minutes (~30% slower baling)

  40. Moisture distribution of net wrapped vs. twine wrapped alfalfa/grass round bales stored on the ground Net Wrapped Twine Wrapped Images courtesy of Dr. Kevin Shinners, University of Wisconsin

  41. Hay should not be stored outside for more than a year If carry-over is required, use net-wrap! This bale is almost a 3 year old Ideally your cattle should be older than your hay 

  42. Storage and handling losses 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

  43. Sheltering hay reduces spoilage losses Must consider the cost of losses vs. cost of building a pole barn Hay baled wet + pole barns = hot fire

  44. It is more economical to shelter high quality hay as opposed to low quality hay.

  45. Hay sheds allow you the option to carryover more hay. To the left of the green line is fert. Bermuda hay from 2007 To the right is Ryegrass and Berm from 2008. Quality and DM loss is minimal. Picture: JAN 2010 Since the hay was not used up last winter, the producer only cut one 10 acre field of fert. Berm in 2009. Similar hay barns would allow you to select ideal rainfall (years), and condense resources without the fear of running out of hay. This saves money in the long run.

  46. Hay Barns • For More Information on Round Bale Storage see OSU factsheet: BAE 1716 @ Extension Office. • FSA now has low interest loans for commodity sheds which includes the use of barns for hay storage.

  47. Hay Feeding Strategies

  48. Feeding unprotected hay results in excessive losses. Losses from protecting vs. not protecting 1974 study comparing rack vs. no rack: 23 to 39%, University of Tennessee, 1978: 28%

  49. Cone Feeder Hay Waste – 4% Not a common feeder Image source: D. Buskirk, Michigan State University, JAS

  50. Ring Feeder Hay Waste – 6%

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