Plant Maturity Stages For Bermudagrass, this is going to be 4 to 6 weeks. Hay & Feed Testing and Options. High Quality = Timely Management 4/1/2015

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1 Hay & Feed Testing and Options Workshop #3 Mandy Blocker Muskogee Co Ag Educator Pamela Ward McIntosh Co Ag Educator Tony Yates Sequoyah Co Ag Educator High Quality = Timely Management Quantity: Rainfall, Temp. Variety Time of Harvest Fertility Quality: Rainfall, Temp. Variety Time of Harvest Fertility #1 Factor? #1 Factor? For cow hay, we want enough quality to maintain the cow during the winter feeding period with the least amount of supplemental grain. DRY COW: 8% protein, 54% TDN minimum LACTATING COW: 10% protein, 58% TDN minimum Plant Maturity Stages For Bermudagrass, this is going to be 4 to 6 weeks. Reprint from MSU Forage News. May

2 Effects of Age on the Quality of Fertilized Bermudagrass. Weeks of Regrowth CP TDN Source: University of Florida extension Publication #SS AGR 60 Cost per Harvested Acre for Owning Haying Equipment Size Capacity Initial Total Acres Harvested Per Year Machine Feet Acres/hr Cost ($) Sickle bar mower ,000 $9 $7 $6 $5 Pull-type swather ,000 $27 $15 $10 $8 Self-propelled swather ,000 $73 $37 $20 $11 Side delivery rake ,500 $9 $6 $5 $4 Wheel rake ,000 $10 $6 $3 $2 Large round baler ,000 $32 $18 $11 $7 Small square baler ,000 $24 $14 $10 $8 Large square baler ,000 $83 $43 $23 $13 *Assumptions: $9 per hour, $1 per gallon. Source: Huhnke, $31 per Acre $19 per bale Cost of feeding hay in 2014? 1200 lb round bale example Nutrient replacement cost (N,P, K) $34.91 Herbicide (2,4 D) $1.17 Harvesting $19.00 Stacking and feeding $ 2.32 loss $? Feeding loss $? Total $57.40 Even if you assume $10 harvest, it s easy to see you may be better buying hay. 2

3 Amount of Dry Matter in Outer Layers of Large Round Bales Outer Layer Depth Bale Diameter, ft % dry matter loss The outside 4 on a 6 ft. bale is 21% of the weight!!! The outside 6 comprises 1/3 of that bale!! Percent Dry Matter Loss of Stored Round Hay Bales Period Method Up to 9 months a 12 to 18 months Exposed Ground Elevated Covered Ground Elevated Under roof Enclosed barn Less than a If used before spring warm-up. Source: Huhnke, OSU. We can lose this outside 4 (21%) on ground stored hay before winter is over!!! Value of Hay Lost in Hay Price (per ton) Loss $40 $60 $80 $100 $120 (%) $ per ton Does not include losses associated with shrinkage or reduced quality. Huhnke. Assuming $57 bale cost ($100/ton), loss is $20/ton by winters end! With 200 tons mowed, $20 loss/ton x 200 tons = $4000 x 10 yrs = $40,000 *This would build a 50x75 metal barn to store all hay with a life of 30 years plus! 3

4 Weather Weather damage damage to hay to hay stored stored outside outside depends depends on: on: Bale Bale storage density/shape method (ability to shed rain) stored This bale on ground: is coarse 43% stemmed, handling+storage lumpy, waste and squatted stored These on are wooden recipes rack: for 31% disaster! handling+storage waste Note dark areas of water infiltration 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 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 These rows were baled in Aug Notice the outer deterioration, but netwrap holding a nice tight circle. Feed your low quality, old, and exposed hay first before bad weather arrives!! Note beginning water marks on west side of this bale Baled in June

5 Hay sheds allow you the option to carryover surplus hay. To the left of the green line is fertilized Bermuda hay that is 2 years old. To the right is Ryegrass and Berm from last year. Quality and DM loss is minimal. Since the hay was not used last winter, the producer only cut one 10 acre field of fertilized Bermuda this year. 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 and lessens drought effects. Effects of Feeder Design on Hay Waste. OSU 2011 Feeder $8.61 savings/ bale MODC RING OBSR POLY dry matter loss (lbs) Dry Waste Wet Waste Total Waste 71a 170b 283c 294c % Waste A MODC costs ~$565 each. But assuming you are replacing OBSR, will pay out in 66 $57.40/bale. (RING = 135 bale payout) 5