Abstract
In the last decade, advances in Brazilian hay production showed that the country has the potential to produce bulky dehydrated fodder. For many years, the Brazilian hay production scientific knowledge had been based on temperate climate species, even though the best hay material are tropical grasses, as Tifton 85 Bermudagrass. Researches that focused on the comprehension of yield systems, biochemical processes, physiology, composition, and nutritional quality of tropical species under dehydration and conservation have become important to hay yield in Brazil. Therefore, this literature review aimed to discuss the hay research contribution in tropical conditions and its reflex on the production and commercialization of hay in Brazil. This review was based on database research with key-words defined in a period between 1960 and 2021, which resulted in 33 articles. Each article had the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities, and threats classified according to the SWOT matrix. Articles related to the haymaking system with tropical forage and the effects on nutritional value, sanitary quality, and factors that influence the dehydration period in the field and storage were listed in this paper. Based on the literature, the conclusion is that Brazil has elevated hay yield potential with high nutritional and sanitary quality of tropical species due to the weather conditions that allow fast dehydration and, also, the availability of residual wastewater as fertilization and machinery appropriated. Brazilian haymaking and commercialization are in an expansion process with economic return as national and international trade. Further challenges: to obtain a constant annual hay supply and the transport viability to markets distant from the production center.
Highlights
The feeding system used in animal production in Brazil has, for many years, been based on the use of tropical grass pastures
In regions where fertilization is performed using residual water from swine breeding, the difference in cost is small due to the low cost of hay dry matter (DM) (R$0.30/kg/MS). Another important factor that has contributed to the expansion of haymaking is the distinction that producers currently make between two sources of roughage: corn silage, which is a source of fiber and energy with a moisture content of approximately 65 g/kg, and hay, which is a source of physically effective fiber, with a crude protein (CP) content higher than that of corn silage, depending on species, management, and fertilization
Hay-producing centers and investment in hay equipment and technology have been growing in Brazil due to the increased use of roughage in the diet of several species and categories of animals and its economic return
Summary
The feeding system used in animal production in Brazil has, for many years, been based on the use of tropical grass pastures. The lack of appropriate harvesting equipment and high moisture content of elephant grass plants at the time of cutting limited the practice; research was necessary to solve these problems (Lavezzo, 1993) Other fodders, such as tropical climate grass (Tanzania, Mombasa, Braquiar~ao, Tifton 85 Bermudagrass, and Coastcross), temperate climate grass (Oat, Ryegrass, and Triticale), sugar cane, and cereal grains have been gaining prominence in silage making since 1990. In regions where fertilization is performed using residual water from swine breeding, the difference in cost is small due to the low cost of hay DM (R$0.30/kg/MS) Another important factor that has contributed to the expansion of haymaking is the distinction that producers currently make between two sources of roughage: corn silage, which is a source of fiber and energy with a moisture content of approximately 65 g/kg, and hay, which is a source of physically effective fiber, with a crude protein (CP) content higher than that of corn silage, depending on species, management, and fertilization. This literature review aimed to approach the related aspects to hay technology advances in Brazil and its effects on plant nutritional value, sanitary quality, and physiological responses, as well as the ideal hay storage systems in tropical conditions
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