Storage Losses From Large Round Bales of Alfalfa, Tall Fescue, and Big Bluestem Hay

Abstract

Abstract. An 18-month study was conducted to evaluate the effects of storage location, wrapping material, storage surface, and cover on losses of dry matter (DM) and nutrients from large round hay bales. The study consisted of (n=40 bales each) of alfalfa ( L.), tall fescue [ (Schreb.) S.J. Darbyshire], and big bluestem () hay. Bales were wrapped with plastic twine or plastic net and stored indoors or outdoors. Bales stored outdoors were placed on soil or crushed rock with either no cover or thetophalf covered by a tarp. Bales were individually weighed and sampled at harvest and again after 6, 12, and 18 months of storage. Samples were analyzed for DM, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF), and total digestible nutrient (TDN) values were calculated. After 18 months of storage, alfalfa and fescue hay stored inside had a greater (P<0.05) DM concentration and smaller (P<0.05) DM loss than hay stored outside. Storage location and/or treatment had no effect (P>0.05) on DM loss from big bluestem hay. Across all hay types, net-wrapped bales stored outside had numerically smaller DM loss than twine-wrapped bales; however, differences in most cases were not significant (P>0.05). Alfalfa bales stored outside on crushed rock had smaller (P<0.05) DM loss than those stored on soil 18 months after harvest. Storage surface had little or no effect on DM loss from tall fescue and big bluestem hay at any sampling time. Covering the top half of the bale consistently reduced DM loss from alfalfa and tall fescue hay stored outside, but had no effect (P>0.05) on storage losses from big bluestem hay. The effects of storage treatment on CP, NDF, ADF, and TDN were small and in most cases were not significant (P>0.05). The results of this study indicate that alfalfa hay should either be stored inside, or outside on rock with the top-half covered to minimize DM loss. Fescue and big bluestem hay can be stored outside with minimal losses using any of the storage treatments evaluated provided bales are stored on a well-drained surface. Keywords: Alfalfa, Big bluestem, Dry matter, Hay, Net-wrap, Quality, Round bales, Storage losses, Tall fescue.