Yield and Quality of Alfalfa as Affected by Harvesting and Storage Methods

Abstract

Losses in harvesting and storage were determined for several methods of packaging alfalfa hay. Swathing or swathing and raking had little effect on losses of dry matter or on protein content. Alfalfa put up as silage, stacks, rectangular bales (25kg), large round bales (544kg), and small round bales (295kg) retained 90.1, 89.4, 83.5, 69.8, and 67.4% of dry matter potentially available. Silage and rectangular bales of first crop alfalfa were higher in protein than small round bales. Large round bales retained over 95% of dry matter during storage. Stacks of alfalfa retained 85% of dry matter when stored outside for 6 to 7 mo and 90.4% of dry matter when stored under roof with open sides. Recovery of dry matter from rectangular bales stored under roof was 101% for first crop material and 87.4% for second crop.