Hay quality has a direct impact on livestock performance and feeding costs, yet many producers lose value long before hay reaches the feeder, said University of Missouri Extension Field Agronomist Rudra Baral.
The good news: Most quality losses are tied to management decisions that producers can control.
“Small changes in harvest timing, handling and storage can pay off in better animal performance and lower supplement costs,” Baral said in a news release.
The most important decision affecting hay quality is when you cut. As forage matures, fiber levels increase while digestibility and crude protein drop.
“Delaying harvest may increase tonnage, but it almost always lowers feeding value per bale,” he said.
Harvest windows
- Cool-season grasses: Boot stage to early heading.
- Legumes: Late bud to early bloom.
In Missouri, aiming for a first cutting by May generally supports higher-quality forage. But watch plant growth stages rather than the calendar, especially during warm springs when maturity advances quickly, said Baral.
Moisture management
Baling hay at the right moisture prevents mold, heating and leaf loss.
Target moisture levels are:
- Small square bales: under 20%.
- Round bales: 15-18%.
- Large square bales: under 16%.
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