Storage Method Effects on Dry Matter and Quality Losses of Tall Fescue Round Bales

Abstract

Outside storage with no protection from the weather contriutes to the frequent large storage losses for round‐baled hay compared with small rectangular bales stored inside. We evaluated losses in dry matter (DM) yield and forage quality of round bales bound with solid or woven‐mesh plastic instead of sisal twince. Round bales of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) averaging 706 ± 19 lb and 18.2 ± 1.4% moisture were wrapped with two layers of plastic mesh or solid self‐adhesive plastic wrap and placed on grass sod for storage. Twine‐tied bales were stored on sod or indoors for comparison. Trials were conducted in 1990 and 1991, each with four replicates of each treatment. Dry matter losses and changes in crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) were measured after 1 yr of storage. Weathering affected layers 0, 0.6, 2.1, and 4.4 in. deep for indoor, solid plastic, plastic mesh, and twine‐tied bales stored outside, respectively. Storage DM losses of 18.2% for twine‐tied bales stored outside were reduced to 10.6% by plastic mesh wrap but were lowest for solid‐plastic‐wrapped (3.6%) and inside‐stored bales (5.7%). Weathered hay from twine and plastic mesh‐wrapped bales fell approximately 20 percentage units in IVDMD during storage. Weathering and storage treatment effects on CP and NDF were small. Using solid plastic wrap or plastic mesh wrap as binding materials for bales stored outside saved DM and solid plastic wrap improved hay quality over twine‐tied bales. Research Question Storage losses of round bales are usually greater than those of rectangular bales but routine storage of round bales outside without protection from moisture is largely responsible for the difference. Plastic mesh wrap and solid plastic wrap have been developed as binding materials to replace twine with the proposed advantage of reducing losses for round bales that are stored outside. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of some recent developments in round bale binding materials for reducing losses in DM yield and forage quality during hay storage. Literature Summary Large round bales and other larger hay packages minimize labor required for hay baling and transport. In the humid regions of the US, however, storage losses of round bales are frequently much greater than for similar hay in rectangular bales. It is clear from previous research that round bales of dry hay stored indoors lose similar amounts of DM during storage as rectangular bales, indicating that storage conditions account for most of the additional losses experienced with large round bales. Losses in forage quality may be very great for round bales stored outside with no protection from the weather. Labor for covering bales and bale tying time can be reduced by applying self‐adhesive solid wrap or porous plastic wrap (net wrap) materials instead of twine during the baling process. Both materials are also hypothesized to reduce weathering losses by shedding precipitation during outside storage of ...

Forage Preservation Method Influences Alfalfa Nutritive Value and Feeding Characteristics

“…These data support other work that indicates that post-storage forage quality is better for silage than for round-baled hay made from the same crop (Johnson et al, 1984;Fraser et al, 1999). It should be noted that the loss of DM and reductions in forage quality during hay storage are greatly affected by the storage methods chosen (Collins et al, 1995). Collins et al (1995) suggested that protection of hay from weathering reduces quality changes during storage.…”

“…It should be noted that the loss of DM and reductions in forage quality during hay storage are greatly affected by the storage methods chosen (Collins et al, 1995). Collins et al (1995) suggested that protection of hay from weathering reduces quality changes during storage. Outside storage was chosen in our studies to provide comparisons of silage with the typical hay storage methods used in the southeastern region of the USA.…”

Field curing methods and storage duration affect the quality of hay from six rangeland grass species in Kenya

“…This was attributed to excessive moisture loss through evaporation in the 3-day curing which was also observed to by Dunn and Billingsley (2007) for extended curing periods. Collins et al (1995;1997) and Arinze et al (1996) also observed baling at moisture level of greater than 15 % to cause some change in hay color towards brown shades along with microbial growth and heating. Change in color despite not affecting quality has a negative effect on palatability (Dunn and Billingsley 2007).…”

Bale Density and Moisture Effects on Alfalfa Round Bale Silage

“…Concentrations of NDF increased more and IVDMD decreased more during storage of hay compared with silage ( P < 0.05). Previous research suggests that inside storage of hay could have reduced storage losses of both DM and nutritive value (Collins et al, 1995); however, the outside storage system used was chosen to reflect typical large round bale hay storage methods in this region.…”