Introduction

Cattle producers rely heavily on stored forages to bridge nutritional gaps caused by a decrease in pasture conditions, particularly from fall to spring. Depending on forage management practices and weather, this gap can last between 30 to 120 days, often resulting in an average 90-day feeding season. Producers have two options when it comes to procurement of stored forages. They either grow, harvest and store their own forage crops or purchase them from a commercial hay producer. Either way, stored forages represent a sizeable financial investment.

Meeting a cow’s nutritional demand represents approximately 40% or more of the annual production cost of the animal. Producers cannot afford to sustain hay losses, yet that is constantly one of the major profit losses that they face, often unknowingly. With poor management throughout the production cycle, producers can lose up to 70% of their hay crop. Below are some of the ways that losses are suffered in stored forage systems, as well as solutions for how to protect your forage crop. Losses are guaranteed in any stored forage system, but it is the job of the producer to minimize them.

Summary

In conclusion, of the four points in time where dry matter loss is seen in stored forages (field curing, harvesting, storage and feeding), the greatest potential for loss is during storage and feeding. Fortunately, these are the two easiest to manage. When it comes to storage, select the method that is most impactful and feasible for your operation and individual locations. Reach out to your local LSU AgCenter Extension office for more information and help deciding which option best fits your operation.