Hay is one of the most expensive feedstuffs available to cattle producers. Hay harvesting equipment, spoilage and wastage, and delivering hay to cattle in drylot add tremendous cost to hay. On a per pound of nutrient basis, hay is generally more expensive than bulk commodities such as corn, soybean hulls, and distillers grains. Reducing this cost can improve the bottom line for cow-calf operations.
One of the ways to reduce the cost of hay is to decrease the amount of spoilage and wastage. Spoilage occurs when hay absorbs moisture during storage and cattle avoid consuming that part of the bale thereby wasting it. Thus, anything we can do to reduce the amount of moisture absorbed by the bale during storage will reduce spoilage and wastage.
One of the most important storage considerations is to raise bales off the ground so that moisture from the ground is not absorbed into the bale. Bales sitting on the ground can result in 5 to 20% spoilage compared to 3 to 15% of bales elevated off the ground. Raising bales off the ground can be done in a variety of ways – laying down large rock (3 or 4 inch limestone rock), old tires or old pallets, etc. Moisture wicking from the ground is more important in smaller diameter round bales. In smaller bales, a greater percentage of the bale mass is in the outer layer such that spoiled hay is a greater percentage of the bale. Also, the thickness of the outer layer impacts spoilage as a thicker outer layer constitutes a greater percentage of the bale mass. These factors are compounded where smaller bales with thicker outer layer have the greatest spoilage.
A second consideration is to store bales in a designated hay lot where vegetation can be controlled compared to along the edge of the hay field. Along the edge of the field, vegetation usually gets tall and thick, and the bales are many times under the overhang of trees. This vegetation holds moisture around the bale and increases spoilage. Storing bales in an open hay lot removes trees and allows other vegetation to be controlled so that bales can dry out after a rain or snow event. Aligning the bales in rows running north and south allows the sun to shine down between the rows and leaving a few feet between rows allows for better control of vegetation so that sunshine better dries out the bale after a rain or snow event.
The best way to reduce moisture absorption by bales is by storing them in an enclosed barn resulting in less than 2% spoilage even when stored for a very long time. However, construction of a hay barn is expensive adding to the cost of hay as a feedstuff for cattle. Less costly methods of covering bales can be used. Constructing a hay barn with only a roof and open wall generally results in similar spoilage (2-5%) as a enclosed barn. Also, stacking bales in a pyramid shape and covering them with a tarp results in 5 to 10% spoilage when on the ground and 2 to 4% spoilage when elevated off the ground.
As the value of hay increases so does the cost of spoilage. As an example, if hay is $100 per ton, then 10 % spoilage costs $10 per ton so the hay that cows were fed actually cost $110 per ton. In January 2024, bluestem grass hay was ~$180 per ton and with 10% spoilage was $198 per ton. Thus, to feed a 1300-lb cow for 120 days, hay cost alone would be $32 more with spoilage.
