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Cutting Round Bale Spoilage
“Research has shown that storage losses in large round bales stored outside and unprotected can be far greater than hay producers realize,” says Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University emeritus Extension animal scientist.
Research at the University of Tennessee indicates hay loss (grass, large round bale) varies dramatically according to storage method:
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Stored on the ground, no cover – 37% lost
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Stored on tires, no cover – 29% lost
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Stored on the ground, covered – 29% lost
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Stored on tires, covered – 8% lost
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Net-wrapped and stored on the ground – 19% lost
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Stored in barn – 6% lost
Compared to storing hay indoors, Selk explains, “The next best option is when the hay is stored on something that gets the hay off of the ground under a rain-shedding cover. Different areas of the country may have different results due to variation in rain and snow fall.”
(Galen Frick Livestock Advisor)
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