Hay quality plays a central role in livestock performance—affecting herd health, feed intake, milk production and weight gain. Whether you’re feeding high-producing dairy cows or managing a beef herd, capturing and preserving forage value is critical to profitability. Even with modern equipment, operations can still lose 10–30% of forage quality between cutting and feeding due to weather exposure, handling losses and storage challenges.
Integrated equipment systems—such as KUHN’s mowers, mower conditioners, tedders, rakes, mergers, balers, and wrappers—help producers manage each step more precisely, improving consistency and reducing losses across the entire hay production process.
Two Approaches to Hay Preservation
Hay is typically preserved as dry hay or haylage. Dry hay is fully dried and baled for stable, long-term storage. Haylage is harvested at higher moisture and preserved through fermentation. Dairy producers often prioritize digestibility and consistency, while beef producers emphasize flexibility and cost control.
Timing the Cut: Where Quality Begins
Hay quality peaks at a specific stage of plant maturity. Alfalfa is typically cut at late bud to early bloom (0–10% bloom), while grasses are harvested just before or at early heading, depending on species and use. Earlier cutting improves digestibility and protein, while later cutting increases yield but reduces quality. Dependable mowers and mower conditioners help producers act quickly when narrow harvest windows open.
Conditioning and Dry-Down Management
Conditioning cracks or crimps stems to speed moisture loss and can reduce drying time by 30–50%. Tedding improves airflow but should be timed carefully—typically at 40–60% moisture—to limit leaf loss. Consistent conditioning across the full cutting width helps protect leaf retention and overall forage quality.
Haylage Systems
For haylage, the goal is not full drying but reaching a target moisture range of approximately 45–60%. Excessive handling should be avoided to reduce ash contamination. High-capacity mergers are often used to form clean, uniform windrows that support efficient harvest and consistent fermentation.
Moisture Management
Moisture at harvest determines whether hay stores safely or loses value. Typical targets include 18–20% for small square bales, 16–18% for large square bales, 15–18% for round bales, and 45–60% for haylage. Modern balers with moisture monitoring help operators make better decisions during time-sensitive harvest operations.
Windrow Management
Raking or merging at approximately 25–40% moisture helps form uniform windrows while minimizing leaf loss. Well-formed windrows improve drying consistency, match baler pickup width, and reduce soil contamination. Mergers play a key role in creating consistent crop flow for both dry hay and haylage systems.
Harvest Execution
Harvest is the final opportunity to capture forage quality. In baling operations, success depends on consistent moisture, proper density, and matching ground speed to crop volume. Reliable balers help maintain uniform bale shape and density, improving storage performance and reducing feed waste.
Storage and Preservation
Dry hay should be stored off the ground with adequate drainage and protection from weather. Losses can range from less than 10% in well-managed systems to over 30% when hay is poorly protected. Haylage must be sealed quickly and protected from oxygen exposure to preserve feed quality.
Making the Investment Decision
Improving hay quality impacts both animal performance and cost efficiency. Higher-quality hay can command $20–50 more per ton depending on market and use. An integrated approach—using equipment designed to work together—can improve efficiency and consistency across the entire haymaking process.
Producing high-quality hay requires careful management from cutting through storage. Each decision influences feed value, animal performance and profitability. With sound management practices and dependable equipment, producers can capture more value from every acre year after year.
Learn more about KUHN hay tools—including mowers, mower conditioners, tedders, rakes, mergers, balers and wrappers—at Kuhn North America's website or contact your local KUHN dealer to discuss your operation’s needs.
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