haylage?

[new_guy]

I'll probably get laughed at for asking this, but what exactly is it? Is it any different than regular ole hay? If it's different, is the amount of nutrients any different compared to hay?

 

[dun]

Haylage/baleage is hay that is put up with a higher moisture content, sealed from oxygen and allowed to ensile.
Not sure about the nutrition other then around here it's done when the hay is more vegetive and won;t dry properly to make dry hay.

 

[Darhawk]

The following url for the North Dakota State University takes you to a site that gives fairly good explanation of haylage and moisture contents, as well as info about silage, baleage, advantages/disadvantages, diferent grasses, etc.

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/dairy/as1252w.htm

This url takes you to a South Dakota State University site that discusses the analysis of haylage.

http://agbiopubs.sdstate.edu/articles/ExEx4002.pdf

 

[Jogeephus]

Its like breakfast in a cup. Cows love it but its is cumbersome and nasty to feed. I fed my last bale this week and am pleased I won't be babtized with that juice anymore. People were beginning to think I made liquor or something. But did I mention the cows love it and will eat it over any other hay.

Found this picture. This is millet at 50% moisture being put up. Each roll weighs roughly 1400#s.

 

[new_guy]

thanks alot.
so I guess the entire bail must be wrapped, sides + ends, to keep the bail from catching on fire?

 

[Jogeephus]

Actually, its to keep it from rotting as there is so much moisture in the roll I doubt it would burn if you poured gas on it. These rolls are only 4 feet in diameter any bigger and it would tear the equipment up. By keeping the oxygen out, it ensiles. This makes a real sweat smelling feed that the cows love. In the dead of winter, steam would rise from the bales when they are opened. Didn't test any of it this year but judging from their pies, the RFV was really high.

 

[Jogeephus]

Exactly. After watching Ghost Busters last night, I'd say Green Ecto-Plasm would be a suitable description - very slippery underfoot. :lol2:

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Baleage can be put up two different methods. First if the In-Line method shown in the picture. Just the outside edge is wrapped, but they are pushed up against each other eliminating air between bales. This is the method we use.
The 2nd method is what I call "marshmellows". Each bale is individually wrapped, all over. Should not be moved after 24 hours old, because you can break the seal. Much easier to sell with this method.
Baleage is a great option here in NY, because we don't have a lot of 3-4 days straight of sunshine!

 

[TexasBred]

Jeanne many dairymen in East Texas are putting it up in the individual bale. Takes a bit more equipment. One tractor cutting, one raking, one baling and another hauling it to the edge of the field to be wrapped. You only let it lay in the field unbaled until it wilts good. But it makes good cattle feed. Just have to remember that at 50-60% water you have to feed a lot more of it to get the same amount of dry matter into the cow. When you feed it there is quite an accumulation of water in the bottom of the bale so do expect to get splattered real good when you put it out. :help:

 

[bigbull338]

cows love balage if its put up right.an the bales have tobe stored where varmitts cant puncter the baggs.the baleage needs 60 days min to cure good before you start feeding it.we put up over 500 bales 25yrs ago.that was when the baggers 1st came out.but we never did it again because the varmitts messed the baggs up.we baled it at 20% to 30% mousture.we would cut 1 day an bale the next day.

 

[john250]

Jeanne many dairymen in East Texas are putting it up in the individual bale. Takes a bit more equipment. One tractor cutting, one raking, one baling and another hauling it to the edge of the field to be wrapped. You only let it lay in the field unbaled until it wilts good. But it makes good cattle feed. Just have to remember that at 50-60% water you have to feed a lot more of it to get the same amount of dry matter into the cow. When you feed it there is quite an accumulation of water in the bottom of the bale so do expect to get splattered real good when you put it out. :help:

The labor is the hurdle that stops me from going baleage. If I can get 3 days, I can make dry hay by myself. Who operates all those machines.
Cut, ted, rake, bale. Pretty rare that I can't squeeze all that into 3 days. By myself. My 83 yr old daddy can run the rake, likes to run the rake, if I need him.
I love the quality of good silage, don't get me wrong. Just don't think it is economic for me.

 

[haase]

Up north dairy farmers put it in silos, comes down into the mixer and mixed with other rations.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

I meant to point out that HAYLAGE was chopped wet hay put up in a silo (upright or bunk).
Also, there is a 3rd method of putting up baleage - using a BAGGER. This is one great big long bag & the bales are "stuffed" in (actually the bag is pulled over the bale). This is probably the worse method (although they have improved the system greatly). This is one long bag, if it got a hole in it (like with varments) than the whole bag could "breath" - which would spoil all the bales.
With the in-line or the marshmellows, the plastic wrap is put on in about 5 layers deep, and is stretched real tite like putting saran wrap on you left over food. When you get a hole, it only spoils a very small area around the hold.
We've been putting up in-line for about 15 years - hire it done. We don't own any hay equipment. Two people can put it up. Cut, sometimes rake (depends on how thick it is), bale, haul & wrap all in 1 day. Can put up 100 bales/day. I usually run the wrapper, so that's a 3rd person, but not necessary if there are two top notch workers. 1 mows early AM, starts baling around 11am, 2nd worker uses pick-up wagon to pick them up & deliver to wrapper (dumps in nice neat line). Then he can get out of that tractor & get on skidsteer to load self operating wrapper.
Can do it when it is cloudy, even have done in when it was raining, just as long as we aren't burying equipement in the field :P