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Harvesting Practices and Round Bale Losses

1981; Volume: 24; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.13031/2013.34349

2151-0059

P.M. Anderson, W. L. Kjelgaard, L. D. Hoffman, L. L. Wilson, H. W. Harpster,

Agricultural Engineering and Mechanization

ABSTRACT LARGE round alfalfa hay bales were harvested using different field and storage procedures. Bale density and baling losses decreased as baler feed rate increased. Baling dry matter (DM) losses average 14, 12, and 5 per-cent of windrow yield for single, double, and triple win-drows respectively. Total field harvesting dry matter losses (including curing, raking, and baling) averaged 20 percent of swath yield. Storage dry matter losses average 3 percent of harvested DM weight for bales stored in-doors and 14 percent for bales stored outdoors. Nutritive losses during winter storage were significantly greater in outdoor bales. In-vitro dry matter disappearance averag-ed 61.8 and 54.6 percent for indoor- and outdoor-stored bales respectively.