Hay:

• A forage plant when preserved through reducing the moisture content to the levels at which plant tissues are dead so that they can be stored without fear of fermentation losses or spoilage due to mold growth is called hay.
• The moisture content in green crop is reduced to 10-15% and for bailing and storage, it should range between 15-20%.
• The aim of hay making is to reduce the water content of green crop to level low enough so that plant and bacterial enzymes donot act on plant nutrient.

Crop suitable for hay making:

• The fodder crop having soft and pliable stems are more suitable for hay making.
• Green oat is considered as best crop for hay making.
• Leguminous crops; Berseem, cowpea are difficult for hay making. However, they can be used for hay making.
• In general, hay contain 9.6% CP and 45-55% TDN.

Stage of harvesting the crops for hay making:

• Best stage of harvesting crops for hay making is at flowering stage or pre-bloom stage.
• At early stage, DCP and TDN values of fodder are very high but dry yield per hectare is very low.
• At later stage, when the crop is in full bloom, the protein value goes down and digestibility of nutrient is also reduced.

Important points for hay making:

• The grasses for hay making should be leafy with tender and thin stem.
• It should contain about 7-10% protein and 0.5% Ca.
• The hay should be dried as early as possible.
• There should be no loss of leaves during the act of harvesting, transportation, and drying.
• The hay to be stored should not contain more than 15% moisture.

Methods of hay making:

• For efficient production of good quality hay, crop are harvested early in morning after dew has dried during sunny day.
• After cutting, crop is left as such for few hours in loose manner. If there is good sunshine, fodder is turned upside down with hay rake.
• In evening, small loose heaps can be formed with hay rake.
• On next day, one or two turning is given.
• This process is continued until sufficient drying. After crops are dried sufficiently, it is baled (rounded bundle) and stored.
• Hay thus prepared are fed to cattle at rate of 5 kg per animal during season of fodder deficit.