Losses during hay making/Factors affecting nutritive value:

1. Losses due to shattering of leaves:

• This loss is more common in legume like Berseem, Leucerne, Cowpea where leaves dry earlier than stem.
• If drying is prolonged without proper turning, leaves become brittle and shatter.
• Leaves contains more protein than any other part, so protein will be lost from shattering of leaves.

2. Losses due to fermentation:

• After harvesting, plant enzyme act on soluble CHO forming CO₂ and water.
• Protein are also hydrolyzed into amino acid which would be lost if there is rain on hay due to leaching.

3. Losses due to oxidation:

• If green fodder is exposed to sun for a longer period without proper turnings, nearly all the carotene will be lost.

4. Losses due to leaching:

• When rain occurs in hay, several nutrients are lost due to process of leaching.
• It causes loss of protein, nitrogen free extract and soluble minerals.
• CF content is increased.