Jessica Williamson, Hay and Forage Specialist, AGCO

Attention to detail is key to making great quality hay. Throughout the hay-making process, reducing dry matter yield losses and conserving forage quality is key for optimal hay production. During baling, there are a few important factors to take into account to help ensure success when it comes to harvesting hay with your operations’ goals in mind. .

Jessica Williamson, Hay and Forage Specialist, AGCO

Attention to detail is key to making great quality hay. Throughout the hay-making process, reducing dry matter yield losses and conserving forage quality is key for optimal hay production. During baling, there are a few important factors to take into account to help ensure success when it comes to harvesting hay with your operations’ goals in mind. .

Jessica Williamson, Hay and Forage Specialist, AGCO

In the process of making hay, there are a few harvest management tactics that can greatly affect forage quality at feeding. The raking process can be the most critical to identify and conduct proper management practices to help conserve the available nutrients in the crop and reduce crop losses.

Jessica Williamson, Hay and Forage Specialist, AGCO

The hay-making process can be challenging. In combination with the necessity of ideal weather and harvest timing at the targeted stage of growth, maintaining the nutritional quality of the crop found while it is standing in the field throughout the harvest process adds an additional challenge. 

There are some management practices that can be done during the mowing phase to help optimize forage quality and preserve the nutrients found in the crop.

Jessica Williamson, Hay and Forage Specialist, AGCO

Jessica Williamson, Hay and Forage Specialist, AGCO

Ruminant livestock have a unique digestive system that requires roughage, most commonly in the form of forages, to digest feedstuffs. As livestock grow, mature, and go through various phases of production, their nutritional needs change as well. Ensuring optimal animal performance – whether that be growth, lactation, or gestation – requires optimal nutrition that meets or exceeds their dietary requirements at a given stage of life.

Jessica Williamson, Hay and Forage Specialist, AGCO

You know it takes the best forage to grow the best livestock. But what, exactly, does it mean to have high-quality forage? How do you attain the best forage while balancing yield?

Let’s take a deeper look at what goes into forage quality and how Massey Ferguson machines can help you get the most out of your crop.