An increase in the rate of production of livestock products is impossible without creating and strengthening the feed base. A diet on farms should be designed so that cattle receive all the vitamins, trace elements and nutrients necessary for their body. The menu of animals on farms usually includes three main varieties of feed: concentrated, succulent and coarse. Moreover, for poultry and pigs, cereals and legumes are of greatest importance. But the basis of the diet of cattle and small cattle, which concentrates are, of course, also necessary, is still roughage, that is, simply hay. Technologies for harvesting grass for the winter on farms, of course, must be followed exactly.
Economic value
They call hay a special, relatively inexpensive feed obtained by drying mowed grass. Harvesting and storing such food for livestock, of course, must be done correctly. Only high-quality nutritious hay without admixture of herbs that can cause poisoning should receive cows, sheep, goats on farms.
Good hay contains the amount necessary for livestock:
proteins;
carbohydrates;
fats;
trace elements;
macrocells.
Hay is a feed for cows, sheep, horses, of course, necessary. However, the concentration of nutrients in it is still such that it cannot provide too high productivity indicators. In addition to hay, other varieties of feed should be included in the diet of animals - cereals, legumes, beets, silage, etc.
Why technology is important
In short, the technology of harvesting hay for the winter is a procedure for cutting, drying and storage in compliance with certain grass standards. Hay can be a very good feed. However, green grass is inferior in terms of nutrition. After grazing in the meadows in the summer, cows, for example, are able to produce up to 18-20 kg of milk per day. When kept only on hay, this figure will drop to 8-9 kg. This is primarily explained by the fact that when dried, the grass loses up to 40% of nutrients and 70-90% of carotene. Compliance with the technology of harvesting hay allows you to get the highest quality feed. That is, to minimize the loss of nutrients and carotene.
In violation of the mowing technique, among other things, part of the feed may also be lost. To admit this, of course, is also impossible. Fodder land on farms, of course, should be used rationally.
What can cause losses?
It is necessary to observe in farms not only the technology of harvesting hay, but also its storage. Mowing grass in the fields for cattle, cattle and horses is necessary first of all on time. Hay is supposed to be stored in such a way that it does not rot and does not lose vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Also, on farms, of course, the feeding technology must be followed.
Hayfields
The unified calendar terms for mowing grass for livestock, unfortunately, cannot be set for individual climatic zones of the country, but for each specific farm. The growth and development of plants in meadows depends not only on the weather, but also on the composition of the soil, the presence or absence of fertilizers in it, etc.
That is, only specialists of the farms themselves can determine the time of haymaking. The main factor to be guided by is the phase of plant development.
The first mowing of grass on hay in farms is usually carried out in the phase of budding of legumes and cereals. When harvesting such plants, meeting deadlines is especially important. In the overgrown herbs of this variety, the amount of nutrients is significantly reduced.
Lucerne is supposed to mow at a time when the number of opened flowers reaches 10%. This allows you to get the most nutritious food. Forbs mow no later than the flowering phase of the main cereals. In this way, good quality second-wave herbs can be provided. Also, the use of such technology increases the likelihood of a third mowing.
The grass mixture of clover and ryegrass mow in the flowering phase of the latter. Sometimes fodder land in farms is heavily clogged with coarse plants. Such grass is practically unsuitable for livestock. Mowing in such meadows and fields is supposed to produce before the flowering of weeds.
Hay Harvesting: Workflow
After the grass is mowed, it can be exposed to:
flattening;
tedding;
raking into rolls;
stacking, stacking;
pressing.
All these operations are carried out, of course, in compliance with certain technologies.
What rules are followed when cutting
This procedure in farms in our time, of course, is done in a mechanized way. Used for harvesting hay, usually mowers as attachments for tractors. Also, sometimes special forage harvesters work in the fields.
When using any equipment in farms, the mowing height of the grass should be primarily observed. This indicator depends primarily on the variety of plants. Work on the field for haymaking should be performed in such a way that the mowing height is equal to:
in the steppes and mountain meadows - 4-6 cm from the soil level;
in the non-chernozem zone - 5-6 cm;
in wormwood meadows - 3-4 cm;
for beans - 4-5 cm.
Too high mowing grass leads to the loss of part of the roughage. But even very low cut plants in the meadows can not. This will lead to the fact that the yield of valuable grass in the coming year will decline.
The last mowing of annuals on farms is usually done at the lowest cut. Perennial tops are cut 2-3 cm higher than the recommended level.
Conditioning rules
Hay harvesting technology usually involves drying it directly on the field. The grass is simply left lying on the ground for a certain period. Using this technology, plant stems usually do not dry as fast as the leaves. This is due to the unequal amount of water in parts of plants. Because of this, leaves may be lost during drying. To prevent this from happening, a procedure such as conditioning is performed.
This operation is performed simultaneously with cutting grass or after mowing. In order for the plants to dry evenly, their stems simply flatten. This procedure should be applied only to fresh grass. Flushing already dried plants is useless.
Stack such grass in swaths. Being collected in rolls, it dries out at the same speed as not flattened. It is also believed that this procedure is best done in dry weather. Flattening during rain can cause grass to lose a lot of nutrients and carotene. It is especially advisable to carry out such a procedure for legumes and cereals. The stems of such crops are known to have a significant thickness.
What is tedding
Flattening significantly reduces the drying time of hay. But to accelerate the process of moisture loss by grass can also be through tedding. Such work on the preparation of hay allows you to make the mowed mass more loose. Accordingly, the grass will be better ventilated. It is especially important to ted when mowing thick high-yielding grasses. Plants in such fields lay in a dense thick layer. And without tedding in such layers only the top layer will dry. The lower grass in this case remains green for several days, and then begins to turn yellow, which significantly reduces its feed quality.
The first tedding is usually done immediately after mowing, without waiting for the top layer to dry. The second time this procedure is performed after the grass has dried. Further, the frequency of tedding is determined by the type of plants, drying conditions, etc. In dry hot weather, this procedure is usually performed no more than two times.
Raking in rolls
Dry grass in mowing, usually to a moisture content of 35-45%. Then the mass is raked into the rolls. On steppe mowing plants can have a moisture content of 50-65%. In this case, the rolls can be collected immediately - without preliminary drying. Such work is carried out on the field by hay harvesting usually with a transverse rake, for example, GP-F-10, GP-F-6.0 or GP-F-16.
The main purpose of collecting grass in rolls is to reduce the area of its contact with the soil. Plants laid in this way are well blown by the wind. In addition, sunlight does not penetrate into the thickness of the rolls. And this, in turn, allows you to get better hay.
As the grass dries, the rolls are supposed to be wrapped one or more times. Also, plants harvested in this way are raked from time to time.
Bulk Hay Harvesting Technology: Syringing
In the rolls, grass cut in the fields is kept until its moisture content drops to 22-25%. Then the hay is subjected to skirding. Dried grass is brought to the place of storage. It can be stacked in farms using two technologies: northern and southern. Sometimes, in this way, dried grass is stored directly in the meadow.
The skird, folded according to northern technology, expands from the base by 2/3 of the height. Then she abruptly moves to the top at an angle of 60 degrees. This way of laying helps protect the hay from getting wet during rain. Water from such a stack falls from the widest part, and does not flow through the grass.
Skird stacked according to southern technology has steep walls. This option is usually used in windy regions. In this case, even during a hurricane, grass is not blown off from the stack. This allows you to save the maximum amount of feed for livestock. When assembling both according to northern and southern technology, low-value grass is usually placed at the top of the stack.
How to form
They stack stacks, according to the developed hay harvesting technologies, in farms usually as follows:
1. Spread a rectangular base.
2. Gradually go to the middle, densely trampling each layer.
3. Stack the top, also compacting it.
The technology of harvesting loose hay involves, among other things, the maximum compaction of the top of the stack. Otherwise, rainwater will subsequently penetrate into its thickness. After the assembly is completed, the stack is combed with a rake, creating a flat surface. Further, in order to avoid blowing off the grass by the wind, its top is strengthened by poles.
Stacking
In areas with a small supply of hay and with limited possibilities for its transportation, usually stacks are not collected, but stacks. The latter have a round base and are formed in the form of a cone. At the same time, the dome is produced. During the formation of the stacks, they are carefully rammed.
Pressed hay harvesting technology
It often happens that hayfields on farms are at a considerable distance from livestock farms. In this case, the grass is pre-collected in bales and rolls to facilitate transportation. Plants, when performing both of these procedures, are pressed. This procedure, in turn, can also be performed using several techniques.
The technology for harvesting pressed hay looks like this:
Depending on the model of the used baler, the weight of the finished bales can be from 24 to 500 kg.
Haylage
Modern technology of hay harvesting allows you to save a lot of substances useful for livestock in this type of feed. The main variety of coarse feed used for cattle is, of course, it is dried, crushed, rolled or whole grass. But often in farms, haylage, which is an intermediate link between hay and silo, is also introduced into the diet of cows. Such food is prepared from dried grass, pressing it in trenches. Humidity of such a mass is usually equal to 50-60%.
Silage
To provide cattle with high-quality food in the winter, thus, first of all, they allow technologies for harvesting hay and hay. Silage is another type of roughage that is widely used in cattle breeding. It is also prepared from mowed grass. However, the green mass in this case is not dried. In its fresh form, it folds into silo pits, which are then hermetically sealed with an earthen stopper. The result is food, which can be attributed simultaneously to the group of coarse and juicy.
Shredded hay
Harvesting of roughage for cattle by this technology is currently considered the most progressive method. Most often, cereals are stored in this way. The technology for harvesting shredded hay involves cutting mowed grass into segments 8-14 cm long. After this treatment, the dried green mass is well ventilated and at the same time it is laid quite tightly. Subsequently, it is very convenient to give such hay to cows. In addition, it is eaten by animals better.
Equipment used
The technology for harvesting and storing hay can thus be used differently. But in any case, such work is carried out using special equipment. Can be used for haymaking:
mowers and forage harvesters (KPV-3, KPP-2, E-301, KSK-100);
conditioners (for example, PTP);
tedder rakes (GVR, GVK, etc.);
transverse rake (GP-F);
stacker-loaders (PF-0.5);
balers (PS, PPL-F).
All these types of equipment can be mounted on tractors of different models. The technique for harvesting hay of this variety is used, of course, usually not too heavy - wheeled. In private households, grass is most often harvested using mini-tractors. Modern industry produces special mowers for such equipment.
Agricultural mowers
In the fields, of course, the technology of harvesting hay must be strictly followed. And cars of various kinds in this case serve, of course, in this great help. The main tool used in harvesting grass for the winter are mowers. Such equipment, in turn, is divided by the number of cutting devices. The farms use models 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-bar. The design of all varieties of such attachments is almost the same. For example, the KRN-2.1A model, very popular among agricultural producers, consists of the following parts and assemblies:
This mower can be aggregated with tractors MTZ-80 and MTZ-82. When used for harvesting coarse feed, this equipment cuts the stems with plate knives articulated on the rotors. These working tools rotate towards each other at a speed of 65 m / s. The cut green mass in the mower, having met with the engine shield, changes the trajectory of motion and falls into swath.
What are conditioners
This agricultural equipment also belongs to the class of mowers. Conditioners differ from conventional models of this type in that their design additionally includes rollers or pin drums. Before mowing, such equipment is supposed to be set up. The stiffness of the plant stems may be uneven. Accordingly, the pressure of the rollers when working on the field should be different. For herbs, for example, it will be higher than for clover or alfalfa.
Tedder Rakes
Such equipment may vary primarily in the length and number of wheels. The main part of the design of such a rake is large-diameter discs with spokes bent at the top in the form of the letter C. A suitable model of the tedder can be purchased today for a tractor of any make and power.
What are stackers
This technique can be used for storing, loading and transporting hoofs. The main working body of the stacker consists of:
clamping frame;
rake lattice.
Most often, haymaking in our country uses machines of this type SNU-0.5 A and SSHR-0.5.
What are balers
The technology of harvesting pressed hay from perennial grasses or annuals allows the most efficient use of the space of warehouses and storages. Dry grass is processed in this case using balers. Such equipment, in turn, can be rolled or bale. The first type of pick-ups presses the hay with a spiral. The beveled mass is pressed by a lattice, which allows you to adjust the roll folding density.
Bale balers form a beveled mass into rectangular blocks.Such machines are usually distinguished by larger dimensions and power than rolled ones. Such a technique is quite expensive. Therefore, in farms in most cases the technology of harvesting hay in rolls is used.
Hay quality
Sometimes, nutrients and carotene from dried grass are lost during storage. This can happen due to:
moisture penetration into the inner layers;
development of putrefactive bacteria in the hay too early;
mold due to high humidity;
breeding in ricks of insects and rodents.
In order to reduce the loss of hay in ricks and under sheds, it is often treated with formic or propionic acid, as well as ammonia. The rate of application of the latter is 2-3% by weight of hay. You can save the quality of dried grass, as well as improve its taste for livestock, with loose table salt in the amount of 5-10 kg per 1 ton. Also, the surface of the stack can sometimes be treated with urea-formaldehyde resin, which forms an elastic film.
Where better to store
According to the hay harvesting technologies developed over many years, in some cases stacks can also be harvested directly in fields and meadows. But the most reliable storage of dry grass is provided on covered areas and in hay sheds. In order for the hay not to lose its qualities, in rooms intended for its storage, ventilation can also be mounted, among other things.
After laying hay for storage over the next 10 days, its temperature is supposed to be checked daily. Further monitoring is carried out 1 time in 5 days for a month. Further, the frequency of examinations is reduced to 2 times a month. Measure the temperature in the stacks with a special thermal rod. Insert this tool so that it reaches the middle of the laid mass of grass.
Features of storing hay outdoors
Warehousing, stacks and stocks - this is the most economical technology for harvesting hay. Thus, the dry green mass can be stored indoors. But more often the hay is stacked nevertheless on the street. In the open air, coarse feed for cattle, small cattle and horses is kept on pallets or pallets. This prevents moisture from entering the lower layers of the dry mass. Hay is protected from contact with the sun and rain using a film or terpaulin. For storing hay on the street next to the farm, they usually choose a well-ventilated dry area on a hill.
Bales of dry grass are usually folded in a pyramid. This minimizes the risk of wetting the grass. Skird in the fields have an end in the direction of the prevailing winds. It is believed that the humidity of hay when stored on the street should not exceed 18%. The feed yard on the farm itself, of course, must meet the fire safety requirements.