It is important to minimize dry matter losses to control hay production costs. The losses start with mowing and conditioning (13.2%), raking (1%), baling losses for small square bales (2.8%) and large round bales (19.2%). Storage losses can range from 5% to 30%, and feeding losses range from 5% to 10% (Bartholomew and Vollborn, 1997). Total losses from the system will range from 27% to more than 50%.
Grass hays have the best combination of yield and feed quality when harvested when the seedhead is in the boot stage. One important note is that there is more protein in the plant in the morning than in the afternoon.
Tedding is effective in hastening the rapid, early phase of drying, but not the slower, last phase of drying (Collins, 1997). If done, tedding should be done shortly after mowing or early enough in the day that some moisture remains in the leaf to prevent losses. Do not ted hay that has dried to 50% moisture because that can increase dry matter losses and is not effective in increasing drying rate. Tedders are useful in breaking up windrows of rained-on hay to allow for redrying.