Quality hay

Producing high quality hay involves harvesting the crop at optimum maturity to keep maximum nutritive value and lowering the water content to about 20 per cent.

Selection of good species, proper management and harvesting practice are, therefore, important in hay making. Two of the most common hay grasses are Lucerne and Boma Rhodes, Being a legume, Lucerne is considered of high nutritional value although Boma Rhodes also gives nutritive hay.

To produce high quality hay, you have to choose quality seeds, use the correct proportion and type of fertilizer, control insects and diseases and harvest at proper stage.

To have high quality hay, it should not be harvested too late when seeds have already formed. Early cuts (early bloom) assures maximum protein, minerals and vitamin content and high digestibility.

The percentage of leaves present gives an indication of quality. Hay with a higher proportion of leaves will be of good quality. Color is another indicator with brightness indicating minimum bleaching and leaching losses of carotene and other nutrients, therefore, a higher palatability.    

Source: Daily Nation
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