The abundant rainfall in the region has really made for some good forage growth so far this summer, but getting the hay baled without getting it rained on in the field remains a challenge.
Given the choice between letting hay go longer between cuttings or letting it get rained on once it is cut, it is best to let the hay go longer between cuttings. Research has shown that even if hay goes 8 weeks between cuttings, it will still have more nutritive value than letting it get 3/4 inch of rain on it once it is lying on the ground.
Recently cut forage that gets wet will undergo respiration, resulting in a loss in the energy content of the hay. Wet hay can lose as much as 10% of its digestible energy (carbohydrates).
Supplemental energy sources (like corn) are getting more expensive due to demands for corn in ethanol production.
The good news is that the crude protein content in the hay is generally not affected to a great degree when the hay gets rained on in the field.
However, hay that is baled wet can go through a heating process (called carmelization) that can result in reduced protein digestibility and a loss of energy in the forage as well.
Hay that is left cut and not baled in the field too long either needs to be grazed out by cattle prior to making the next cutting in the field or it needs to be baled off the field so that new grass growth can occur and the subsequent cutting can be put up without the old cut hay being rolled up along with the newer, better forage.
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