LPM 121: Fodder Production and Grassland Management (1+1)

TYPES OF HAY

• The hay depending on the  various ways of processing can be divided into the following categories.
  • Jungle hay
  • Sundried hay
  • Barn dried hay
  • Dehydrated fodders
• Jungle hay and Sundried hay mostly refer to the field curing.
• Barn refers to a simple roofed farm building for storing hay.
• Hay is baled in the field and brought to the barn .
• Driers are also used for dehydration.
• Two types of driers are available
  • Low temperature driers,  80 to 180^°C                   
  • High temperature driers, 300 to 600^°C.

Advantages

• Reduce the cost of transportation to the drying site.
• Drying time is reduced.
• Loss of nutrients due to rains is avoided as the process is performed in a barn.
• Loss of plant parts especially leaves is less to that of field curing.

Disadvantages

• High cost involved during erection of dehydration plant
• High cost of processing if sufficient amount of forage is not available.
• Operation skill is required, unskilled operation may lead to fire hazards.