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Quality of Alfalfa Hay Chemically Treated at Cutting to Hasten Field Drying¹

Departments of Animal Science and Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824

ABSTRACT

Spray treatment of cut alfalfa with solutions containing emulsified methyl esters of long chain fatty acids and potassium carbonate increased dry matter content above untreated control forage baled at the same time and reduced length of field exposure before baling at a dry matter content "safe" for storage. Bale temperatures, dry matter loss, and changes of visual and analytical quality measurements were greater for control hay baled simultaneously with sprayed alfalfa when respective dry matter contents were 66 and 88%. When both sprayed and unsprayed alfalfas were baled at the same dry matter percent but at different times, analytical measures for resulting hays, bale temperatures, dry matter loss, and changes in analytical measures during storage were similar.

¹ Published with approval of the Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal Article No. 10352.