Proper hay storage is always important

First, one of the few good things about the drought of the past few months is that very little precipitation falls on the hay that is stored outside. Precipitation, air temperature and humidity all make bales more susceptible to spoilage. Twine-wrapped bales are more likely to spoil than mesh-wrapped bales. The higher the bale density, the less spoilage. With that being said, here are a few things to keep in mind when considering how to store hay.

Choose a higher, unshaded, well-ventilated site to improve drying conditions. The site should be well drained to minimize moisture absorption to the bottom of the bale.

Bail bonds should be stored in rows, end to end, and facing north and south. Avoid stacking three rows of hay in a triangle. This formation leads to more spoilage, especially in the bottom two rows.

Large round bales stored outdoors in plastic or canvas usually suffer far less deterioration than unprotected bales. If barn storage is an option, this is the best way to go. Dry matter loss from round bales stored in closed barns for up to 9 months should be less than 2%.