Nutrient conservation of baled hay by sprayer application of feed grade fat with or without barn storage

Protection from precipitation increases nutrient recovery from hay. In June of 1992 a third year stand of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was harvested as baled hay. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized two way analysis of variance. Hay bales were selected at random, (n = 40), numbered, weighed, core sampled, and assigned to either being stored in a ‘Barn’ or outside as ‘No Barn’. The bales were then assigned to the factor of ‘Fat’ or ‘No Fat’. The Fat factor was the sprayer application of choice white grease at 2% of bale weight. No Fat did not have any fat applied. Baled hay chemical composition at first sampling was: moisture, 16.0%; crude protein, 15.78%: carotene, 18.7 mg kg−1. After one year, bales were visually appraised, weighed, and core sampled. Before and after samples were analyzed for moisture, crude protein, and carotene. Bales stored outside with fat appeared to have more deterioration than untreated outside bales. Fat and no fat treated bales stored in a bam appeared similar. Outside stored bales appeared more deteriorated than barn stored bales. Dry matter, crude protein, and carotene recovery were: Barn and Fat 91.7%, 85.6%, and 43.8%; Barn and No Fat: 92.2%, 85.7%, and 36.1%; No Barn and Fat: 56.5%, 46.4%, and 11.7%; No Barn and No Fat: 61.7%, 53.3%, and 15.6%. Nutrient recovery was significantly higher due to storage in a barn, and was not influenced by application of fat to the bales.