Current state of research on important effects
It is crucial to take advantage of short periods of good weather and avoid losses due to crumbling, which is often easier with silage production. However, fermentation losses during storage are also significant, and here, aerated hay preservation offers advantages. Several independent studies show that the digestibility and intake of good hay are higher than with grass silage, by approximately 1 kg of dry matter per cow per day. The reason why one often hears and reads something different about the feeding effect is easily explained: This effect only applies ceteris paribus, i.e., if the hay was harvested from the same stage of vegetation ("on the same date").
Hay drying usually requires more labor. However, the difference is often only 10% of the annual labor required for forage production, so it doesn't add up to much overall. To give a simple example: while hay is turned more frequently, time is saved elsewhere, for example during compaction.
Current test runs
Hay drying systems are energy-intensive, which is why the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein has been conducting trials for years, including this year, to improve their technical efficiency. Through optimization, the specific energy consumption of the entire system (dehumidifier and fan) was reduced from approximately 500 W/kg to an average of 350 W/kg of water to be dried. This increase in efficiency was achieved through consistent air recirculation using a roll-up tarp along the edges of the drying boxes and through the insulation of the roof covering the drying box.
How does this work financially for businesses?
The mere fact that both methods, hay and silage, have become established demonstrates their economic relevance. While hay milk marketing certainly plays a role, the cornerstones of farm management are far more important. One of the key prerequisites is always the skill and competence of the people involved, whether in hay or grass silage production and feeding. If the management is sound, a method can more easily become profitable.
Therefore, one cannot make a general statement about what constitutes the profitability of hay milk production. Rather, it generally depends on how well all areas of the dairy farm are managed, as these areas are inextricably linked.
Which operational areas are of major importance? The illustration provides an answer. Using a medium-sized Austrian hay milk farm as an example, it shows how important certain influencing factors can be for profitability.
