Best Practices for an Excellent Haylage Harvest

Profile Picture of Post's Author Nathan Pokowski | Posted May 5, 2025

Winter in Michigan this year had been notably colder compared to recent years. However, May is here and the time for haylage harvest will soon be upon us.

I am holding pre-harvest meetings with my clients, and these meetings involve an assessment of the previous year’s harvest and quality, identifying areas of success and strategies for improvement. Additionally, we will go through the GPS FeedFIT 9-step process for harvesting high-quality haylage. While I will not discuss all 9 steps here, I would like to highlight my top 4 steps, which are:

  1. When to harvest?
  2. Dry matter (DM)
  3. Relative feed quality (RFQ)
  4. Filling and packing

1.) When to harvest?

This is a frequent question that tends to arise right now. There are several approaches to addressing this. In some cases, I have taken scissor cuts across a field and sent them into the lab for analysis to understand where the plant is at in maturity using RFQ. In other instances, I have considered growing degree days. What I have found to be the most helpful in making my decision is an evaluation of the height and health of the plant.

I typically use 24-26 inches for 1st cutting and 21-23 for 2nd – 5th cuttings. Conventional haylage for the lower end and low lignin varieties for the higher end. Metrics may be slightly different amongst farms/geographies and so I suggest using this in combination with past years history. Saving pictures with plant height and comparing them to feed out quality over the years has helped me guide clients. Additionally, considering weather events and plant health is crucial in this decision-making process.

2.) Dry matter (DM)

Maintaining appropriate dry matter content in haylage is essential to ensure a good fermentation. The cutoff point I follow is 38% DM, as lower percentages such as 35% can pose risks and potentially result in pickled or butyric haylage, adversely affecting cow performance. Ideally, 40% dry matter is best. Exceeding 45% can present challenges and increase the likelihood of plugged choppers and mold development.

3.) Relative feed quality (RFQ)

For high quality cow haylage I target 175-185 RFQ at feed out. This may mean targeting15-20points higher on a scissor cutting to accommodate harvest and loss during fermentation. As I stated earlier it’s crucial that a system is put in place to track results and targets year over year as these metrics will likely be different across farms.

If possible, I target lower quality haylage (130-140 RFQ) for heifers and dry cows. This all depends on the farms ability to store a separate pile.

4.) Filling and packing

Strategy is to fill quickly, safely, and efficiently and carefully cover pile rapidly to eliminate oxygen to set haylage up for a good fermentation.

It is important to construct a pile with consistent density, aiming for 18lbs+ of dry matter per cubic ft. One consideration is to match the packing tractor capacity and the number of tractors with the tonnage of silage being delivered. A guideline to follow is: “tractor weight divided by 800 equals wet tons per hour.”

Additionally, haylage should be spread in 6-8 inch layers. I have found that large windrows of haylage across the bunk indicate that haylage is coming in too fast and there is insufficient equipment to manage the material being delivered. It is also necessary to maintain bunks with a proper slope of 18% or lower. Ensuring that all haylage is tightly packed on all sides is crucial for proper fermentation and preventing spoilage.

Although I initially mentioned four points, it is important to highlight a fifth one: SAFETY. As the harvest season begins, please remember to prioritize safety measures. Ensure high-visibility vests are worn in high traffic areas such as feed pads, make eye contact with operators to confirm they are aware of your presence before entering their workspace, and identify a safe zone where you can relocate during busy periods.

Harvesting quality haylage requires a system. As I stated not all systems are the same and need to be modified to meet farm specific goals. It is essential to establish a procedure for determining the appropriate time to cut, dry matter targets, desired quality, and an understanding of processes for filling and packing. Most importantly all these steps should be conducted while prioritizing safety.

Best wishes for a safe and successful harvest season!

 

*As seen in Hay and Forage Grower

    Categories
    Latest Articles
    Archive