The time of cutting hay, and the losses entailed during haymaking

Extract

Experiments have been carried out from 1930 to 1935, to investigate the composition, digestibility and yield of meadow hay cut at a normal time, and also of hay cut some 3–5 weeks earlier. Due consideration has been given to the “aftermath” growth occurring on the areas cut for the early hay between the times of cutting of the early and ordinary hay.

As was expected, the early hay, being less mature, was of better composition and digestibility than the ordinary hay. The average crude protein contents were 12·2 and 7·9 per cent of the dry matter respectively.

The yield data, average of 5 years, are summarized below, stated as lb. per acre, the early hay values including the aftermath yields.