The Effect of Conditioning on the Rate of Drying and Loss of Nutrients in Hay

Treating cut herbage with a roller‐crusher or a crimper resulted in an increased drying rate compared with tedding. A higher rate of drying was obtained when herbage was treated within a short period of the crop being cut, this effect being more marked with the crimper than with the tedder. Nutrient loss was higher when a crimper was used than with a roller‐crusher or tedder. Applying water at an early stage in the drying process did not have a marked effect on nutrient loss, but appeared to decrease the digestibility of the crimped hay.