The document discusses the process of making and storing hay. Hay is made from grasses and legumes when cut at the early to late flowering stage. The quality of hay depends on the material, growth stage, and processing and storage methods. Small farms can make box bales by building wooden frames, drying cut forage in the frames by turning it, and then compacting and binding the hay bales for storage.

1. MAKING HAY
Hay is a form of conserving forage in dry form. It can be
made from grass ( Rhodes grass), herbaceous legumes
like Lucerne, desmodium, and oats. The quality of hay
depends on the material it is made from, stage of growth,
the process and storage.
Grass is about 80 % water and hay is about 20%
Hay from natural grass and pastures can form the bulk
feed while hay from herbaceous legumes can be used for
supplementary forage as it contains higher levels of protien
The best time to make hay is when the plant is at the
early to late flowering stage. Cutting too early gives little
material, while cutting too late gives hay of less nutritive
value as much of the protein will have been used for
making seed and the leaves become brittle when dried and
fall off leaving stems that are less nutritive to the livestock.
Hay can be stored in bales, as loose hay or the grasses
can be ground using a palverizer and stored in gunny
bags.
On large farms, bales are made using a tractor drawn baler
which compacts the bales.
For more informa�on contact: Informa�on Officer, EADD Kenya Country Office, P.O. Box 5201-30100 Eldoret
T:254532031274/8, E: info@eadairy.org

2. BOX BAILING
This is method can be used by small holder farmers who have
established grasses or oats in small areas of land.
Step One
Make a wooden frame that measures 100cm x 50cm and 40cm deep. The
box should be open at the top and bottom.
Step Two
• The grass or herbaceous legume is cut to the ground and dried under
shade or left in the field to dry.
• The forage is tuned over once a day for three days . the process is best
carried out during hot dry weather.
• Ready hay breaks when the stems are bent in half and is light brown in
colour.
Step Three
• Lay two lengths of sisal twine across
the frame while leaving them to hang
over the sides
• Place hay in the frame and compact
by either walking on it . The hay
should be well compacted
• Tie the bale tightly • Push the
with the twine bale out if the
frame
• Stored away from
sun and rain
For more informa�on contact: Informa�on Officer, EADD Kenya Country Office, P.O. Box 5201-30100 Eldoret
T:254532031274/8, E: info@eadairy.org