Loss and Drying Characteristics of Forage Mats After Rainfall
Forage mats were made in the field with a mower-macerator prototype and subjected to 6 mm of rainfall. Drying coefficients of mats were 111% and 71% greater than drying coefficients of conventionally conditioned windrows before and after rain, respectively. Dry matter losses were estimated on the basis of the change in acid detergent fiber concentration during drying. After rain, losses were equal in timothy mats and timothy windrows (8%) but were higher in alfalfa mats (20%) than in alfalfa windrows (13%). When no rain occurred, mats had less respiration loss (3%) than windrows (7%).