UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



ij| BULLETIN No. 873 



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Contribution from the Bureau of Markets 

 GEORGE LIVINGSTON, Chief 



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Washington, D. C. 



September 15, 1920 



THE SHRINKAGE OF MARKET HAY. 



By H. B. McClure, Specialist in Hay Marketing. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 



Introduction 1 



Resume 1 of data on shrinkage 4 



Factors affecting determination of shrinkage. 8 



Shrinkage of newly mown hay 14 



Loss of dry matter 15 



Methods of making hay to prevent unneces- 

 sary shrinkage 18 



Limitations of rules for measuring shrinkage. 21 



Money loss caused by shrinkage 23 



What is hay? 28 



Summary 32 



INTRODUCTION. 



There is a widespread misunderstanding regarding the so-called loss 

 caused by shrinkage of hay. The Department of Agriculture is con- 

 stantly receiving requests for definite statements as to the extent of 

 this loss under various conditions, and for methods of curing and stor- 

 ing hay which will tend to prevent loss by shrinkage. Most of these 

 inquiries come from those who want data on shrinkage or loss after 

 the hay has been put into the barn or stack. A few, however, wish 

 to know how much shrinkage takes place from the time hay is cut 

 until it is sufficiently cured to be removed from the windrow or cock. 

 Those interested in shrinkage are hay growers, country shippers, city 

 receivers, commission men, brokers, and consumers in nonproducing 

 territories. 



Any request from the producer for data on this subject immediately 

 and naturally suggests this question: "Why should the hay grower, 

 in general, worry about loss due to shrinkage?" 



The answer is that the farmer believes that a substantial loss usually 

 occurs when hay is stored in the barn or stack, when, as a matter of 

 fact, ordinarily there is no loss of feedng value, and properly no loss 

 in market value. (For a definition of market hay as discussed in 

 this bulletin see p. 30.) 



183958°— 20— Bull. 873 1 



