UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

 BULLETIN No. 873 



Contribution from the Bureau of Markets 

 GEORGE LIVINGSTON, Chief 



Washington, D. C. September 15, 1920 



THE SHRINKAGE OF 

 MARKET HAY 



By 



H. B. McCLURE 

 Specialist in Hay Marketing 



CONTENTS 



Page 



Introduction 1 



Resume 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 Unnecessary Shrinkage . . . .18 



Limitations of Rules for Measuring Shrinkage 21 



Money Loss Caused by Shrinkage ...23 



What Is Hay? 28 



Summary . . 32 



WASHINGTON 



GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 



1920 



