Changes in nutritive value of bermudagrass hay during storage.

Relatively little is known about storage of wet (>200 g kg -1 moisture) bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] hay. Our objective was to assess the changes in nutritive value of bermudagrass hay as a function of hay moisture, storage time, and spontaneous heating. Greenfield' bermudagrass was grown on a Pickwick silt loam soil (fine-silty, mixed, semiactive, thermic Typic Paleudult) and packaged in conventional rectangular bales at 219, 265, and 302 g kg -1 moisture [low-moisture (LM), medium-moisture (MM), and high-moisture (HM) bales, respectively]. Concentrations of most fiber and fiber-associated N components increased (P 200 g kg -1 moisture deteriorates during storage, and the greatest deterioration occurs during the first 12 d after baling.