On-farm evaluation and demonstration of different types of hay press

Abu Teffera, Solomon Tekeste and Yihalem Denekew*

Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Center,
P.O. Box 133, Bahir Dar - Ethiopia
abuteffera@yahoo.com
* Andassa Livestock Research Center,
P.O. Box: 27, Bahir Dar - Ethiopia
Yihalem98@yahoo.com

Abstract

Hay is the oldest and most important conserved fodder. The aim of haymaking is to store feed for later on-farm use. Traditional haymaking practice in Ethiopia has many problems. Delayed or early harvesting, improper handling system during harvesting, transportation, and storage stages are identified as main causes of feed loss. This project is, therefore,   intended to evaluate and demonstrate manual hay presses so as to assist users in haymaking and baling practice.

Two hay press models, vertical and horizontal hay presses, were manufactured and after preliminary test, practical on field test was conducted at two sites. Besides, discussions were made with farmers and their opinions were recorded.  The test result has shown that, the average pressing rate, bale density, and baling time of vertical hay press was 45.2 kg h-1, 86.5 kg m -3 and 14.1 min per piece. Likewise, similar parameters of the horizontal type were 36.9 kg hr-1, 72.3 kg m -3 and 17.4 min per piece, respectively. It was observed that most of the respondent farmers preferred vertical type press due to its lower energy requirement and better output. Therefore,  the vertical hay press model is recommended for further promotion.

Key words: animal feed, hay making, mechanical hay press

Introduction

Agriculture is the basis of Ethiopia's economy.  The contribution of livestock and livestock products to this sector is significantly high, accounting for 40% excluding the value of draft power, fuel, manure and transportation (Winrock International 1992). According to the livestock census of CSA (CSA 2001), Amhara Region has about 9.12 million cattle, 3.82 million sheep, 2.96 million goats, 1.67 million equines and 11.9 million poultry and constituting about 35 percent of the national livestock population.

Grazing lands are the main source of livelihood to many farmers and pastoralists providing year-round feed supporting livestock. As green plants availability is seasonally in most area, the provision of feed for deficit seasons has always been the major concern in many livestock production system. Therefore, Hay is the most important conserved fodder used for this purpose.    Many small-scale farmers in the Region by their own method make hay and store crop residues to carry livestock through periods of feed shortage. It can be prepared at house hold level using simple machines and techniques.

Hay making is traditional in most parts of Ethiopia. Especially, in Amhara region there is no wide practice of making or storing hay and straw in bale, rather most farmers and small-scale dairy holders store hay traditionally by making heap. However, the conventional method of haymaking has some drawbacks, such as feed loss; maintain low nutrient content, not convenient in transporting and storing. These drawbacks confirm that farmer’s lacks knowledge about forage conservation, improvement of low quality feed and using of proper technology for haymaking and storing residue.

Studies indicate that, baling of hay by pressing helps to feed animals with little or no wastage, conserve its nutrient for a long time, simplifies the transport and storage condition and preparation of feed rations. The average weight of a bale from natural pasture and crop residues can be 15-20 and 8-15 kg, respectively (Suttie 2000).  But tractor assisted baler, can  press in to bales up to 200-300 kg m^-3 density when its moisture content is between 18-30% and in to briquettes of up to 700 kg m^-3 density when the moisture content is between 10-12% (Bosoi 1991).

The price of a bale varies depending on the season and the distance between the production area and the major livestock/demand/market areas. Mostly animal drawn carts are used for transporting of hay. A cart of un baled hay/straw cost up to 180 Birr during dry seasons and up to 260 Birr in summer at Bahir Dar town markets. Carts can carry 400-2000kg at speed of 3-5 km h^-1 for distance of 20 km (Lawrence 1993).

As currently conducted studies indicate, strong village level milk marketing units that are owned by farmers milk marketing groups/co-operatives are established, all are successful and are operating profitably (Rangnekar and Thorpe 2002). therefore, using this opportunity, most of the farmers in the region are engaged in livestock rearing activities as source of additional income. Therefore, in order to be more competent in the market, farmers should know proper method of animal feed preparation technique and equipment. These facts forced the need of haymaking becomes a major area of concern.

There are different types of haymaking machines in the market. Mechanical presser is one of an important implement.  These machines have three level of operation, i.e., human, animal, and mechanical powered. In this particular project, attempt has been made to evaluate human powered one. Based on extensive review, attempt on different existing hay press types two models, vertical and horizontal hay press were selected. But, these presses are not used in the Region by farmers due to unavailability of presses in the market and poor awareness of farmers on the technologies. Hence, the objectives of this study was to verify the performance of improved hay presses under farmers’ local conditions and increase farmers and extension/development workers  awareness  on the advantage of the technologies.  It was also intended to render recommendation on the merits and demerits of the technologies.

Materials and methods                                                                        

Horizontal and vertical hay presses were the two-selected mechanical model for the study. The vertical hay press (Photo 1) parts are manufactured from hard wood (eucalyptuses tree) and sheet metals. It consists of wooden frame box that laminated from the inside with 0.8mm sheet metal. It has wooden bottom floor and wooden plunger with arms laminated by 3mm sheet metal. The overall dimension of the machine (LxWxH) in centimeter is 154 x 54 x 145. Its weight is 88kg and its manufacturing cost was about 626 ETB.

Photo 1. Vertical hay press	Photo 2. Horizontal hay press

The Horizontal hay press (Photo 2) has a 230x75x140 cm (LxWxH) dimension press whose body is made from hardwood (eucalyptuses free). Parts other than the main body were made from available angle iron, round bar, galvanized pipe, and U-channeled cross section metals. Its empty weight is 156kg and manufacturing cost was about 1973 ETB. Both models were modified and manufactured at Bahar Dar Agricultural Mechanization Research Center.  Preliminary test was carried out for checking proper functionality of the presses in the center.

Based on selection criteria,  experience on preparation of animal feed, awareness about the improved technology, and potential forage production, participant farmers were selected from East Gojjam Zone, Dejjen Woreda and West Gojjam Zone, Bahir Dar Zuria Woreda. In each selected test site, both hay presses with full accessories were delivered for participants. Selected farmers were trained on operation and handling of improved hay presses. 

Both hay presses were tested and evaluated for their capacity and also compared their advantage over the traditional hay making using their bale weight and area. Tests were conducted in three replications, with a total of nine observations using single operator. The age and the weight of operators during testing time were 22 years old and 50 kg respectively. Data were collected by using the same operators to operate both machines using natural pasture hay (grass) as test material.  Cart carrying capacity was determined by taking a total of nine observations,  three replication for each test. The required area and weight of baled and un-baled hay were determined.

Baling time was measured by stopwatch and defined as the total time required from start of preparation of tightening rope, bale formation, till the end of double tightening of the pressed square bale. All bales were wrapped using plastic rope twine. The length, width, and height of all bales were measured to the nearest 1 cm  to allow calculation of bale area and density. Each bale was weighed to the nearest 0.5 kg on a 50 kg capacity spring balance scale. Three samples were used for moisture determination and were oven dried at 105ºC for 24 h.

The hay presses were described theoretically and practically for an average of 20 farmers in each of the sites, to provide theoretical explanation of the use and benefit of the machines. A second practical demonstration was carried out in the presence of selected farmers and some others from the surrounding areas.  Participants were encouraged to evaluate and comment on the performance of the improved hay presses

Finally, a  trial site discussion was held among farmers, development agents, and a Woreda expert on merit and demerit of hay presses. All participants forwarded their opinion on the hay presses. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS statistical package using one-way analysis of variance.

Results and Discussion

The two improved models of manually operated hay presses were evaluated with respect to their technical performance and farmers viewpoint. The average pressing rate (output), bale density, and baling time of the vertical hay press was 45.2 kg h^-1, 86.5 kg m ^-3 and 14.1 min per bale. Likewise similar parameters of the horizontal type were 36.9 kg hr^-1, 72.3 kg m ^-3 and 17.4 min per  bale, respectively. These results indicate that the vertical hay press performed better with less baling time, higher output and bale density when compared to the horizontal one (Figure 1).

Figure 1.  Mean performance parameters for vertical and horizontal hay presses

There were differences between the hay presses regarding baling time, weight, output and density in favour of the vertical press (Table 1). The reason is that the vertical hay press thrust pad unit is freely suspended at a point, so that the construction allows the operator to use his/her body weight to press the hay. Therefore, this condition assists to reduce energy and facilitate easiness of operation. But the horizontal one requires more energy than the vertical one because of its pressing pad unit which slides over round bars producing high frictional force and thus reducing operator’s efficiency and speed. 

The mean performance parameters in terms of the cart loading capacity and area required during transportation and storage of the baled and un-baled (traditional) hay are shown in Figures 2 and 3. The mean loading capacity of an animal-drawn cart, with hay made traditionally, and with vertical and horizontal hay presses were 119, 182, and 192 kg, respectively. In terms of the average loading capacity of animal-drawn carts, a greater mass can be carried of baled hay than of the un-baled hay (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Mean weights for different hay making methods	Figure 3. Mean bale area for different hay making methods

The average area required for a single cart loading hay is 3.70, 1.69, and 1.33 m² for traditional, horizontal, and vertical hay presses, respectively (Table 2).  The results indicate that pressed hay has an advantage over the traditional method using less area for greater mass of hay.  The reason is that compressed hay gets more weight and requires less area than un-baled hay (Figure 3).

Baling also provides a convenient loading condition during transporting time. These circumstances were appreciated and preferred by cart owners due to safety and capacity to carry a greater mass by animal-drawn carts in a single trip. On the other hand, it was clearly observed, and farmers also indicated, that hay loss by dropping on the track during transporting of un-baled hay for a long distance was of high level of concern for owners. This loss is usually aggravated by the wind.  Therefore, the advantages of baling of hay during transporting and storage are very vital.  That is why proper selection of appropriate hay making techniques and implements is essential. 

 There are also marketing advantages from baling hay. In Bahir Dar Zuria Woreda the market price of a bundle of hay  that weighs up to 10 kg cost is 15 birr and for a single cart that carries  150 kg the cost is up to 260 Birr during summer season. Therefore, even though there is not the practice of selling the baled hay, the farmer can sell single bale of  hay with the same weight at the price of 25Birr.  From a single cart that can carry on average up to 18 bales, a total of 459Birr can be obtained. This indicates that baling hay beyond conserving of the nutritional value of the feed and convenience in transporting the long way to the market without losses, there is additional benefit of about 190Birr over the traditional system. 

From the training and demonstration of the mechanical presses, farmers developed knowledge about the importance of baling of hay.  They said that use of these machines would help them to  calculate more easily the annual feed requirement for their animals.  Determining the rate of feeding, proper storage of the feed, easy transportation by human labor and animal drawn carts and conservation of nutritional value of the feed were the main advantage farmers indicated when introduced to the baling machines. Finally, most of the participating farmers agreed that the vertical press was better than the horizontal one, due to its better output rate, less power requirement, lower cost and reduced overall weight. On the other hand, when easiness of extracting the baled hay out of the chamber and durability for longer working period was considered, farmers asserted that the horizontal one was preferable to the vertical one.

Conclusions

• The vertical hay press had better performance with regard to bale output, cost, and weight and energy requirement.

References

Bosoi  E S and Verniaev O V  1991  Theory, Construction and calculation of Agricultural Machineries. Russian Translation Series 83, Great Britain

Broota K D 1992 Experimental design in behavioral research. University of Delhi, Delhi, India.

Central Agricultural census commission 2003 Ethiopian Agricultural Sample enumeration, 2001/02 (1994E.C) Result for Amhara Region. Statistical Report on Livestock and Farm Implements Part IV Addis Ababa.

Lawrence P R, Lawrence K, Dijkman J T and Starkey P H (editors) 1993 Research for development of animal traction in West Africa. Proceedings of the Fourth Workshop of the West Africa Animal Traction Network held in Kano, Nigeria, 9-13 July 1990. Published on behalf of the West Africa Animal Traction Network by the International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 306 pp. Section 4: Adeoti J S  The potential and development in animal transport devices

Rangnekar D and Thorpe W (editors) 2002 Smallholder dairy production and marketing Opportunities and constraints. Proceedings of a South–South workshop held at NDDB, Anand, India, and 13–16 March 2001. NDDB (National Dairy Development Board), Anand, India, and ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), Nairobi, Kenya. 538 pp. Theme 4: Tsehay Redda Small-scale milk marketing and processing in Ethiopia

Suttie  J  M  2000  Hay and Straw Conservation - For Small-Scale Farming and Pastoral Conditions.  FAO Plant Production and Protection Series No. 29 Rome,

Winrock International 1992 Assessment of animal agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa.

Received 14 September 2011; Accepted 5 November 2011; Published 4 January 2012

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