A Systems Analysis on Forage Production (II)

Simulation of Hay Production Systems

Abstract

Computer simulation runs of the hay production system with a conventional hay baler, the hay production system with a round baler and the hay and silage production system with a round baler, which were assumed as a forage production system for being operated within an individual farm scale, were carried out under the weather condition of three regions, Sapporo, Watsukanai and Kushiro. The results were as follows:
1) Suitable operating area for the hay baler system was 17ha at Sappro and Watsukanai and 15ha at Kushiro. Harvesting area per day should be limited 4ha, 2ha and 2ha at the respective regions. (Table 3)
2) Suitable operating area for the round baler system producing hay was 37ha at Sapporo, 40ha at Watsukanai and 30ha at Kushiro. A limit of harvesting area per day was 2ha, 6ha and 2ha, respectively. (Table 4)
3) Suitable operating area for the hay and silage production system used a round baler was 42ha at Sapporo, 49ha at Watsukanai and 37ha at Kushiro and harvesting area per day should be limited 2ha, 4ha and 2ha, respectively. Wilted grass silage production at Sapporo, Watsukanai and Kushiro was 7.6, 4.0 and 9.6 percent of the total production. (Table 5)
4) The larger harvesting area per day causes the larger operating area and the lower productivity of high-quality hay.
5) The round baler system has higher ability to produce hay than the hay baler system has. The round baler system supplemented by wilted grass silage production has much more suitable operating area and dry matter productivity, but it has the lowest productivity on high-quality hay of the three systems.
6) High-quality hay productivity of the hay baler system is higher than the round baler system. The hay baler system has more high-quality hay in the first cutting than in the second, but on the other hand high-quality hay in the round baler system is more in the second cutting than in the first. On the hay baler system, there is hardly difference of high-quality hay productivity between the three regions. On the round baler system, however, the productivity is slightly higher at Watsukanai than at Sapporo and the lowest at Kushiro.
7) The highest dry matter productivity is gained at Sapporo and the following region is Watsukanai.
8) In general Watsukanai is the most suitable region for hay production of the three regions and Kushiro is the worst. However, if limited to the hay baler system, Kushiro is about the same as the others.