Hay is the oldest and most important preserved forage, and can be made with simple equipment, either manually or mechanically.
Many small farmers make hay and store crop residues to maintain their livestock through periods of shortage.
The residues, straws and stems of the main crops, which account for about half of the biomass produced, are used as feed for ruminants, although they generally require a supplement.
Since these residues are available on the farm, it is often interesting to pay particular attention to their harvesting, storage and use.
CONSERVATIONDU-FOIN-ET-DELA-PAILLE
