The book highlights the benefits of lucerne hay to livestock, the importance of producing a high quality product and outlines the strategies used by successful lucerne hay producers. It includes best management practices and new technologies for growing, making and marketing lucerne hay, turning the art of lucerne hay production into a science.

It provides strategies to improve the efficiency, productivity, profitability and sustainability of lucerne hay production, so that producers can consistently meet the market requirements and environmental constraints. It covers both irrigated and dryland lucerne hay production.

Contents

Summary of best management practices for lucerne hay production

• Summary of BMPs for growing lucerne
• Summary of BMPs for managing weeds in lucerne
• Summary of BMPs for making lucerne hay
• Summary of BMPs for marketing lucerne hay

Lucerne hay in Australia

• Australian lucerne hay production
• State lucerne hay production
• Dryland lucerne in Australia
• Lucerne hay yields

Lucerne for livestock

• Lucerne for horses
• Lucerne for ruminants
• Lucerne for other animals
• Grazing lucerne
• Animal health for livestock feeding on lucerne

Importance of lucerne hay quality

• Measuring feed value
• Objective measures of hay and silage quality
• Predicting lucerne feed value
• Subjective quality parameters for lucerne hay
• Quality standards for lucerne
• Quality assurance (QA)
• Chemical residues
• National Commodity Vendor Declarations

Characteristics of a successful lucerne hay producer

• Essential skills and qualities for successful hay growers

Growing a lucerne crop

• Planning and preparing for lucerne hay
• Establishing lucerne
• Managing the young stand
• Maintaining the lucerne crop
• Terminating lucerne crops

Lucerne pests, diseases and disorders

• Insect pests
• Lucerne diseases
• Nutrient disorders
• Other disorders
• Weeds of lucerne

Irrigation for hay production

• Irrigation systems
• Lucerne and irrigation

Lucerne haymaking

• Making quality hay
• Curing lucerne hay
• Losses during haymaking
• Mowing lucerne
• Conditioning lucerne hay
• Raking
• Baling
• Handling lucerne hay
• Storing hay
• Processing lucerne hay
• Transporting hay

Lucerne hay products

• Lucerne chaff
• Compressed or split bales
• Cubes
• Garden mulch
• Pellets
• Silage
• Alternative products

Marketing lucerne hay

Economics of lucerne hay production

• Lucerne hay costs
• Lucerne hay returns
• Risk management
• Maximising profit
• Comparing the value of different lines of hay
• Gross Margin budget example