[Public Voices] Overcoming Natural Challenges with Technology... Our Response to Market Liberalization

Opening of Forage Imports from the US and Australia Imminent
Domestic Moisture Imbalance Previously Forced Reliance on Expensive Imported Hay
Quality Improved Through Forced-Air Drying System

Im Gi-sun, Director of the National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration

Hay is dried grass with a moisture content of less than 20%, playing a crucial role in raising ruminant livestock such as Korean native cattle (Hanwoo) and dairy cows. Hay is preferred by livestock farmers because it is convenient for storage, distribution, and feeding. South Korea imports most of its hay from countries like the United States and Australia, with the volume reaching approximately 1 million tons as of 2022. The demand for hay has been steadily increasing recently due to the production of high-quality meat, growth in livestock numbers, and the activation of the Total Mixed Ration (TMR) feed industry. Due to high external dependence, issues related to hay supply and price increases caused by rising maritime freight and exchange rates, shipment delays, and abnormal weather in major producing countries continue to occur, exacerbating difficulties such as rising management costs for livestock farmers.

Furthermore, the import market for forage is scheduled to open starting with Canada in 2024, followed by the United States in 2026, and Australia in 2028. If the demand for imported forage, which will become more accessible after liberalization, increases rapidly, the domestic forage production base could be threatened. This is why it is necessary to quickly establish a domestic hay production base.

In South Korea, winter forage crops such as Italian ryegrass are mainly cultivated after rice harvesting in paddy fields. The harvest season for winter forage crops is usually from May to June, during which frequent spring rains delay drying. For this reason, more than 80% of domestic forage is produced in the form of silage (round bales) with a moisture content above 20%. Although silage has its advantages, it is difficult to meet the demand for hay.

To overcome these domestic hay production challenges, the National Institute of Animal Science developed a 'Forced-Air Dried Hay Production System' last year. This technology involves naturally drying forage in the field for more than two days until the moisture content drops to about 40-50%, then transporting it to a factory where it is dismantled, chopped, and dried using a forced-air dryer. The significance of using the forced-air dried hay production system lies in its ability to produce stable hay regardless of weather conditions in the domestic environment, where natural drying is difficult. An analysis of the production cost of forced-air dried hay estimates that drying Italian ryegrass into forced-air dried hay could be supplied at 46-54% lower cost compared to imported hay (Timothy).

The development of the forced-air dried hay production system has received great response in the field because it can reduce feed costs through stable hay supply, thereby alleviating difficulties faced by livestock farmers. Existing dairy farms or fiber mixed feed producers faced limitations in using domestic forage due to inconsistent moisture content. Until now, they had no choice but to use expensive imported hay, but if a stable domestic hay production and distribution base is established using the forced-air dried hay production system, high-quality domestic forage can be actively utilized.

In connection with the Rural Development Administration's new technology dissemination project, the forced-air dried hay production system will be installed in four regions?Iksan, Gyeongju, Yeongam, and Nonsan?starting this year, with full-scale production of forced-air dried hay planned from next year. Additionally, research on the feeding effects and utilization technologies of forced-air dried hay by livestock species is being accelerated to promote its distribution and use.

To prepare for the forage import liberalization scheduled from 2024, support will continue to expand the dissemination of the forced-air dried hay production system to forage production management bodies and distribution centers in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' 'Forage Production Base Expansion Project,' ensuring early establishment of the system in the field. If a hay production base is established domestically, it is expected to greatly help stabilize the management of livestock farmers who have been unstable due to supply and price fluctuations.

Lim Gi-sun, Director of the National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.