RDA Expands Production and Distribution of 'Yeolpung Hay'

Adding 5 Units to 4 Production System Trials
Total 11 Units Nationwide... 41% Cheaper Compared to Imported Products

The Rural Development Administration (RDA) plans to accelerate the production and distribution of hay by adding the 'Hot Air Hay Production System,' developed and distributed to replace unstable foreign hay supplies and stabilize the management of domestic livestock farms, to four more provinces this year.

On the 8th, the RDA announced that it plans to distribute a total of 11 units by adding 5 more hot air hay production systems this year.

Hay, with a moisture content of less than 20%, is a very important forage for ruminant livestock such as Korean native cattle (Hanwoo) and dairy cows. Due to the difficulty of drying hay in domestic production environments, 1 million tons are imported annually. However, supply is unstable and prices have sharply increased due to international circumstances, placing a heavy feed cost burden on livestock farmers.

In response, the RDA developed the hot air hay production system for stable domestic hay production for the first time in Korea in 2022. This system dries forage in the field to a moisture content of about 30-50%, then collects it and reduces the moisture content further to below 20% indoors using hot air.

The estimated distribution price of hay produced this way is 416 KRW per kilogram for Italian ryegrass, which is 41% cheaper compared to imported timothy hay at 706 KRW, and the RDA expects this to help stabilize the management of livestock farms.

Through on-farm demonstration research last year, the RDA continuously improved hot air drying efficiency, uniformity, and hay quality. Additionally, it developed a 'factory-type hot air hay production system' that increased hay production per hour from 0.4 tons to 1.3 tons and completed an operation manual.

Furthermore, six units of the hot air hay production system were distributed on-site through a new technology pilot project. To expand the use of domestically produced hot air hay, the effects of feeding hot air hay to different livestock species were clarified, and product quality was improved by supplementing packaging facilities to meet consumer demands.

This year, through the new technology pilot project, a total of five additional units will be installed in four provinces?Gyeongbuk, Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, and Chungnam?and based on the production infrastructure established nationwide, support will be provided to ensure stable distribution of domestically produced hot air hay in the field. The project will also be linked with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' policy projects to continuously support expanded distribution to forage production management entities and distribution centers.

Lee Sang-hoon, head of the Forage Division at the National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, said, "The hot air hay production system is a technology that can stably produce hay regardless of domestic production environments and seasons. If the domestic hay production base expands, stable hay supply and demand will be achieved, greatly helping stabilize the management of livestock farms that have been anxious about price fluctuations."

Schematic diagram of the hot air hay production system.

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