In the Vologda Oblast, fodder is harvested in a short time and in difficult weather conditions, so it is challenging to get high-quality hay. The article considers new promising methods of producing high-quality baled hay on the basis of vacuum-pulse drying, which allows solving the problem of low-quality fodder and increasing dairy productivity in cattle breeding. The mentioned method makes it possible to effectively use the technical means by improving the processes of post-harvest processing with subsequent completion of drying of baled hay at the level of necessary requirements. The use of vacuum units with the introduction of new technological methods of drying provides a reduction in energy costs. The novelty of the technology lies in the development of hay drying device based on vacuum-pulse method of moisture removal, which provides high quality, hay safety and saves energy resources. The main difference between this method and similar developments is the uniform drying of baled hay throughout the volume of the bale. The practical significance lies in the development of promising technologies and technical means of drying to increase the production of high-quality fodder from herbs. The quality of hay in vacuum-pulse drying is higher than in active ventilating, and the unit operating time is halved, which reduces energy costs by 1.5–2 times
Keywords
efficiency, quality, drying, vacuum, Drying, baled hay, heat-transfer agent