{"id":825,"date":"2026-05-15T06:09:46","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T06:09:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/?p=825"},"modified":"2026-05-15T06:10:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T06:10:19","slug":"hay-rake-types-v-rake-bar-rake-and-horizontal-rake-compared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/hi\/hay-rake-types-v-rake-bar-rake-and-horizontal-rake-compared\/","title":{"rendered":"Hay Rake Types: V-Rake, Bar Rake, and Horizontal Rake Compared"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Hay Equipment Selection Guide<\/span><\/p>\n

Hay Rake Types: V-Rake, Bar Rake, and Horizontal Rake Compared<\/h1>\n

The rake is the most underappreciated piece of hay equipment on the farm, yet it determines windrow consistency, leaf loss, and the dry-down conditions that control both quality and fire risk at baling. V-rakes, bar rakes, and horizontal finger-wheel rakes each form windrows through a different physical mechanism \u2014 and each design has a specific set of conditions where it outperforms the others. This guide gives you the comparison you need to match rake type to your operation.<\/p>\n

Compare Rake Types<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Why Rake Selection Has a Bigger Impact Than Most Producers Realize<\/h2>\n

Every rake pass is a leaf-loss event. The proportion of total plant dry matter that consists of leaves varies by crop \u2014 alfalfa leaves account for roughly 45% of total plant dry matter but contain 70% of the total protein and 90% of the digestible energy. A rake pass that dislodges even a modest percentage of leaves from dry alfalfa reduces quality dramatically out of proportion to the weight lost. The rake type, operating height, and timing together determine how much of that leaf fraction survives to the bale.<\/p>\n

Beyond leaf loss, the rake determines windrow architecture \u2014 width, density, height, and uniformity. A windrow that is too wide dries unevenly. A windrow that is too narrow produces slow baler throughput. A windrow that incorporates soil from tine-to-ground contact elevates ash content. These outcomes are driven by rake type and adjustment, not by the hay crop’s inherent properties. Getting the rake right is as important as getting the mower height right.<\/p>\n

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70%<\/div>\n
Share of total alfalfa protein contained in leaves \u2014 the fraction most vulnerable to rake-induced loss<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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3\u20138%<\/div>\n
Dry matter loss range from raking dry alfalfa \u2014 varies by rake type, crop moisture, and ground speed<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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16\u201322%<\/div>\n
Optimal crop moisture for raking \u2014 minimizes leaf shatter while allowing adequate further drying before baling<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The Three Main Rake Types: Mechanisms, Strengths, and Limitations<\/h2>\n

\"finger<\/p>\n

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V-Rake (Finger-Wheel Rake)<\/div>\n
Most popular worldwide<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Mechanism:<\/strong> A series of ground-driven finger wheels arranged in a V-shape behind the tractor. Each wheel consists of a set of spring-steel tines mounted radially on a hub; the wheel rotates as the tractor moves forward because the tines contact the ground, spinning the wheel which sweeps hay laterally and inward toward the V’s center point where the windrow forms. No PTO power is required \u2014 the wheels are ground-driven only.<\/p>\n

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Strengths<\/div>\n