{"id":745,"date":"2026-05-12T07:48:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T07:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/?p=745"},"modified":"2026-05-12T07:48:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T07:48:18","slug":"hay-rake-types-comparison-v-rake-bar-rake-horizontal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/zh\/hay-rake-types-comparison-v-rake-bar-rake-horizontal\/","title":{"rendered":"Hay Rake Types Compared: V-Rake vs Rotary Bar Rake vs Horizontal Rake \u2014 Windrow Quality, Leaf Loss, and Which Fits Your Operation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/div>\n
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Hay Rake Selection Guide<\/div>\n

Hay Rake Types Compared: V-Rake, Rotary Bar, and Horizontal Rake \u2014 Which Produces the Best Windrow for Your Operation<\/h1>\n

The rake that forms your windrow determines bale density, leaf retention, and drying uniformity more directly than any other equipment choice between the mower and the baler. Understanding how different hay rake types build a windrow is the foundation of consistent bale quality.<\/p>\n

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\n
V-Rake<\/div>\n
Peaked windrow<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Rotary Bar<\/div>\n
Flat windrow<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Horizontal<\/div>\n
Wide, flat windrow<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Match the Right Rake to Your System<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

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A common misconception among newer hay producers is that the baler shapes the bale. In practice, the rake shapes the windrow, and the windrow determines bale quality. A baler receiving a properly formed windrow \u2014 the right width, uniform density across its profile, elevated off the ground, and free of soil contamination \u2014 produces consistently dense, well-formed bales without operator adjustments. The same baler receiving a poorly formed windrow produces soft bales, uneven density, and leaf loss that accumulates across an entire season’s production. Choosing the right hay rake type for your operation is, therefore, one of the highest-leverage equipment decisions in the hay system.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Why Rake Type Determines Windrow Quality More Than Rake Width<\/h2>\n

Most producers focus on rake working width when selecting a hay rake \u2014 how many meters can it cover per pass? But working width is a throughput variable, not a quality variable. The quality of the windrow the rake produces is determined by the rake’s mechanical working principle: how it gathers the cut crop, lifts it from the ground, and deposits it into the windrow profile.<\/p>\n

There are three distinct rake types in common use across U.S. hay operations today, each producing a characteristic windrow profile: the V-rake (finger wheel \/ rotary wheel rake), the rotary bar rake (side delivery rake), and the horizontal bar rake. Each gathers crop through a different mechanical action, deposits it in a different windrow shape, and performs differently on specific crops and field conditions. Understanding these mechanical differences is the core of any hay rake types selection decision.<\/p>\n

\"V-rake<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

V-Rake (Finger Wheel \/ Rotary Wheel): How It Works<\/h2>\n

The V-rake, also called a finger wheel rake or rotary wheel rake, uses multiple rotating rake wheels arranged in a V-pattern behind the tractor. Each wheel carries a set of spring-steel tines that project from the wheel rim. As the tractor advances, the wheels rotate through contact with the ground and crop, gathering the cut material and rolling it toward the center point of the V formation. The two rows of wheels funnel the crop from the full working width down into a single central windrow.<\/p>\n

The finger wheel rake’s V-arrangement creates a windrow with a distinctive peaked cross-section: material is highest at the center and tapers toward the edges. This peaked profile has two important characteristics. First, the elevated center allows the baler’s pickup header to lift the windrow cleanly from the ground without the pickup dragging soil from the lower portions of a flat-lying swath. Second, the concentrated center mass provides good baler chamber fill on narrow raking passes \u2014 important for achieving bale density targets when field yields are moderate.<\/p>\n

The primary limitation of the V-rake design is leaf shatter on fragile legumes at higher operating speeds. Because the tines contact the crop with a sweeping, rolling action, alfalfa and clover leaves detach from stems more readily than with gentler raking systems. Operating at reduced speed (8 to 10 km\/h vs the 12 to 15 km\/h possible on grass) significantly reduces leaf loss on V-raked alfalfa, but some leaf shatter is inherent to the design when raking fully dry material.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Rotary Bar Rake (Side Delivery Rake): How It Works<\/h2>\n

The rotary bar rake, often called a side delivery rake, uses two to four horizontal rotating bars carrying tine sets. The bars rotate in a tilted, angled orientation relative to the ground, sweeping the cut crop sideways in a conveyor-like action and delivering it into a windrow at the machine’s side. This gentle rolling-and-sweeping action is the least aggressive of the three major rake types in terms of crop manipulation.<\/p>\n

The windrow produced by a rotary bar rake is relatively flat in cross-section \u2014 less peaked than a V-rake windrow, and wider in proportion to its height. This flat, spread profile is its primary advantage for crops where maximum solar exposure during the final drying hours is important. A flat windrow presents more surface area to sun and air than a peaked windrow at the same total crop volume, which can accelerate final drying to baling moisture in the critical last 4 to 6 hours before the crop is ready.<\/p>\n

The trade-off is that the flat windrow profile is less ideal for baler pickup on fields with uneven surface or low crop yield. A thin, flat-lying windrow on an uneven field can result in the baler’s pickup header contacting the soil before the windrow, pulling soil and rock fragments into the intake zone and contaminating the bale with dirt. For this reason, rotary bar rakes are most effective on flat, clean fields with good average yields.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Windrow Cross-Section Comparison: How Profile Shapes Affect Drying and Baler Pickup<\/h2>\n

The cross-sectional shape of the windrow has direct, measurable effects on drying time and bale density. The following diagram represents the three characteristic windrow profiles produced by each rake type and summarizes the performance implications of each:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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Windrow Cross-Section \u2014 Profile Comparison by Rake Type<\/div>\n
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<\/p>\n

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V-Rake \/ Finger Wheel<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
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\u2714 Elevated pickup<\/div>\n
\u2714 Good chamber fill<\/div>\n
\u26a0 Slower final dry (center dense)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Best for: grass hay, moderate-yield alfalfa, round baler operations<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

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Rotary Bar (Side Delivery)<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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\u2714 Max solar exposure<\/div>\n
\u2714 Gentle on leaves<\/div>\n
\u26a0 Flat profile \u2014 soil risk on rough ground<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Best for: delicate legumes, flat fields, final dry acceleration<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

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Horizontal Bar Rake<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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\u2714 Widest swath coverage<\/div>\n
\u2714 Even drying profile<\/div>\n
\u26a0 Wide baler pickup required<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Best for: high-yield operations, large balers, double-windrow merging<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Profiles are schematic representations of typical cross-sectional shapes. Actual windrow dimensions depend on yield, speed, and rake width setting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Horizontal Bar Rake: The Wide-Windrow Advantage at Scale<\/h2>\n
\"hay<\/div>\n

The horizontal bar rake operates on a fundamentally different principle from both the V-rake and the rotary bar rake. Rather than rotating the crop into a windrow through wheel or bar rotation, horizontal rakes use a series of parallel tine bars \u2014 arranged horizontally and driven from a central gearbox \u2014 that move the crop across the working width in a sweeping lateral action. The 9LH-12 horizontal hay rake<\/a> with its 12 m working width is the large-scale version of this design \u2014 it can gather the output of two to three mower conditioner passes into a single merged windrow in one rake pass.<\/p>\n

The 12 m working width at 10 to 14 km\/h produces extremely high daily capacity \u2014 at 12 km\/h, the 9LH-12 covers approximately 10 ha\/h, meaning a full-day raking pass can keep pace with two or three mower conditioners operating simultaneously. This is the primary use case for horizontal rakes on large commercial hay operations: they serve as a merging and windrow-formation step that concentrates multiple mower swaths into a single wide windrow optimized for a high-capacity baler pickup.<\/p>\n

\u8fd9 agricultural gearbox and PTO shaft components<\/a> driving a 12 m horizontal rake must handle the sustained torque load of sweeping a large crop volume across a wide tine array \u2014 this is a continuous-duty PTO application that requires correct driveline angle management to prevent vibration and premature wear at the universal joints.<\/p>\n

\"\u519c\u4e1a\u53d8\u901f\u7bb1\u548c\u52a8\u529b\u8f93\u51fa\u8f74\"<\/p>\n

Leaf Loss by Rake Type: Protecting Alfalfa Quality at the Rake<\/h2>\n
\"9LH-12<\/div>\n

Leaf loss at the raking stage is the primary quality concern for alfalfa producers. Alfalfa leaves constitute 45 to 60% of the total dry matter but contain 70 to 80% of the protein and energy. A 10% leaf loss at the rake translates to a roughly 7 to 8% reduction in crude protein in the baled sample \u2014 the difference between Premium and Grade 1 in many elevator grading systems.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Rake Type<\/th>\nTypical Leaf Loss on Alfalfa<\/th>\nLeaf Loss on Grass<\/th>\nKey Influence Factor<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
V-Rake (finger wheel) at 8 km\/h<\/td>\n3\u20137%<\/td>\n1\u20133%<\/td>\nOperating speed is the dominant variable \u2014 each 2 km\/h increase adds approximately 2% leaf loss<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
V-Rake at 14 km\/h (max speed)<\/td>\n8\u201315%<\/td>\n2\u20135%<\/td>\nHigh-speed V-raking on fully dry alfalfa is the most leaf-shattering raking scenario<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rotary bar rake<\/td>\n2\u20135%<\/td>\n1\u20132%<\/td>\nGentler sweeping action makes this the lowest leaf-loss option for premium alfalfa at comparable working speeds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Horizontal bar rake<\/td>\n3\u20136%<\/td>\n1\u20133%<\/td>\nLateral sweeping action is moderate \u2014 more aggressive than rotary bar on some crops, less than V-rake at equivalent speed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Leaf loss percentages are indicative ranges from university extension research. Actual values vary with crop moisture at raking (dryer crop = more shatter), tine height, and ground speed. Always rake alfalfa above 20% moisture when possible to reduce shatter.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Matching Rake Type to Mower Width and Baler Pickup<\/h2>\n

The relationship between mower width, rake type, and baler pickup width is a three-way matching problem. Getting this chain right prevents the most common cause of bale density problems: a windrow that is too narrow, too wide, or misaligned for the baler pickup.<\/p>\n

The starting point is the baler’s pickup width and chamber width. Most round balers produce a bale equal to their bale chamber width \u2014 typically 1.0 to 1.5 m. For maximum bale density, the windrow presented to the baler pickup should be slightly wider than the chamber width \u2014 10 to 15% wider \u2014 so the chamber fills completely from edge to edge.<\/p>\n

Working backward: if your baler has a 1.25 m chamber and you want the windrow to be 1.35 to 1.45 m wide, your rake must consistently produce a windrow in that width range from whatever mower swath width you are raking. A 3.2 m mower swath raked at standard settings with a V-rake produces approximately a 1.0 to 1.4 m windrow \u2014 a workable match for most round balers at typical alfalfa and grass yields.<\/p>\n

For high-yield operations or large-chamber balers (above 1.5 m), a single V-rake pass may not produce sufficient windrow density for good bale formation. In these cases, either double-raking (passing the V-rake twice to merge two swaths) or using a larger horizontal rake that concentrates wider mower output is the standard solution. The 9LZD-9.0 V-rake<\/a> with its 17-wheel configuration and extended working width handles double-raking or wide-swath operations efficiently on large-acreage programs.<\/p>\n

\"9LZD-9.0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u5e38\u89c1\u95ee\u9898\u89e3\u7b54<\/h2>\n
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\nIs a V-rake safe to use on alfalfa without causing significant leaf loss?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Yes, with the right timing and operating speed. The key variables are crop moisture and ground speed. V-raking alfalfa at 20 to 35% moisture \u2014 before the crop is fully brittle dry \u2014 dramatically reduces leaf shatter compared to raking at 15% or below. At 8 to 10 km\/h on alfalfa at 25% moisture, a properly set V-rake produces leaf loss of 3 to 5%, which is acceptable for most commercial hay markets. The mistake that produces high leaf loss is raking at full speed (12 to 15 km\/h) on fully dry alfalfa. Reduce speed by 30 to 40% on the last raking pass when the crop is at or near baling moisture.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n
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\nWhat happens when the rake windrow is too narrow for my baler?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
When the windrow is narrower than the baler chamber, the bale builds from the center outward and never fills the full chamber width. The result is a bale with a dense core and soft, low-density outer zones \u2014 the “soft bale” problem that most operators blame on the baler but which is actually a windrow formation problem. The bale will hold its shape initially but can bulge, distort, or deform under stack pressure in storage. Widening the windrow by adjusting the rake’s working angle or merging two narrower windrows corrects this problem more reliably than any baler adjustment.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n
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\nHow often should V-rake finger wheel tines be replaced?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Finger wheel tines (spring-steel tines) on a V-rake typically last 2 to 5 seasons depending on field conditions, operating hours, and soil abrasiveness. Signs that tine replacement is needed include: significant straightening of the naturally curved tine profile (tines that have been bent straight by ground contact or obstruction), cracking at the tine mounting point, or visible tip wear that reduces the effective sweep length. A rake operating with shortened or bent tines produces uneven windrow formation and leaves crop in rows on the field. Pre-season tine inspection \u2014 checking each wheel for bent, broken, or missing tines \u2014 takes 20 to 30 minutes and prevents in-season windrow quality problems.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n
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\nCan a single rake serve both tedding and windrow-forming functions?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Rakes and tedders are distinct equipment designed for different functions, and substituting one for the other degrades performance at both tasks. Tedders are designed to aerate and spread cut crop for drying \u2014 they intentionally scatter the swath widely and tumble the material. Rakes are designed to gather and concentrate dried crop into a windrow for baling. Using a rake set to maximum spread angle to simulate tedding produces poor aeration results, and using a tedder to form a windrow produces a loose, poorly defined windrow with mixed-in soil and uneven density. Operations that need both tedding and raking benefit from separate equipment, or from a mower conditioner that combines the cut and the conditioning step to reduce the need for active tedding.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n
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\nWhat is the right rake for a 500-acre grass hay operation?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
At 500 acres, working width and daily capacity are the primary selection factors. A horizontal rake at 9 to 12 m working width delivers the throughput to keep pace with multiple mower conditioners, which is the typical requirement at this scale. Alternatively, two V-rakes running in parallel provide redundancy \u2014 if one machine has a breakdown, the other can maintain partial capacity until the repair is completed. For pure grass hay (not alfalfa) where leaf shatter is a minimal concern, V-rakes at full operating speed are fully appropriate and typically lower-cost than wide horizontal rakes for the same capacity. Contact our team to discuss which combination of working width and machine count makes sense for your specific field layout and mower capacity.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n
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\nShould I rake in the morning or afternoon for minimum leaf loss?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
For minimum leaf loss on alfalfa, rake in the late morning or early afternoon \u2014 after the dew has fully burned off the crop (typically 9 to 11 AM depending on humidity) but before the crop has been exposed to full afternoon sun for several hours. Crop raked at 10 AM, when it has dried to 25 to 30% moisture after overnight dew reabsorption, shatters significantly less than the same crop raked at 3 PM at 15 to 18% moisture. This is why experienced alfalfa producers track crop moisture throughout the day and schedule final raking passes in the mid-morning window rather than working through the full day at maximum speed. The tradeoff is that earlier raking means the baler follows 4 to 6 hours later to allow full drying to baling moisture \u2014 plan the raking and baling schedule together for best results.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\"foragebaler.com<\/p>\n

Tell Us Your Acreage, Crop, and Mower Width \u2014 We Match the Right Rake Type and Working Width<\/h3>\n

Whether your operation calls for a V-rake that keeps pace with a single mower conditioner or a wide horizontal rake that merges multiple mower passes into one clean baler windrow, our U.S. team confirms the right model before anything ships. Direct factory pricing, California warehouse, no dealer markup.<\/p>\n

\u7f8e\u56fd\u6c38\u52a8\u529b\u9972\u6599\u6253\u5305\u673a\u8bbe\u5907\u6709\u9650\u516c\u53f8 | \u52a0\u5229\u798f\u5c3c\u4e9a\u5dde\u8428\u514b\u62c9\u95e8\u6258\u5e02\u7b2c21\u88571401\u53f7R\u5ba4\uff0c\u90ae\u7f16\uff1a95811<\/p>\n

Contact Our Team<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u7f16\u8f91\uff1aCxm<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hay Rake Selection Guide Hay Rake Types Compared: V-Rake, Rotary Bar, and Horizontal Rake \u2014 Which Produces the Best Windrow for Your Operation The rake that forms your windrow determines bale density, leaf retention, and drying uniformity more directly than any other equipment choice between the mower and the baler. Understanding how different hay rake […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-745","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-forage-baler"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=745"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/745\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":746,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/745\/revisions\/746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}