Hay drying ensures its conservation and the constitution of a food reserve for the herds in the stables. Spread over three days under normal weather conditions, field drying removes 70% of the water content of the fodder. It thus allows it to reach its optimum dry matter content. Hay is then pressed into haystacks like those stored in the hayloft of La Grange de la Haute Vallée in Albepierre-Bredons in the Cantal department.