Nothing says “summer” to a horse person quite like freshly baled hay fields, but is hay picked up from the field safe to feed right away?
Hay that is cured properly prior to bailing is safe to feed directly off the field, said The Horse's Dr. Clair Thunes – but the caveat is cured properly. This means that the hay was given the correct amount of time to dry before it was baled. Hay should ideally be baled with 12 percent or less moisture.
Hay that is too damp when baled will continue to cure once it's baled, taking days to weeks to do so, depending on bale tightness, moisture level, and plant type. This ongoing curing once baling is why some people prefer to let the bales “sweat” for a while once it comes off the field, often waiting two to four weeks before feeding the bales.
Hay that cures in the bale produces heat, which causes fermentation – feeding fermenting hay to horses is a definite risk. Hay that is baled with more than 12 percent moisture may require time before it can be safely fed to horses. Hay should not be baled if moisture content is over 18 percent.
If a bale is opened and feels hot to the touch, it's unsafe to feed to horses. These bales may never be safe to feed, even after additional time, as too much moisture can result in mold. Too-wet hay can also combust, causing barn fires, so it's imperative that hot bales not be put up in the barn.
Producing good hay is difficult, as so many things can affect it, from the weather to the stage of the plant to the handling of the hay once it's on the ground. It's imperative that horse owners buy from an experienced, reputable farmer to get the best hay for their dollar.
Read more at The Horse.
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