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How long does a hay bale stay good for?
Without a net, a bale lasts approximately 5-6 days and half of it is wasted. Once the hay hits the ground, it gets urinated and defecated on or they use it as a bed and refuse to eat it.
Is 3 year old hay still good?
If the hay was of good-quality when harvested and stored in a dry place with sufficient airflow, hay is likely suitable for consumption for two to three years. Keep in mind that hay, even premium forage, loses much of its vitamin content in the first few months of storage.
How many bales of hay does one horse eat per month?
Q: How many bales of hay does a horse eat per month? A horse can eat anywhere from 15-25 pounds of hay a day, which generally equates to a half of a 45/50-pound square bale of hay per day (~15-30 bales per month).
Is hay still good if it gets rained on?
Rained-on hay often has relatively high protein values compared to fiber content unless there’s great leaf loss. Leaves contain a lot of the plant’s protein. As soluble carbohydrates leach, structural fibers make up a greater percent of forage dry matter. The digestibility of rained-on hay can decline 6 to 40 percent.
Does hay lose sugar over time?
One concern about storing hay for a long time is its nutritional value. The longer it stays in a barn, the more nutrition it loses. In fact, after just a few months, the losses will start, and within a year it could lose 5\% of its value. This includes protein, fiber, vitamins, sugars, and minerals.
How can you tell if hay is bad?
Signs that your horse hay may be bad include a lack of color or dried-out appearance, a moldy smell, excessive dust, visible mold, or excessive heat towards the center of the hay bale. Because hay provides your horse with so many essential nutrients, you must provide your horse with the best quality hay available.
Is last year’s hay still good?
Generally, hay that is two to three years old is still acceptable given the right storage conditions. So before you go tossing last year’s hay, give it a check over and feel confident feeding it if everything looks good.
Does old hay lose its nutritional value?
A: Hay begins to lose its nutritional value at the time of cutting and continues to lose nutrients both while drying in the field and while in storage. The nutrients most affected by harvesting and storing are vitamins. Conversely, the protein and mineral content of hay is quite stable.
Is year old hay OK for horses?
It might actually be completely fine to feed to your horse. You’ll have to thoroughly check it over, but it’s not as bad as you might think. Surprisingly, old hay can hold onto its value fairly well if stored correctly. It should have been kept dry and out of direct sunlight.
Why do horses put their hay in water?
By wetting his hay before he eats it, he reduces the forage’s scratchiness, making it more like grass again – the better to slide down a sore or inflamed throat. Soaking the hay also douses excess dust, which may bother a horse with heaves or other respiratory distress.
What is the average cost to keep a horse?
Responses to a horse-ownership survey from the University of Maine found that the average annual cost of horse ownership is $3,876 per horse, while the median cost is $2,419. That puts the average monthly expense anywhere from $200 to $325 – on par with a car payment.
How much does a bail of hay weigh?
The 36-inch-long bale of hay is bound by two strings and weighs about 45 pounds, while the 48-inch-long bale is bound by three strings and weighs about 60 pounds. Large round bales are produced in a variety of sizes, with the smallest bales 4 feet wide by 4 feet in diameter.
What is the standard size of a straw bale?
Bales come in different sizes and shapes and thus, contain different amounts of straw. A bale usually will cover somewhere from about 30 square feet to about 120 square feet at 2.5 to 3 inches deep.