Table of Contents
How long does hay need to sit before feeding?
So how soon can you feed new hay? If the hay is cut and bailed in perfect conditions with less than 12\% moisture in the bale, it should be safe to feed straight away. But due to how hard this is to get accurate; it is recommended to wait 2-8 weeks before feeding.
Can you feed freshly baled hay?
Any hay that has been properly cured and dried before being baled should be stable and can be fed as soon as needed. There are no nutritional advantages to storing hay for weeks or months prior to use.
How long does baled hay take to cure?
It basically takes about three days of good weather to cure hay. This can be a challenge in late May or early June. A good strategy is to mow just before or right after a rain, because of the likelihood of good weather for the next few days.
Is it OK to feed year old hay?
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 hay moisture increase after baling?
Yes it’s normal for baled hay moisture \% to rise in the 1st few days after baling.
When should I feed my horse hay?
Feed Hay to Horses Often Horses need to graze on small amounts of forage almost constantly. Hay, which provides fiber, nutrients and vitamins in a relatively low-calorie dose, can be fed in this manner all year round, allowing even horses with zero turnout time a chance to eat like their ancestors.
How long after baling does hay heat up?
six weeks
Hay fires usually occur within six weeks of baling. Heating occurs in all hay above 15 percent moisture, and it generally peaks at 125 to 130 F in three to seven days with minimal risk of combustion or forage quality losses.
Can you feed last years hay to horses?
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.
Does hay lose nutrients over time?
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.
How long should fresh baled hay cure before feeding?
Fresh-Baled Hay for Horses. The notion of a “curing” phase is not a new one, and Crandell pinpoints its origin easily. “Some traditional horsemen believe that fresh-baled hay should ‘sweat’ for two to four weeks before feeding. This allows the hay to cure, which might be important if the hay too wet when it was baled.
When to feed new Hay after harvesting?
In some cases we need to feed new and uncured hay before the four or six weeks after harvesting, when the biological process is unfinished, because we have nothing else to feed, or the supply of the old hay will not last till the new hay is ready to feed.
How long should you wait between baling and wrapping silage bales?
In terms of dry matter intake and digestibility, both increased with a delay of 24 hours between baling and wrapping, but then both decreased with longer than a 24-hour delay between baling and wrapping. Therefore in terms of the feed value of the silage bales, 24 hours or less is the sweet spot.
Can you feed hay straight from the field?
You can feed hay straight from the field if needs be. Providing the hay has been cut, dried and baled correctly then it is fine to feed. Do be aware though that the nutritional value will be far greater so you need to introduce gradually along with your old hay.