What does steaming hay do?

Steaming increased the two-hour DMI of hay with lesser mold contents. Steaming likely softens the hay's texture and makes it more palatable. Mold generally decreases the intake of feed by livestock. While steaming decreased the viable mold, it didn't remove the mold from the forage.

Is steaming hay better than soaking?

However, steaming is beneficial for the hygienic quality of the hay and whereas soaking increases the bacterial presence in hay, steaming reduced bacteria numbers by 98%. So whilst steaming hay for horses deals with the respiratory challenges, it is still recommended to soak hay to remove WSC.

Why would you steam hay for horses?

It reduces allergens by 99% and the added moisture helps with hydration, digestion, and palatability too. My Dad (who, like my horse, has dealt with asthma) even did some research and was impressed by the nutritional and overall health benefits associated with Steamed Hay, even vs soaked/wet hay.

Does steaming hay make it more palatable?

Steaming hay produces more hydrated and easily digestible forage making the feed more palatable for the horse. Handling steamed hay will effectively reduce the risk of humans developing dust-related respiratory problems.

Does steaming hay soften it?

Soaking and steaming may help to soften its structure a bit too which may also improve its palatability. Wrapped forages should not be soaked or steamed. In summary, the benefits of soaking hay can be for the respiratory system or to reduce its sugar content.

Haygain 5 reasons to steam hay

Does steaming hay get rid of dust?

You can use steaming or soaking to reduce how much dust and mold your horse breathes in while eating affected hay.

How long should I steam hay for?

Steaming hay is so much quicker than waiting hours for hay to soak. Most steamers steam hay in around 30 mins. It's important to note that hay that has been pulled apart or shaken out will steam much more quickly.

Are hay steamers worth it?

Overall, I think if your horse has any dust related problems, investing in a hay steamer is a must, even if you need to make do with one of the cheaper options. If your horse is fine and happy with dry hay or just soaking the occasional dusty bale, I think if you can afford a Haygain, it is definitely worth having.

Does steaming hay reduce the sugar content?

Steaming and soaking hay both reduce the number of particulates that your horse can breathe in and can reduce the “sugar” levels in the hay.

Does steaming hay reduce potassium?

Potassium levels decreased by 41% in the 30-minute soaked hay. Soaked hay had a relative doubling of sodium whereas steamed and dry hay did not. Steamed hay did not experience these mineral changes, and in fact, had increased potassium and no change in sodium.

How long can you feed steamed hay?

If the hay cannot be fed straight out of the steamer, it can be fed up to 24 hours later. If it is decided to steam the hay up to 24 hours before feeding, it should be stored in a clean dry area off of the ground so that there is the least amount of contamination as possible.

Does soaking hay really work?

Many studies have shown soaking hay can reduce respirable particle concentration by at least 88%. Soaking can also reduce the amount of mold present. Nutrient content Some horse owners soak their hay to reduce the amount of sugars, or nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC), in the forage.

Are hay steamers expensive to run?

Our hay steamer has a 2.3kw heating element so costs around 30p an hour to run. Check your bill for rates in your area but steaming is cheaper than using gallons of water. The hay steamer is a smartly branded wheelie bin available in 3 sizes. It's easy to move around and the steam generator packs neatly away inside.

Can you soak hay for too long?

Don't soak the hay longer or you'll risk leaching beneficial nutrients. Soaking hay to remove sugars that can exacerbate metabolic conditions such as insulin resistance takes more time.

Do horses like soaked hay?

Although soaking hay longer further reduced NSC content, we don't recommend it. All horses need carbohydrates in their diet. High fiber and very low NSC content in hay soaked for greater than 1 hour could reduce palatability and nutrients available in hay soaked longer.

Does soaking hay reduce protein?

Highlights. Soaking may induce a reduction of the content of energy, crude protein, amino acids and minerals. Variable wash-out effects complicate proper feeding according to the requirements. Soaking might moreover reduce contents of prececal digestible crude protein and amino acids of the hay.

Is it OK to soak hay overnight?

The amount of time for soaking doesn't make much difference after 1-2 hours IF YOU USE ENOUGH WATER. In a study using 25 liters of water for one flake of hay, WSC, ESC loss maximized after 1 hour. (1) There is no reason for soaking hay overnight.

Can you make your own hay steamer?

There are companies that make hay steamers for purchase. But in case you're feeling crafty and want to save a few bucks, plenty of equestrians have learned to build and use homemade steamers. Here are a few tutorials on how to get started building your own hay steamer.

How long does a Haygain steamer take?

Steaming hay with Haygain is very easy and takes about an hour to complete. The steamer can be fitted with a timer to turn off at the right time. Steamed hay can be fed straight away or left in a Haygain Bale Bag or clean environment for 24 hours. This means you can steam in advance.

How much electricity does a wallpaper steamer use?

Wallpaper steamers have been more popular in countries, such as the UK or Europe, using 230 V domestic electricity. This provides around 3 kW of steam generating capacity from all sockets around the house.

Does soaking hay reduce calories?

For horses whose calorie intake needs controlling, it is suggested that soaking hay for as long as 12 hours will help leach out many of the calories, leaving just the fibre element.

Can you wash mold off of hay?

To eliminate mold commonly found in hay bales, West Chester, Pa., equine veterinarian Frank Reilly suggests “flash soaking” — tearing pieces of hay off of the bale, putting them in a hay net and then under a heavy rock in a bucket of water for 10 minutes. Studies have shown this reduces the organic dust count, he says.

What causes dust in hay?

Mold and bacteria will grow on hay (without preservative added) at moisture levels above 14% to 15%. The mold growth produces heat, carbon dioxide and water, which further damages the hay. Moldy hay can result in dry matter and nutrient loss and produce spores and dust.