How can you tell if hay is moldy?

Cut open a bale of hay and separate the flakes. Look for the presence of mold in any of the flakes. Moldy hay generally presents as darker areas which are grey or black. If you find mold, refuse the bale – mold indicates that the hay was baled when it was too wet.

How do you get mold out 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.

Can you test hay for mold?

Can I test my hay for mold? Response: Most forage testing laboratories can test hay (and other feed stuffs) for different types and amounts of molds. The costs average $40 and takes about one week to complete. The sample is collected and submitted similar to a hay analysis for nutrient value.

Can horses eat slightly moldy hay?

Don't feed moldy hay to horses. Most moldy hay problems are from mold spores, which can produce respiratory disease in horses. Many of the common mold toxins develop in the field during a delayed harvest. If you suspect a mold toxin problem, review your horse's nutrition and health.

What does spoiled hay look like?

The best way to know if your hay is going bad is to learn how to identify high-quality horse hay! 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.

Identifying Moldy Horse Hay - General Horsey Information - Horsey Tips

What happens if you feed moldy hay?

Here are the risks of feeding moldy hay to livestock:

Horses are impacted the most by moldy hay and can lead to respiratory and digestive problems like colic or heaves. 2. Cattle aren't as sensitive to moldy hay, but certain molds can result in mycotic abortions or aspergillosis.

What color is moldy hay?

Grey or black hay is an indication of mold and should be avoided at all costs. Take a bale apart to check the inside; black sections of mold inside the hay indicate bad baling or storing procedures.

Does soaking hay remove mold?

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.

What are the symptoms of a horse eating moldy hay?

Can horses get botulism from hay?

Figure 1: Horses eating from round-baled hay are more susceptible to developing botulism, especially if the hay was not baled appropriately or if a dead animal was baled together with the hay. Botulism is a deadly disease caused by the toxins produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

What is the fastest way to test for mold?

A quick test for mold can be done when you dip a swab in diluted bleach (1 part bleach, 16 parts water) and dab it on the wall. If the spot quickly lightens (or keeps coming back after cleaning), assume it's mold.

Can cows eat slightly moldy hay?

While mycotoxins (mold poisons) are the main concern, molds themselves can adversely affect health and productivity of cattle. Ingestion of moldy feed or hay can potentially cause mycotic (fungal) abortion, respiratory effects, decreased feed consumption and rate of gain, and digestive problems.

Can you get sick from moldy hay?

What is Farmer's Lung? Farmer's Lung is an allergic disease usually caused by breathing in the dust from moldy hay. However, dust from any moldy crop - straw, corn, silage, grain, or even tobacco - can also cause Farmer's Lung.

At what temperature does hay start to mold?

“Hay bale temperatures of 120°F to 130°F will likely result in mold growth and will make the protein in the hay less available to animals,” Hartschuh says. While these temperatures will not cause fires, continued mold growth can raise temperatures to dangerous levels.

How much moldy hay can a horse eat?

If hay is moldy, the recommendation is to not feed it to horses at all. If symptoms of mycotoxin poisoning are observed (which can occur from mold not visible), check with a nutritionist to make sure the ration is properly balanced and with a veterinarian to eliminate other disease/health problems.

What causes hay to mold?

With wet weather and high humidity, normal drying in storage may not occur and hay can retain elevated levels of moisture allowing mold growth. Mold will grow on hay without preservative at moisture levels above 14% to 15%.

Is moldy hay toxic?

High moisture hay can also lead to the proliferation of bacteria, molds and fungus that can produce mycotoxins that are dangerous to horses and other livestock species. Some forage laboratories will test for the presence of mold and mycotoxins. If hay is moldy, do not feed it.

Can botulism grow in hay?

Hay, and especially haylage, can be contaminated with the botulism bacterium during the raking and baling process. The higher moisture levels (in comparison to dry hay), the anaerobic conditions and a pH above 4.5 in some haylage are ideal conditions for the growth of this bacterium.

Can cows eat wet moldy hay?

“Hay can be unfit for livestock due to excessive moisture while baling or exposure to the elements, such as excessive rain or flooding. Molds present in the feed may contain mycotoxins, which can cause significant health issues,” Hiney said.

How do you store hay so it doesn't get moldy?

Use Plastic Hay Crates

You can stack the crates to keep them organized and to prevent your hay from getting wet. If you decide to use these crates, you should continue to cover the hay with a plastic covering or canvas tarp to have the added protection against moisture and mold.

Is hay ruined if it gets wet?

If rained-on hay is not again dried fully, mold and mycotoxin growth can occur which can put livestock health at risk. Furthermore, baled wet hay can combust due to the temperature increase caused by microbial growth - putting a producer at risk of barn fire.

How can you tell if hay is good?

Maturity - High quality hay will have a high proportion of leaves in the bale, with few or no coarse stems or seed heads. Condition - High quality hay will contain little dust or mold. Color & odor - High quality hay generally has a bright green color and a sweet, fresh odor.

What does low quality hay look like?

Poor-quality hay may be damp and moldy with a musty or fermented smell. Hay that appears weathered, straw-like, or brown is likely low in nutritional value. If hay has been cut late in maturity, seed heads will be apparent in grass hay and blooms will be evident in alfalfa hay.

What should good hay look like?

Good quality hay should be bright green in color with little fading. A bleached, yellow, brown or black color may indicate aged hay, mold or poor storage conditions. Storage condition and age have a significant effect on vitamin content of hays.

Do cows like moldy hay?

Feeding moldy hay to livestock is a tough decision. Although all hay contains some mold, when mold becomes noticeable the decisions become important. Usually, mold makes hay less palatable, which can result in lower intake or in animals refusing to eat the hay.