Is year old hay good?

Check the smell and look for obvious signs of mold. 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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on cowgirlmagazine.com


Is year old hay still good?

Consider these points: 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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ker.com


How long can you keep hay?

Hay stored undercover can maintain its quality for more than 12 months, but hay stored outdoors without cover will show significant reductions in quality, dry matter and nutrients over time. Hay can typically be stored outdoors and uncovered for up to three months, with a maximum of six months.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mla.com.au


How long does hay keep fresh?

If stored correctly, hay will stay good for about 12 months after harvest before losing any of its fresh taste or smell.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on help.smallpetselect.com


Will cows eat year old hay?

According to the hay calculator, the year-old hay has 36 percent waste in the form of weathered, low quality hay that will not be eaten by the cows. This gives last year's hay an adjusted value of $70.31 per bale when compared to this year's hay.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on noble.org


Is 2-year-old hay stored outside any good for livestock?



Will old hay hurt cows?

Risks of Feeding Moldy Hay

Consuming moldy hay can lead to respiratory and digestive problems such as heaves and colic. Cattle and other ruminants aren't as sensitive to moldy hay. However, moldy hay can still cause issues such as aspergillosis and mycotic abortions in cattle.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on vetpoultry.com


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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on poulingrain.com


How old should hay be for horses?

In perfect conditions — where the hay has been baled at less than 12% moisture and is very dry — it is safe to feed straight away, but this isn't often the case, Tim explains: “The main reason for allowing a period of anywhere between two and eight weeks before feeding freshly made hay is to allow for a process called ...
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on horseandhound.co.uk


What can you use old hay for?

Spoiled hay has the added benefit of breaking down slowly over the summer and adding organic matter to the soil. It can also be used for winter mulch to cover tender plants and protect them from the effects of cold winds or freezing temperatures.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on homeguides.sfgate.com


How long is timothy hay fresh?

If stored properly in a cool dark place with good ventilation, the Timothy Hay Food may keep for 6 months or longer.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on chewy.com


Can old hay make horses sick?

Moldy hay can kill a horse. It's a cause of colic that can be fatal, and some types of mold are toxic to horses. And inhaled mold spores enter horses' respiratory systems when they eat, causing heaves or other chronic respiratory diseases.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on horseracingsense.com


Does old hay have any nutritional value?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on conwayfeed.com


How can you tell how old hay is?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on equinehelper.com


How do you know if hay is good quality?

Look for the following characteristics: 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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on extension.unh.edu


How long is hay good for cows?

Silage is the answer to this problem as it can be stored at 30 percent moisture content. The length of time you can store silage is much longer than other feed stuff for cattle. Properly stored silage can be kept for around 4 or 5 years.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on iamcountryside.com


How long should hay be left before feeding to horses?

“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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ker.com


How long does hay take to break down?

Some growers will leave the hay out for one full year to be fully saturated and partially decomposed. This will help germinate or eliminate some or all of the weed seed.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on notillgrowers.com


Can I use old hay for bedding?

Using hay as bedding is an option, not an ideal option, just an option. If your normal bedding material is not available or you just mess up and forget to keep enough of the normal stuff on hand, old hay can substitute.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on familyfarmlivestock.com


What can I do with old moldy hay?

If your moldy hay is still wrapped in its wire or plastic netting, consider using this bale as a planter. It would be best to use transplants and that your hay bale is composting. Place your moldy bale where you'd like and remove hay from the spots where you'll be planting your transplants.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on steemit.com


Is fresh cut hay bad for horses?

First cutting hay is generally high in nutritional value if harvested at the proper time and does not contain excessive amounts of weeds. Putting the hay up at the proper time without getting rained on after cutting is more of a concern.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on myhorseuniversity.com


Can you feed horses same year hay?

For most horses there will be no side effects from eating freshly bailed hay. But they may have excess energy from what is probably the first and more nutritional hay of the year and this could also cause runny poo.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on equipepper.com


What's the best hay for horses?

Best Hay Types for Horses
  • 1.) Alfalfa. Alfalfa hay is high-protein legume hay from the 'pea' family. ...
  • 2.) Clover. Clover hay is the other legume hay suitable for horses but not as popular with horse owners. ...
  • 3.) Timothy Grass. ...
  • 4.) Orchardgrass. ...
  • 5.) Fescue. ...
  • 6.) Reed Canary Grass. ...
  • 7.) Bluegrass. ...
  • 8.) Bromegrass.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on deephollowranch.com


How do you keep hay fresh?

Storing hay

Your hay does best in the dark, where sun can't damage it. It also does best in dry places, with lots of ventilation. That means basements are not a good place to store hay – they are dark, but typically the air flow is next to nothing. And dampness is usually a problem down there in the cellar.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on smallpetselect.com


How do you store hay without a barn?

Without a barn, you can adapt a large storage shed or cargo container. If you have to store hay outdoors, protect stacked hay with secured tarps or a plastic covering. Raise hay off bare ground using wood pallets or tires, or by building a pad of rocks or gravel.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on stablemanagement.com


Can hay be too dry for horses?

Hay that is baled with too much moisture will heat up, become moldy and/or dusty, and has a foul smell. However, if hay is baled too dry, it can get very brittle and dusty. Hay at the peak of maturity is ideal hay for horses. As hay becomes overly mature, it loses nutritional value.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on jdrussellhay.com
Previous question
Can you wear jade everyday?
Next question
Do bonnets flatten hair?