Bad hay

[Mary Bee]

Our hay got wet on 4 consecutive days. It's drying now and will be baled tomorrow. But what can we do with it? I don't think our ponies will like it... I believe all the nutrition will be leached out?? Will there be any nutrition left in it? Can I sell it on as bedding? I would be grateful for any ideas. Thanks.

 

[rabatsa]

Can you get it wrapped as haylage as that will not be as dusty.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Do you know anyone with donkeys? The hay we take of our fields is far too good and rich for the donks - they are more suited to coarse low grade hay - but it must be dry and not have mould. I have a deal with the guy who does our hay - he leaves me enough for the horses - takes the rest and brings me back dry coarse hay he has taken off rough land for my donkeys.

I reiterate though it still has to be well dried and no mould - that would be just as bad for the donkeys as it would for horses.

 

[Britestar]

When it got wet, had it been turned, or was it lying as cut?

If it was just lying, as long as its turned and well dried it should be OK. At this time of year, the nutritional value is lower anyway. Get it tested once its made and you may be suprised how good it is.
Lower than 10% is fine for your natives/ lami/ fat ponies.

 

[Polos Mum]

It probably depends on whether the weather is kind enough to let you get it really dry now and how dry it was before it was rained on.

I've personally not seen hay that was 2-3 days cut then rained on come good, rain in the first day of cutting (really unlucky) not so bad

If it's really awful how close are you to a power station for burning - might be worth more as fuel than really dusty mouldy hay

 

[silv]

If it is poor quality you but not horrendously mouldy you might be able to sell it as cattle hay.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Our hay got wet on 4 consecutive days. It's drying now and will be baled tomorrow. But what can we do with it? I don't think our ponies will like it... I believe all the nutrition will be leached out?? Will there be any nutrition left in it? Can I sell it on as bedding? I would be grateful for any ideas. Thanks.

our hay once got rained on, then turned and dry, then rained on and dried and rained on the third time. It went brown - but.............. the horses loved it, so I would not worry as long as it is dried properly. Yes nutrition wont be as good, but the proof is in the pudding, they may like it.

 

[rextherobber]

Keep it, if the horses won't eat it or you think it isn't good enough, you won't have a problem selling it for cattle feed. Where I am (SE), we have had a terrible harvest, the straw is being left on the fields, and some farmers have decided the crops simply aren't worth harvesting. If you can store it, you could buy in hay as insurance, will be cheaper off the field now, and you won't have a problem selling it in the winter, should you not need it after all.