Feeding new crop hay

[nem01i1]

Can anyone give me some advice about when it's ok to feed new crop hay. I'm of the old school that says you shouldn't feed for about 4 months but my (reliable) hay supplier says it's ok after 6 weeks (so could feed it now). The old hay is now pretty dusty but I'm not sure if it's ok to move onto the new stuff yet.

Any informed views would be gratefully received! <font color="green"> </font>

 

[MizElz]

We've had exactly the same problem - we've run out of old, but the new was only cut four weeks ago

We've never, ever fed new hay before the end of September, however friends of ours feed theirs pretty much straight off the field!

We contemplated feeding the new stuff, but have decided against it, and have managed to track some last year's crop down, albeit at a price! I would say two to three months minimum - another very good friend of mine would say, 'Don't f*ckin' touch it till after Christmas!'

 

[piebaldsparkle]

It will be fine, just mix with old stuff to start with if possible. Also if you are feeding to laminitics it would be worth soaking.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

LOL MizElz that's a bit extreme!!!!

 

[kellyeaton]

i usually wait months but i am running out of of old so what i do is mix old with new soak well to strip the goodness out to try to enlimate the risk of lammi and colic!

 

[piebaldsparkle]

At six weeks old the risk of colic shouldn't be such a worry. When barn stored the temp will have stablized by then.

 

[MizElz]

Who's extreme, me or my friend?

I would always personally stick to the 2-3 month thing, but I agree that Christmas is pushing it a little! Thing is, I have known ponies colic very badly on four or five week old hay, so it is a chance I would never take. I agree that soaking is a good idea though

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Christmas!!!

I think also depends how it is stored as stuff stored under a tarp will take much longer to cure, than barn stored hay.

 

[dwi]

Daisy had to have it quite early this year because it was all my hay supplier had. I was a bit concerned but she's been fine although her haynets are always soaked for 12 hours before feeding anyway

 

[TirionWirion]

I have started feeding mine new stuff last week - we baled it on July 24th It was very dry and barn stored and beautiful - bit sooner than I wanted to start feeding it but we had run out of our own and I couldn't get any locally and I have had no problems. We have started having phone calls this weekend from our regular clients for this year's hay to feed now.