Hay not yet cut; Essex/East Herts area

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CBAnglo

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I ordered 20 large bales of hay about 3 weeks ago and ever since then we have had on off rain so the fields have not been cut; I think it is so late to cut now (have zero nutritional value? Gone to seed?) so should I cancel order?

I have two fat ponies that have to be rationed hay over winter (soaked for 12 hrs) and my TB I like to have ad lib hay as he has a history of ulcers so I am not toooo worried if there is no nutritional value (they are all fed a gen supplement anyway) but they do not like coarse stalky hay and prefer nice thin soft meadow hay.

What to do? Must call farmer this morning ... It's just that 20 large bales is a lot to get through if they do not like the hay(and also won't have money/space for other hay).

Thanks in advance!
 
it is not too late to cut hay, hay at work was cut 3rd week in august last year and where I keep my mare I had people asking me if they could buy some all over the winter last year as it was such good hay-I did swop with a few people when their horses were sick over the winter as every horse that tried it ate it.
Ours is always cut in August at work and has not been cut yet this year-depending on weather it will be done next week. An advantage would be taking a trip out to see you hay standing as you will be able to spot any ragwort if there is any as most of it is in flower
 
Thanks; I previously have also had it 3rd week of August but it was second cut and this is first. Was a different field (but same grass seeded).

Are you in the same area hence have had the same weather conditions?
 
CBAnglo said:
Thanks; I previously have also had it 3rd week of August but it was second cut and this is first. Was a different field (but same grass seeded).

Are you in the same area hence have had the same weather conditions?
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only just seen this, cant be far from you I am near chelmsford. ours at work has still not been cut and I would be happier if it was in the barn now as I go away next monday and will have to rely on others to sort it out if it is done whilst i am gone
 
I am still not sure what it is going to be like; it is just so wet now I don't know when it will be cut and baled at this rate. Going to speak to farmer this weekend and see if he has anything else that he can deliver to me now; I do trust him have bought from him for years and he doesn't sell bad hay it's just that I want the hay from those particular fields!

I feel as though autumn had just come too early!
 
Ok; so the hay has still not been cut!

I have not seen the field but the hay has got to be pretty rubbish at this stage right? We just have had enough dry days in a row to cut and turn it properly. Should I even bother with this hay (it will be cut; think there is going to be about 40ish large bales off this field) or just tell farmer no and see what else he has (he doesn't have anything left from my other "preferred" fields).

Aggghhh can't believe how unlucky I am this year! Normally do not have a problem!
 
It depends on what sort of grass it is. Can you not take a look? There should be lots of good hay to buy around this year. Our fields are old meadows and we've cut in late September on a couple of occasions and ended up with really good hay. Trouble is the later you leave it, the shorter the days get so it takes longer to dry.
 
Thanks; it is old meadow fields and in the past I have had hay from there in the last week of August (around this time) but I am worried as every field I drive past now already seems to have been harrowed!

I will go and take a look this weekend; farmer had been hoping to cut it this week but we are going to have rain again tonight - gah.
 
Ours was cut weeks ago we are in St Albans, I would worry that once its cut it just wont be dry enough for it to dry out its on and off rain here and its much cooler so its not ideal weather for cutting hay compared to alll those warm sunny weeks we had last month.
 
Look at it when its been made and try some , reject if damp,dusty , musty . But if clean ,even if lacking colour ,and horse is happy to eat it ,then OK.A good dooer is better off for late cut hay ,but musty hay must never be fed to horses ,at any time.
 
Mike007 said:
Look at it when its been made and try some , reject if damp,dusty , musty . But if clean ,even if lacking colour ,and horse is happy to eat it ,then OK.A good dooer is better off for late cut hay ,but musty hay must never be fed to horses ,at any time.
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Echo the above.... I'm feeding last year's hay now (have an EMS/very good doer so this is perfect for me :). I'm lucky enough that my OH makes it so I know 100% it's good stuff and baled when totally dry...and ready to feed there and then if I wanted to!
 
Thanks; I don't think it has been cut yet (farmer said he would call as soon as it was done so I could have look) and it is raining tomorrow and has rained ever sayyid week. The weather is supposed to be better over the next couple of weeks but I have never had hay cut in September so I doubt if will be any good. I am just going to get other hay; i feel very nervous when the hay isn't sorted by September.
 
Not unusual for us to get hay cut and baled in September up here, I get Scots Timothy, nutritional analysis never showed any issues and usually really consistent quality and stores well. Get more problems when delivered from the mainland to the island - if it's raining when our delivery is due makes your heart sink. Best judge is whether the animals will eat it or not they have been know to turn their noses up at some hay that 'by the book' is perfect so what do I know!
 
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