Hay - possible shortage??

M

moneypit1

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 January 2007
Messages
2,246
Location
North Devon
Visit site
I am sure others have posted regarding this years hay (or lack of it). I am getting slightly nervous so have ordered in 10 x Large Bale haylage which I used last winter. It is lovely stuff and quite dry and is still good. (opened one last week as gee gees been in a lot). It lasts over 2 weeks when opened as it is 'dry' and not the wet stuff. Just want to have something to fall back on should hay be in short supply. Is it true that hay cut the year before is no good for horses? I know mine don't like it if it is too old.
 
You should use good old hay as new hay can cause problems.
When I was an equine student [ many moons ago] we were taught hay should be 6 months old but now days people tend to feed it much younger than that [maybe why there are so many problems with the horses digestion]
Having said that getting good old hay is very difficult and people are forced to feed new hay.
Think everyone is worried ,I have heard a lot is coming in from France but at what price? Think most ,if they have some are holding on to it because it is going to be sooooooooooooooo expensive.
 
we got our last round bale ofr haylage for 2 months

have been going through one a week
shocked.gif


hay bales are £6...where you can find them

and back home we have 20 acres waiting to be cut
frown.gif
 
I know what you mean about new hay. I was always told it had to be 6 mths old before use as well. What i meant was, I tried my horses on 'old' hay (cut 18 mths ago) and they were not too keen. Is it true that if a first cut hasn't happened yet when it is cut it will be 'seedy' and low quality?
 
Our haylage man is worried. He says there will deffinately be a shortage and it isnt helping as people are keeping horses in now due to the weather. He said if anything can be salvaged it will be risking soil contamination as the grass is flattened due to all the rain and will need to be cut lower (dont quote me on this, was blinded by science at the time!) He said horses should be out as much as possible to try and save hay for the winter.
 
I think that the 'hay shortage' is being over exagerated.

I realise that there is not much about at the moment, but the weather hasn't been good enough to take the normal early cut. If August isn't too bad, the farmers say they should be able to take a cut in the next few weeks. Granted, it will not be quite as good quality, but there shouldn't be a massive shortage.

In any case, haylage shouldn't be a problem as it is bales within a couple of days of being cut.

I think that some of the hay dealers may be playing the 'hay shortage' up to get the best prices in the current market, so be careful!
 
In our area hay suppliers and those who supply them can't get hay for love nor money. So many people ringing up desperately wanting hay and none at all to give them- for any price. The time for the best cut has gone now, lets hope theres a few weeks of good weather soon or I'm guessing a tenner a bale by next Jan!
 
OMG Carthorse, the subject of people feeding haylage instead of hay is like my mini soapbox rant, I won't go through it again but yeah what you said is so right!
I doubt there will be that much of a hay shortage after all they cry wolf every year and every year we take the bait. The early spring cut that my supplier has just delivered to me is absolutely gorgeous, and he has as much as ever already.
Round here a big square bale costs £25 (last me two weeks for 2 big horses on no grass) and small bale £3-£4.50.
ETS
blush.gif
sorry didnt read it right but you are still right!
grin.gif
 
I was quoted £48 for a large bale yesterday! No use to me as have nowhere to store it but think he was trying to make a killing. There is very little old hay round here now. All the usual suppliers have sold out. I have some in but have had to have horses in the odd night when field waterlogged so hope it will last. Still hoping to have our field cut but it is very flat. The other problem is we will be last on the contractors list if the weather does dry out, and he will probably want to start combining as well so can see a very stressful period coming up!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top