hay rained on then baled is it safe to feed

[Violett]

Hi, struggling to find lower sugar hay for my natives who i cannot feed haylage to etc.

A farmer has offered me some bales but he is being honest and saying it got rained on for 3 days before he got to bale it. I have looked at it and cut open a bale it doesnt really smell of anything much not a nice smell but not a mouldy smell either. when shaken out it doesnt leave a dust and i would soak and rinse before feeding BUT IS IT SAFE as i dont want to risk coughing ponies???????? anyone have any thoughts please

 

[RunRunReindeer]

I would say fine as long as no mould/dust/slimy dark wet bits etc - shake out before feeding. May be of lower nutritional value, but this may suit your natives.

 

[Violett]

ok thanks - may give it a go and see how they react with it

 

[Mike007]

3 days of rain , I have made and sold hundreds of tonnes of stuff like that. Most hay gets a bit of rain . As long as it is dry when baled it is no problem.Sounds like your farmer is a bit of a perfectionist and is overly critical of his hay. We all want to make perfect hay ,but it isnt always possible.

 

[Horseyscot]

Agree with Mike, farmer being 'over' honest. Hay will be fine, as Mike has said as long as dry when baled it will be good. And if it wasn't dry you wouldn't be describing it as it is. We are farmers too, OH makes the hay for mine, last year we got it in without it being rained on, but often it does get a shower or more. Don't worry, it will have no ill effect on you horses.

 

[scallywags]

All our hay got rained on last yr before bailing, but as long as it dried and isnt mouldy it'll be fine.
Can you get barley straw? as thats what I feed my sec a on, in winter he gets adlib straw, and a slice of hay twice a day. If his weight gets low, I just add more hay. In summer when he gets a little grass in his paddock, he gets only adlib straw.
It keeps his weight down really well, and can eat all day!

 

[JingleTingle]

So long as it was actually dry again before it was baled it will be fine. Years ago we used to say really good hay has to have a sprinkle of rain before its baled. Probably and old wives tale to stop ourselves worrying about cut hay getting rained on rolleyes- but it surely does no harm if it is allowed enough time to dry again?