Is hay unhealthy?

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Peter7917

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Just a thought. Hay makes me feel rough with all the dust. It makes many horses feel the same. Do you think its unhealthy even for those not affected and that haylage is a healthier choice?
 
Hay is dried grass. It’s what horses are designed to live on. Providing reasonable quality it’s about the most healthy thing you can feed a horse!
 
The problem is when the hay is not good. Horses and humans can be adversely affected by the dust. There is a serious condition called Farmer's Lung when spores from mouldy hay get on the lungs - but I doubt if anyone would feed hay like that now, with the advent of haylage.
 
I had to move to decent haylage as the hay round my area of the country is terrible and eventually it gave both me and my hubby asthma. The haylage I use now is grown in Devon and costs a small fortune but the difference it has made to the horses and us humans is priceless.
 
If it is dusty enough to make you feel ill, look around for less dusty hay or feed haylage. No point in making yourself ill.
 
Horses evolved to eat grass - not dried grass mechanically cut, baled and stored sometimes not under very good conditions. That said the general principle is right that grass is the most natural thing you can feed a horse. But it isn't always healthy - you wouldn't feed grass clippings!

If the hay is excessively dusty or mouldy, or has a lot of inclusions, then it isn't going to do you or any horse any good. Like humans some are more sensitive to airbourne pollutants than others. But it isn't going to be great! Always feed the best quality hay you can afford and never be afraid to return or dispose of bales which are not up to standard. Feeding haulage is no automatic gaurentee of better quality forage
 
Peter7917 said:
Just a thought. Hay makes me feel rough with all the dust. It makes many horses feel the same. Do you think its unhealthy even for those not affected and that haylage is a healthier choice?
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I don't feed haylage. I have had botulism and also moving a horses onto haylage from a very well know manufacturer didn't help their digestion so I stopped.
I don't find hay unhealthy for me as I can use a mask. I have fed it for 45 years, always soaked never dry, and have had no horse problems. Or at least I have had many from 1yo to when they died at 25 yr plus and none had lung problems.

Unsoaked is a completely different matter and yes I would say it is unhealthy.

If it makes you feel rough a mask is only around a fiver.
 
I would second a mask. For years I had sensitive skin and sinus issues and only connected it to hay if I had been near obviously dusty bales eg clearing out the back of the hay barn. More recently I realised that its all the hay which makes me react, so I have started using a mask plus eye protection (looks really attractive :) ) when I make up the haynets, and I have been feeling so much better. The hay I buy is considered very high quality in our area so I don't think its excessively dusty or anything, its just all the particles which get agitated when you pull the bale apart. So in answer to your question, yes I do think it can be unhealthy and its worth buying only the good quality stuff, wearing a mask and soaking it or just washing it down before feeding makes a big difference.
 
Hay as others have said is the next most natural thing to grass so as I understand it, is by far the best and most natural thing to give to horses. It has to be very good quality of course, and if I’m honest, I try to avoid feeding dry hay as I don’t think it’s good for their lungs. Everything else horses are fed is what’s unnatural! Their digestive system is designed to eat grass, as far as I know?
 
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I make my own late cut haylage which is made drier than the haylage you would normally buy. I find it far better than hay but it's not a cheap option, however my old tb who had v mild COPD on hay was fine on haylage. It also keeps well once open, even in quite hot weather.
 
I personally prefer haylage to work with and find the horses prefer it. However, my own mare cannot tolerate haylage and has watery droppings on it so she has hay, as does another horse prone to weight gain. I tend to buy the wrapped hay in small bales (easy pack hay). This tends to be less dusty, but it's more expensive.
 
Personally I'd prefer haylage but we have two little ponies, and horses who live on fresh air. We also make hay here on the farm. I always soak, no matter how good it seems.
 
Good hay is like gold dust round here. YO seems to manage to get a small stash for summer but in winter it is haylage all the way. Most bales seem to be nice and dry though and my good doer is losing weight with only a bit of portion control. I think I would prefer to feed soaked hay on balance but just no choice here.
 
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