Steam or soak?

[Racing_Gal]

Whats the difference between steamed and soaked hay? I guess steamed is allot drier? I need to soak Tazz' hay as she gets a really bad dust cough but she won't eat it when I've soaked it, I put a bucket of water next to her hay net and she dunks each bite she takes into the water before she eats it (I'm not even joking!!) Do you think Steaming it would work better?

 

[Ezme]

we had a horse who did that! Not just with hay either, he'd take a mouth full of concentrate/chaff and then dunk his face in his water bucket (old school high manger with water and food next to each other) was so funny cos he'd get a tide line round his face! Not so fun cleaning the cludge from the bucket tho....

For steaming or soaking i've always understood that steaming doesnt take out the neutriants as its quicker so if you have a porker i'd soak so it'll fill him up without piling on the pounds!

 

[LCobby]

Steaming is ideal for dealing with dust and spores.
A couple of kettles of boiling water poureed over a large net, in a bin, then lid back on for 10 mins.
Most of the water wil be absorbed, but the hay won't be as wilted and 'off colour' as soaked hay can be.

 

[mickey]

Depends what nutritional value you wish your horse to get.

Soaked hay provides less nutrients (there are prob exact figures somewhere on the internet!). Steamed hay is good because the nutrients are still there and the hay comes out smelling nice and sweet.

No excess water and only a short period of time before your horse can eat it.

 

[lynsey1808]

Slightly hi-jacking, is two kettles enough? Or more? I soak my boy's hay but he's still coughing slightly so thought I would try steaming.

 

[hellspells]

Steaming hay is not effective against killing dust spores so if a horse has a allergy this will not be sufficient. The dust spores absorbed water and then burst - they can't do this when steamed. ALthough I can tell you how to make a great steamer - really cheap and easy.

Wall paper steamer, one of those large plastic barrels. Cut a small hole in the bottom of the barrell and put as much of the steamer pipe as you can in it. Put a large stone on the bottom of the barrell and then a piece of the really thick chicken wire on top so the haynets don't sit on the bottom. You can get two/three haynets in there.

 

[lynsey1808]

Thanks for that, so there is no point in steaming then, I may as well stick to soaking? If there is no improvement I will have to think about haylage.

 

[mickey]

[ QUOTE ]
Steaming hay is not effective against killing dust spores so if a horse has a allergy this will not be sufficient. The dust spores absorbed water and then burst - they can't do this when steamed.

[/ QUOTE ]
Really, I never knew this. So why do so many people steam hay? You are adding water when you steam it so why don't dust spores still absorb water and burst?

 

[hellspells]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Steaming hay is not effective against killing dust spores so if a horse has a allergy this will not be sufficient. The dust spores absorbed water and then burst - they can't do this when steamed.

[/ QUOTE ]
Really, I never knew this. So why do so many people steam hay? You are adding water when you steam it so why don't dust spores still absorb water and burst?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry I should have clarified - when you steam, a minimal amount of water is used and generally only for 10mins - it is generally considered to be appropriate to soak hay for 30mins to get rid of the dust spores (but then also the nutrients aswell). So soaking hay for only a short time can also be not as effective. The dust needs time to absorb the water and also a large volume of it so the whole net is submerged.

 

[mickey]

Ahhh this is why 20 or 30 mins is recommended to ensure complete (or as complete as possible) destruction of dust spores.
I would have thought you wouldn't leach that much nutrient value in that timescale? I could understand if it was left for hrs?
Thanks - I am still amazed at how many people steam in that instance.......

 

[hellspells]

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Thanks - I am still amazed at how many people steam in that instance.......

[/ QUOTE ]

So am I!

 

[Ezme]

I know some people who steam hay now becasue their horse has some specific issues it just keeps the dust in teh environment down, makes stuff a bit cleaner. You can do the same thing by spraying the the hose for a min or two or dunking in water.

 

[chriscrogul]

I thought the aim was to wet the mould spores and dust so they cling to the hay, therefore being ingested and not inhaled. Spore indicates mould or fungus to me, dust comes in particles!

 

[mickey]

OMG I am totally confused now. It happens easily you understand)