whos feeding this years hay??is it safe to use now if cut in july?

[prudunce]

Im needing to get a large round bale put in the field b4 grass turns to mud,but was just told by hay-man that i shud be feeding last yrs hay as this yrs hay will give colic?? U sure mr?? ,last yrs hay will have no nutritional value,and surely this yrs hay was quite brown/ dry when cut and dry enough to feed now??.

 

[mrussell]

I always thought it was 6 weeks - not sure about the big bales though...might take longer to "cool down".

 

[Sarah_Jane]

I usually allow 8 weeks and would be quite happy using what was cut in July.

 

[kerilli]

i know someone who paid for a daily analysis of hay from the day it was baled. from 3 weeks old onwards, there was no change at all. so, that's my benchmark, and i'm already feeding this year's hay, and they're loving it a lot more than last year's!