Would you feed this?

J

jumpthemoon

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Our yard has started to use the hay cut this year and the latest batch is a bit manky. It is REALLY heavy, ie weighs about as much as a small bale of haylage, it's very green, warm and all stuck together like sheets of cardboard. There is that white stuff on some parts of it too. I didn't feed it last night (borrowed some older stuff) as I wasn't happy about feeding it. I can't say I'm thrilled about paying £2.75 a bale for it, either!

What would you do?
 
Hmmm...that's what I thought! I didn't want the YO to think I was being picky though as I seem to be the only person who has refused to feed it so far
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(- although everyone elses horses are out 24/7)
 
Same. I've just started using the odd bit of this year's cut and it is nothing like that! Slightly greener than I'd like at the moment but soft, light and dry as a bone.
 
madhossy - I'm so glad the barn is well away from the stables!
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Gingerbird - I think it was cut from a low lying field and like you say, didn't dry. It's YO's hay and they have cattle, so they might feed it to them.
 
Definitely wouldn't feed it! Obviosly been cut & baled wet but unlike haylage which is then wrapped in plastic, the air has got to it so it's started to go mouldy instead of 'pickling' properly!

Also, as madhossy said, this could be highly dangerous if it feels warm, as if they're all like it & the centre of the stack gets hot enough, the whole lot could go up in flames!

Daft farmer near us cut & baled his hay wet a year or so back & his entire barn went up! There was nothing left of it whatsoever & the site was still smouldering a week later! Please get your YO to check the bales, especially near the centre of the stack!
 
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Also, as madhossy said, this could be highly dangerous if it feels warm, as if they're all like it & the centre of the stack gets hot enough, the whole lot could go up in flames!

Daft farmer near us cut & baled his hay wet a year or so back & his entire barn went up! There was nothing left of it whatsoever & the site was still smouldering a week later! Please get your YO to check the bales, especially near the centre of the stack!

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OMG! I'll mention it - it's difficult to not sound like you are trying to tell your granny how to suck eggs though!
 
You're not the only one who has refused to feed it, I do know of someone else, and I wouldn't be keen to give it to Murphy.

I think there are some OK bales in there, it's just a case of finding them! Bit scary that they could catch fire though as my stable is very near to the bales
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Bit scary that they could catch fire though as my stable is very near to the bales
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It doesn't happen often but it does happen so safest to check it out!
The barn near us that spontaneously caught fire was a real inferno, the fire brigade were there for over a day, trying to bring it under control & stop it spreading to the house!
As fast as they extinguished it, as they were pulling the remaining bales apart & exposing the now red hot hay to the air, a new bit would burst into flames, so it took ages for it to finally completely burn itself out!
 
No way would I feed that, sounds completely manky. I always think my horse trusts me to look after him and he will eat whats put in front of him and if he got sick it would be my fault - I'm totally paranoid about it !!! I have to feed soaked hay cos my boy coughs and I drive everyone mad when the weather is hot getting them to stick their arm into my haynet to assure me its not started to heat up in the middle!!

Btw, I also have to pay £4 a bale now so any of you guys that are getting it cheaper think yourselves lucky!
 
It needs burning I'm afraid. If this is what it is like right now then I can assure you that in the middle of winter all you find when you open a bale will be mould!

The farmer has not produced his hay correctly and has baled it whilst being too wet. Greedy man and useless hay farmer!
 
Actually JAK, you would be surprised to perhaps learn that it does in fact happen often....particularly with small squares!

Large rounds are generally okay as there is always enough air circulating around them to halt any combustion.
 
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It needs burning I'm afraid. If this is what it is like right now then I can assure you that in the middle of winter all you find when you open a bale will be mould!

The farmer has not produced his hay correctly and has baled it whilst being too wet. Greedy man and useless hay farmer!

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Now don't hold back Tia!
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it's YO's hay - we have to buy from them...

They do have more though that is ok, so I'm sure if we complain enough they'll get rid and use the good stuff. It is only about 200 bales that are like this I think (fortunately!)
 
Ahh....you know me well eh?
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I get particularly miffed when hearing things like this, as I am a hay farmer and really dislike seeing others doing the job incompetently....we get enough of a beating with prices, let alone have someone making a balls-up which looks bad on the rest of us.
 
Still no excuse I'm afraid. If the hay was rained on or he was rushing to get it in before the rain, then it should have either been made into haylage or large rounds suitable for cattle....not horses.
 
You most certainly don't want anyone using it as the spores will remain suspended in the air and circulate round all the stables causing the horses to inhale it, cough and become permanently sensitive to hay spores. Don't even feed it in the fields. If you buy in any hay check it did not come from a field infested with Ragwort.
 
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If you buy in any hay check it did not come from a field infested with Ragwort.

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Yes, thanks, will do
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I have a farmer who supplies me with hay for my other horse (who is at home, not in livery) so I might see if I can buy some in from him (it's cheaper as well!)
 
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