How Do You Keep Horse Hay From Molding?
Soak dusty hay for 5 to 30 minutes before feeding so that the horse can eat it while it’s wet. Store hay away from your horse as much as possible and ensure any hay in the vicinity is kept dry to reduce mold. If the horse is housed indoors, ensure that there is good, draft-free ventilation through the stable.
How do you keep hay from going Mouldy?
“Avoid placing tarps tightly around hay, which will prevent moisture from escaping. Don’t stack hay too high, and be sure to leave some space between each bale to allow for airflow.” These techniques will help minimize the risk of mold growth in hay.
How do you keep hay fresh for horses?
Storing Hay for Horses
- Be sure hay is dry before stacking it in a barn or shed.
- Store hay in a dry place.
- Stacking the bottom layer of bales, and then every second layer, with the cut ends up and the twine or wire on the sides will encourage drying.
- Allow air circulation under and around the bales.
What’s the best way to store hay?
Store hay inside
“In most cases, it is recommended to elevate bales using gravel, which can reduce DM losses to 3-15%. The best option for storage is covering hay bales with tarps, which will help to prevent losses on hay stored outside.”
Can I feed my horse Mouldy hay?
Don’t feed moldy hay to horses. Most moldy hay problems are from mold spores, which can produce respiratory disease in horses. Many of the common mold toxins develop in the field during a delayed harvest. If you suspect a mold toxin problem, review your horse’s nutrition and health.
How long can horse hay be stored?
If the hay was of good-quality when harvested and stored in a dry place with sufficient airflow, hay is likely suitable for consumption for two to three years. Keep in mind that hay, even premium forage, loses much of its vitamin content in the first few months of storage.
Should you wet your horses hay?
Many studies have shown soaking hay can reduce respirable particle concentration by at least 88%. Soaking can also reduce the amount of mold present. Nutrient content Some horse owners soak their hay to reduce the amount of sugars, or nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC), in the forage.
How long should you soak horse hay?
15 to 60 minutes
Soaking hay for 15 to 60 minutes is a good way to manage these horses, but only soak hay if your preferred hay isn’t available. Feed soaked hay right away to avoid mold growth. Dispose of water in random grassy areas that horses can’t access.
How do you know if horse hay is bad?
Signs that your horse hay may be bad include a lack of color or dried-out appearance, a moldy smell, excessive dust, visible mold, or excessive heat towards the center of the hay bale. Because hay provides your horse with so many essential nutrients, you must provide your horse with the best quality hay available.
How do you know if hay is good quality?
Look for the following characteristics: Maturity – High quality hay will have a high proportion of leaves in the bale, with few or no coarse stems or seed heads. Condition – High quality hay will contain little dust or mold. Color & odor – High quality hay generally has a bright green color and a sweet, fresh odor.
How do I know if my hay is moldy?
Cut open a bale of hay and separate the flakes. Look for the presence of mold in any of the flakes. Moldy hay generally presents as darker areas which are grey or black. If you find mold, refuse the bale – mold indicates that the hay was baled when it was too wet.
Does salt help wet hay?
In the past, some farmers have applied salt to the surface of hay that was baled wet, but research has shown little benefit from salting. While the theory is good, the amount of salt needed would be very large and expensive, and would likely reduce the palatability of the hay.
What is the best way to soak hay for horses?
That means spritzing the hay with a hose probably won’t do. A better approach is to place the flake in a hay net and then dunk it in a large bucket of fresh water. To make sure the hay is thoroughly saturated, hold it beneath the water until no bubbles emerge, a process that will take less than a minute.
Is hay ruined if rained on?
Hay that has been cut and then rained on can lose quality in four ways. These include: 1) leaching of soluble carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, 2) increased and prolonged plant respiration, 3) leaf shattering, and 4) microbial breakdown of plant tissue.
What is the best hay preservative?
Buffered Propionic Acid– Buffered Propionic acid is the most popular type of preservative used on hay between 16% and 30% moisture. While other acids can be used to preserve hay, propionic is the most effective in controlling the molds commonly found in hay.
How long is hay good for if kept dry?
If the hay was of good-quality when harvested and stored in a dry place with sufficient airflow, hay is likely suitable for consumption for two to three years. Keep in mind that hay, even premium forage, loses much of its vitamin content in the first few months of storage.
How do you store hay long term?
Bales wrapped with plastic netting or sleeves shed water better than those wrapped only with twine. Plastic bags do a very good jobs of preserving hay quality, but require an investment in bagging equipment. They are more expensive, but may be cost-effective for very high quality forage.
What temperature does hay start to mold?
“Hay bale temperatures of 120°F to 130°F will likely result in mold growth and will make the protein in the hay less available to animals,” Hartschuh says. While these temperatures will not cause fires, continued mold growth can raise temperatures to dangerous levels.
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