Can You Feed Horses Freshly Baled Hay?

Any hay that has been properly cured and dried before being baled should be stable and can be fed as soon as needed. There are no nutritional advantages to storing hay for weeks or months prior to use.

How long should hay be left before feeding to horses?

So how soon can you feed new hay? If the hay is cut and bailed in perfect conditions with less than 12% moisture in the bale, it should be safe to feed straight away. But due to how hard this is to get accurate; it is recommended to wait 2-8 weeks before feeding.

What is the best way to feed horses hay?

If the ground is grassy and relatively dry, consider feeding hay on the ground to mimic the way a horse naturally grazes. However, if your soil is sandy or gravelly, elevate hay off the ground when feeding via a hay net or manger, as horses can ingest sand or gravel which can lead to impaction colic.

How long does it take to cure hay?

about three days
It basically takes about three days of good weather to cure hay. This can be a challenge in late May or early June. A good strategy is to mow just before or right after a rain, because of the likelihood of good weather for the next few days.

How long should you soak hay for horses?

Soak hay for 30 to 60 minutes to reduce the sugar it contains. Don’t soak the hay longer or you’ll risk leaching beneficial nutrients. Soaking hay to remove sugars that can exacerbate metabolic conditions such as insulin resistance takes more time.

How soon can you feed hay after baling to horses?

The Question: How long after hay is cut and baled should you wait before using it for feed to a horse? Answer: New hay can be fed just after harvesting. Any hay that has been properly cured and dried before being baled should be stable and can be fed as soon as needed.

How long after hay is baled can you feed?

8 weeks
To be safe, wait at least 8 weeks after wrapping to begin feeding baleage bales. This time will ensure that the forage is fully ensiled and does not begin to deteriorate or heat when it is fed.

Should a horse eat a bale of hay a day?

A horse can eat anywhere from 15-25 pounds of hay a day, which generally equates to a half of a 45/50-pound square bale of hay per day (~15-30 bales per month). What is this? Always remember to take into consideration the quality of your hay.

Do horses need hay everyday?

For the healthiest digestive system and the happiest horse, it is best to have hay available at all the times. Most horses are self-regulating, but many are not. Some horses will need their hay diet restricted to prevent obesity. Such horses should be fed small, more frequent portions.

Will horses overeat hay?

Horses should have access to good quality hay at all times, but it is possible for a horse to eat too much hay. If your horse, donkey or mule is bored or greedy he may eat whatever is available until it is gone. Equines can founder on too much grass or hay.

Can you feed horses wet hay?

Horses with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) can also benefit from eating soaked hay, as soaking removes some of the potassium from the hay. For horses on normal diets, soaking hay is not indicated because carbohydrates and potassium do not need to be restricted.

Does hay moisture increase after baling?

Even hay baled between 15%-20% moisture will experience what is known as “sweating.” Sweating, in regard to hay bales, refers to microbial respiration, which will create heat and result in dry matter (DM) loss. A good rule of thumb is that you should expect a 1% DM loss per 1% decrease of moisture after baling.

How long does it take for a horse to adjust to new hay?

2 to 4 weeks
It is recommended that any change in a horse’s diet should be gradually introduced over a period of 2 to 4 weeks. Some may suggest a shorter period to transition your horse.

Can you feed soaked hay straight away?

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.

Does soaking hay remove protein?

Soaking removes some protein as well as carbohydrate, but because most hays don’t contain a high level of protein, this may not be very important to the horse’s total protein consumption. In this study, loss of protein was not significant regardless of the length of time hay was soaked.

Is hay ruined if it gets wet?

If rained-on hay is not again dried fully, mold and mycotoxin growth can occur which can put livestock health at risk. Furthermore, baled wet hay can combust due to the temperature increase caused by microbial growth – putting a producer at risk of barn fire.

How long can soaked hay be left before feeding?

If you can use lots of warm water then it is suggested around two hours will help to reduce sugar levels without losing too much dry matter from the hay. Soaking hay for longer starts to increase losses so the horse then has to consume more to ensure they receive sufficient fibre intake.

How long does hay need to dry before baling?

When preparing to bale hay, the transition from freshly cut, high-moisture grasses and legumes to dry forage is known as curing. This process takes on average 3 days—in good weather.

How long does hay stay fresh for horses?

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 introduce a new hay to a horse?

When a new batch of hay is delivered, introduce it by feeding a small amount of the new hay mixed into the old, increasing the percentage of new hay gradually over five to seven days. This allows the microbes in the horse’s gut to adjust to the change and prevents upsets.

How long after baling does hay heat up?

6-weeks
Most hay fires occur within 6-weeks of baling. Heating occurs in all hay above 15% moisture, but generally peaks at 125 to 130 degrees F within three to seven days with a minimal risk of combustion or forage quality loss.