How Dry Should Hay Be For Horses?
Hay destined for small square bales needs to be dried below 15% (85% dry matter) before baling for horses, to reduce the chance of dust. The majority of hay is air dried in the field over a 3 to 5-day period. Some producers build hay dryers to enable them to bale hay at moisture contents up to 30%.
How do you know when hay is dry enough?
Breaking stems in half or twisting them in a circular motion to see if the stems break cleanly will give farmers the go-ahead to bale. “If all the stems break and crack that’s an indication that the hay is cured and then you can rely on the moisture test that you’re getting from the probe,” Yaremcio said.
What is a good dry matter for hay?
Dry matter (DM) is the content of a feed or forage that remains after the water or moisture has been evaporated. Hay typically has the highest dry matter content, with the new terminology defining this as over 85% DM. Haylage has a much lower DM content that may be as low as 50% according to this new publication.
What percentage of moisture should be in hay?
The best moisture level for baling hay or green feed depends on the type of baler you use. If you have a large hard-core
What moisture should hay be to Bale?
When hay is baled, it should not be higher than 18 to 22 percent moisture. At higher levels of moisture, bales lose large amounts of dry matter (Figure 1) caused by excessive heating and molding (Figure 2).
Can hay be too dry for horses?
The key to properly cured hay lies predominantly in moisture content. For best results, hay should not be baled until there is less than 20% moisture. Hay baled too wet might mold, heat, and pose a fire risk. Conversely, hay baled too dry might lose its nutritional value through broken or fallen leaves.
How dry is too dry for hay?
What is “Dry Enough?” Much of the original research suggests hay moisture content should be kept less than 20% for small rectangular bales, less than 18% for round bales, and less than 16% for large rectangular bales. These are still good “rules of thumb,” but there are exceptions.
How soon can you feed hay after baling?
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.
How much hay should a horse have overnight?
Feed hay according to weight
Horses should consume about 2% of their bodyweight per day according to their condition and workload.
Can hay get wet and still be good?
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 do I know if my hay is too wet?
“As a rule, small bales should contain no more than 18-20% moisture, large bales 16-18%.” Moisture levels can be easily tested with a moisture reader that is specifically designed for testing hay.
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.
Can hay get too dry before baling?
While hay with exceptionally low moisture might not be at risk of growing mold and bacteria, that’s because much of that hay’s nutritional value is already gone. When hay is too dry before baling, the leaves of the forage become stiff and brittle, making them much more likely to fall off.
How long do you let hay 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.
What happens if you bale hay too early?
Less Dry Matter and Yield Loss
Even after cutting, plants continue to respirate, leading to up to 15% dry matter losses in some forage species. Overall quality can also be impacted, like starches and sugars—energy—can also be lost in the process.
Can horses get sick from wet hay?
High moisture hay can also lead to the proliferation of bacteria, molds and fungus that can produce mycotoxins that are dangerous to horses and other livestock species. Some forage laboratories will test for the presence of mold and mycotoxins. If hay is moldy, do not feed it.
Is it OK to feed horses wet hay?
Soaking hay for horses can be invaluable when feeding a hay that is a little dusty as a result of soil contamination or where it was stored in the barn. Horses that have allergies and are sensitive to the natural dust and particles in hay can benefit significantly from wetting or soaking hay.
How do I know if my horse has good hay?
Good quality hay should be bright green in color with little fading. A bleached, yellow, brown or black color may indicate aged hay, mold or poor storage conditions. Storage condition and age have a significant effect on vitamin content of hays.
Are hay moisture meters accurate?
Even the best-maintained moisture meters may lose accuracy over time. This is why you should run a calibration check on your moisture meter at least once every time you harvest hay. There are several ways to check meter calibration, including: Using a moisture content standard.
Can hay dry in 24 hours?
Proper dry matter content for chopping haylage can often be achieved within 24 hours as compared to three to four days for dry hay.
Can hay get a little wet?
Hay with a little extra moisture may not exceed 120 degrees F., whereas, wetter hay can quickly exceed 150 degrees. If the hay rises above 170 degrees, chemical reactions can begin to occur that produce enough heat to quickly raise the temperature above 400 degrees and the wet hay can begin to burn and cause fires.
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