How Soon After Baling Can You Feed Hay 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 should hay be left before feeding?

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 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.

How soon can haylage be fed?

Haylage needs to ferment, so it should not be fed straight after being baled and wrapped. The amount of time it takes to ‘cure’ is variable depending on the moisture and WSC content of the grass when it was wrapped, but a good guide is 6 weeks.

Can I feed this years hay?

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.

Can you feed fresh baled hay?

“If hay is baled with a low moisture content, less than 12%, it can be fed right away, and horses shouldn’t have any problem with it,” said Kathleen Crandell, Ph. D., longtime nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

How long does hay sweat after baling?

This sweating process is the normal respiration of the cut plants that are still giving off some moisture, carbon dioxide and heat from the plant cells. This process can continue for two days or more after mowing.

Can horses be ridden after eating hay?

In short, it’s a myth that horses should not be fed at all before riding. Offering some hay or a few minutes of grazing right before exercise is a good idea, for your horse’s digestive health and comfort. However, you should skip the grain.

When should I start feeding my horse hay?

After riding, you should immediately provide them hay. However, it would be best to wait for at least half an hour to feed them grain. It’s essential to get the timing right if you are relying on grain-based diets. Depending on the horse’s exercise and its regular diet, grain may or may not be a good option.

Can you ride a horse after eating hay?

Ideally, you should wait an hour or so after your horse has finished a meal before riding them. If you’re going to do something really strenuous, it should be closer to three hours. A full digestive system gives the horse’s lungs less room to work, and makes exercise much harder on them.

How long does haylage need to dry?

For haylage: if drying conditions are good, rake multiple swaths into a windrow just before chopping (usually takes 5 to 7 hours after mowing). For hay: if drying conditions are good, merge/rake multiple swaths into windrow 12 to 24 hours after mowing (when forage is 40 to 60% moisture to avoid leaf loss).

How long does baled haylage last?

However, as a rough guide, a bale of haylage (when fed as the sole forage source) will last 2-3 days for a 15hh (approx. 450kg) horse.

Can you feed hay and haylage together?

Some horses can find haylage too rich for their digestive tract and it can upset them. Some people have found though that mixing hay and haylage to balance in this situation may be the answer!

How long does hay take to cure?

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.

Should horses have hay all time?

Because we like to think our horses follow the same schedule that we do, many people think that horses need less hay at night because they’re asleep (and therefore, not eating). However, that’s a myth. Horses need access to forage at all times of the day.

How many times can you bale hay a year?

How many times a year can you harvest hay? In most areas of the country, grass hay can be cut twice, sometimes three times, per year.

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.

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.

Is fresh baled hay good for horses?

Q: Can horses eat freshly baled hay? If hay is baled correctly, with a low moisture content of less than 12%, then yes. If the hay was baled with too much moisture, it can be dangerous.

How do you know when hay is dry enough?

“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 rain hurt baled hay?

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.