Yes, hay can dry too long. Hay is usually considered to be dry when it has around 20-25 percent moisture content. If it passes this threshold, hay can be at risk of becoming too dry and no longer suitable as feed for livestock.
If hay becomes too dry it can become brittle and lose much of its nutritional value, making it difficult to feed or even unappealing to livestock. In addition, dry hay becomes more prone to dust and mold, which can cause health issues for animals if they are inhaling dust particles or ingesting the mold spores.
Therefore, proper hay storage and monitoring of moisture levels is important to make sure the hay remains dry but not too dry, in order to retain its quality and nutritional value.
What happens if hay gets too dry?
If hay gets too dry, it can become highly flammable. Hay should generally be stored at a moisture level of 12-16%. If the hay gets too dry, it may start to spark and ignite if it comes into contact with a hot surface or spark from machinery.
This can lead to fires and potential losses of life and property. Additionally, overly dry hay may also become brittle and less nutritious for animals, leading to lower weight gains and reduced milk production in dairy cows.
For these reasons, it is important to protect hay from getting too dry by keeping it in a covered, well-ventilated barn or facility, and providing plenty of moisture to the hay prior to storage in the form of water or light rain.
Can hay get too dry before baling?
Yes, hay can get too dry before baling, and the consequences can be serious. When hay is too dry, it can become brittle and susceptible to shattering and loss of quality during baling and handling. It’s important to bale at the proper moisture, which is usually around 12-17%.
If hay gets too dry, it might fall apart when it is handled, allow dirt to enter, and can be difficult to feed out of the bales later. A hay baler can determine if hay is at the proper moisture when it’s baled, or a hay moisture tester can be used to tell if hay is within the correct range.
If hay has gotten too dry, irrigating it can be difficult, as light rains or irrigation may not wet it thoroughly. In some cases, hay that is too dry may need to be discarded, as the quality may have been compromised.
How do I know if my hay is dry enough to bale?
When determining if hay is dry enough to bale, the moisture content should be between 12-18%. To test the hay’s moisture content, use a specialized tool called a Hay Moisture Tester. The tool works by probing hay bales and measuring the resistance.
This resistance is then translated into a corresponding moisture percentage. If the moisture content is too high, the hay should be allowed to dry further before baling. Other signs that hay may not be dry enough to bale include:
– Dark colored bales, or hay that isn’t a uniform golden color.
– A musty smell when the hay is compressed.
– Hay that feels cool or wet to the touch, indicating that the moisture content is too high.
If you don’t have access to a Hay Moisture Tester, you can also get a rough estimate of the moisture content by smelling and feeling the hay. The hay should still be warm to the touch, and should have a slightly sweet smell but not a musty smell.
If any of the hay appears to clump together, the moisture content is likely too high and the hay should be allowed to dry further.
How much moisture should be in a bale of hay?
The ideal moisture content for hay is 12-13%. Too much moisture in a bale of hay causes undesirable changes in the chemical, structural and nutritive properties, resulting in poor forage quality, a reduction in hay yield, and an increase in microbial activity leading to greater potential for spoilage of hay stored for future use.
Conversely, hay stored at a moisture content less than 12% is more prone to increased amounts of dust, fines, and leaf shatter, ultimately leading to a decreased overall hay quality. Additionally, hay stored at levels higher than 14% has the potential of heating, leading to spontaneous combustion or microbial action resulting in the release of combustible gases.
For these reasons, hay with a moisture content above 14% should be harvested immediately to prevent potential difficulties in baling, storage and transportation. Hay with a moisture content below 12% should also be harvested and baled as soon as possible.
It is important to note that tests such as core sampling and experiments designed to assess hay moisture content should be conducted by a trained professional to ensure an accurate and valid determination.
What does low quality hay look like?
Low quality hay typically has a dry, dull appearance, with a mottled color ranging from pale yellow to dark brown. The stalks are often brittle and easily broken between the fingers and the leaves are sometimes brown or off-color.
Poor nutritional quality can also be identified by the presence of weeds, mold, or dust. The hay may also have a musty, sour odor. Low quality hay has fewer nutrients than high-quality hay and can still be used to feed livestock, but large amounts need to be supplemented with other feed to provide adequate nutrition.
Additionally, low-quality hay may not be suitable for horses as it can potentially cause medical problems such as colic or diarrhea.
Does hay moisture increase after baling?
Yes, hay moisture typically increases after baling due to the compression of the hay bringing out more of the moisture that is already within the bale. The level of increase in moisture content will depend on the crop and the amount of compression applied to the bale.
Generally, hay moisture increases by 2-6% after baling. Higher moisture levels can cause the hay to heat up and may result in damage to the hay bale. Therefore, it is important to ensure that hay is baled at the correct moisture level (generally between 13-19%) and that the bales are sufficiently dense to prevent an increase in moisture content.
How wet is too wet to bale?
The ideal moisture content for baling hay is between 18-20%. Any bale that is wetter than that can begin to degrade rapidly, resulting in mold, clostridia, and other issues. Wetter hay also has less nutritional value than hay baled when at the ideal moisture content.
Additionally, when wet hay is handled, its nutritional value diminishes even further due to the release of volatile substances. For these reasons, it is important to avoid baling hay too wet, as moisture content that is overly high can cause a variety of issues.
Furthermore, wetter hay can be more difficult and dangerous to handle, as its weight is increased, and the presence of mold on wet hay can cause respiratory issues.
Will dry hay mold if wrapped?
Yes, dry hay can still mold if it is wrapped. Hay needs to have sufficient airflow for it to remain dry and remain free from mold. When hay is wrapped for storage, it can trap moisture and cause the hay to get wet.
If the hay is then stored in a place where there is not enough ventilation, the moisture can cause mold to form. Also, hay that has been stored in wrapping material can sometimes retain heat and create a breeding ground for fungi, which can push the hay’s moisture content over a safe level and create an environment for mold and mildew to form.
Thus, it is important that you provide proper ventilation when wrapping hay, and store wrapped hay in a well ventilated space in order to avoid mold.
Is wet hay ruined?
Wet hay can be ruined, depending on the context. If hay was baled without adequate moisture levels and then exposed to rain, the hay may be ruined due to damage caused by the water. However, if hay was baled with adequate moisture levels and then got wet, the hay may be salvageable depending on how wet it is and how quickly it can be used or dried out.
If hay that has been sitting in water for a long time or has been exposed to microbial growth, it is likely not salvageable since bacteria or fungi can damage the hay. Additionally, if the hay has been exposed to contaminants, such as animal waste, it should not be used for animal feed and should be discarded.
Can horses eat dry hay?
Yes, horses can eat dry hay. It is an important part of their diet because of the high levels of fiber it provides, helping support their digestive system. Dry hay is also typically high in fibre, low in sugar and starch, and full of essential nutrients like vitamin A and minerals such as zinc, copper and magnesium.
When it comes to feeding horses, hay should make up the largest portion of their daily diet, with grass, concentrate feed and treats making up the remainder. It’s a good idea to provide horses with access to high-quality hay that has plenty of nutrition throughout the day, as poor-quality forage can lead to fewer vitamins, minerals, and energy sources than what’s needed for healthy horses.
Should I wet my horses hay?
No, you should not wet your horse’s hay. Hay can become moldy and musty if too wet, which can be harmful for your horse to eat. If your horse’s hay is too dry, mixing it with small amounts of water is a better option than completely wetting the hay.
Additionally, wet hay is harder to flake, bale, and transport than dry hay. If your horse’s hay is too wet it will clump together and make it hard to feed properly. There are other methods to provide water to your horse instead of wetting its hay.
Watered hay also takes longer to digest and can cause digestive issues if your horse eats too much of it. Before giving your horse too much wet hay, it is best to speak with your veterinarian or a professional equine specialist.
What moisture should horse hay be?
When it comes to hay for horses, it is important to make sure it is at the proper moisture content. Horse hay should be between 15-18% moisture content. This is important to keep in mind because if the hay is too wet or too dry it can lead to issues such as mold or dust respectively.
Too much dust can cause respiratory issues in horses and mold can cause a variety of illnesses. To make sure the hay is at the proper moisture content you can purchase a hay moisture tester. Otherwise, you can do the squeeze test to check.
You should be able to squeeze a handful of hay and it should slightly compress, but not be dripping wet. If the hay produces a lot of liquid, it is too wet. If the hay doesn’t squeeze at all, its too dry.
How dry is too dry for hay?
When it comes to hay, the acceptable moisture content for safety and quality is between 15-17%. Anything below 15% can be considered too dry. Forage crops such as hay tend to be more susceptible to spontaneous combustion, so it’s important to take extra care that hay is at an acceptable moisture level prior to baling and storage.
As hay dries out, it begins to form dead vegetation matter that has low energy content, which can also cause problems with digestion. If a hay is too dry, it not only poses a fire hazard, but it also has reduced nutritional value, making it less palatable and valuable to livestock.
Will wet hay hurt horses?
Yes, wet hay can hurt horses. Wet hay can cause health problems due to mold and bacteria which can harm the respiratory and digestive systems of horses. Horses can also become ill if they consume wet hay that has begun to rot, and it can even cause laminitis, a serious hoof condition.
Mold and bacteria can also affect the quality of the hay, making it less nutritious and even potentially toxic. Furthermore, wet hay is more likely to attract pests like rodents and insects. These pests can further contaminate the hay with various bacterial and parasitic diseases that can potentially cause harm to the horse.
Therefore, it’s important to store and feed dry hay in order to keep your horse safe and healthy.