'
1
Forums Albums Skins 1
Search Register Logon


You are logged in as a guest. Logon or register an account to access more features.
OTHER FORUMS:    Barrel Horses  -   Trucks   -   Cutting  -   Reining  -   Roping 
'
How long to cure hay?

Jump to page : 1
Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page]
Last activity 2015-02-11 11:44 PM
10 replies, 18519 views

View previous thread :: View next thread
   General Discussion -> Horse Talk  Click to return to Barrel Talk
Refresh
Message format
 
Lea Anne
Reg. Mar 2005
Posted 2014-06-01 8:48 AM (#159307)
Subject: How long to cure hay?


Veteran


Posts: 153
1002525
Location: Grant City, Missouri
How long do you wait before you feed freshly baled hay?  We are getting ready to bale hay and I am needing some for a ride in a week.  What are your thoughts?  I believe I've asked this before and as I remember I heard sides.  Thanks
share Top of the page Bottom of the page
yeehaw
Reg. Mar 2010
Posted 2014-06-01 5:17 PM (#159311 - in reply to #159307)
Subject: RE: How long to cure hay?


Veteran


Posts: 178
100252525
Location: Richmond, Ky
you could be cutting it close, hay goes thru a "heat" I try to wait 1 to 2 weeks at least. The more the merrier....
share Top of the page Bottom of the page
Marla
Reg. Mar 2008
Posted 2014-06-05 5:59 PM (#159361 - in reply to #159307)
Subject: RE: How long to cure hay?


Extreme Veteran


Posts: 522
500
Location: Tucumcari NM
if your hay was properly cured before baling there should be no wait period. If your hay was not cured properly before baling it should not ever be fed. Properly cured hay will not heat. Mold growth is what causes the hay to heat in the bale.
share Top of the page Bottom of the page
Miner
Reg. Jul 2009
Posted 2014-06-06 8:52 AM (#159367 - in reply to #159307)
Subject: RE: How long to cure hay?


Member


Posts: 20

Location: Lake Mills, Iowa

Here in north central states, it is very rare for hay to be completely dry due to the moisture content in the ground.  We crimp cut, and let it lay for a day or two.  Rake it and then bale.   We have a sprayer on the balers and spray a preservative on the hay to help keep it from spoiling, and some people still use the old fashioned method of sprinkling salt between the bales.  Some people use nothing and it is fine. It will then go through a heat cycle.  We bale dairy grade alfalfa and alfalfa grass mix. Large squares and small squares. We feed the grass and alfalfa mix to our horses.  I have fed hay after it is fresh baled.  I stick my hand into the bale, and if it is still warm I will not freed it. Feeding fresh baled hay is like feeding fresh grass clippings to your horse.  A little will not hurt them, but a full diet of it could.  

share Top of the page Bottom of the page
Marla
Reg. Mar 2008
Posted 2014-06-08 12:36 AM (#159376 - in reply to #159307)
Subject: RE: How long to cure hay?


Extreme Veteran


Posts: 522
500
Location: Tucumcari NM
Here in the southwest we leave the hay in the winrow until it is thoroughly dry. We often bale at night when the moisture rises enough to keep the leaves on the alfalfa during baling. When the dew starts forming we quit until the morning sun drys the dew but still leaves enough moisture to bale. As long as the moisture doesn't rise to more than about 22 percent or so the hay will not heat and there is no danger of burning down a barn.
share Top of the page Bottom of the page
heritagelanefarm
Reg. Jul 2006
Posted 2014-06-08 6:44 AM (#159377 - in reply to #159307)
Subject: RE: How long to cure hay?


Veteran


Posts: 282
100100252525
Location: southcentral pennsylvania
Regardless of the type of hay, moisture content, etc., I let my hay cured for 3 months. I have had friends whose horses have experienced colic by feeding hay too early. John Lyons, in a "Perfect Horse" article a number of years back also subscribed to the 3 month time period. I was happy to see it confirmed by a well known horseman.
share Top of the page Bottom of the page
Painted Horse
Reg. May 2005
Posted 2014-06-12 7:46 AM (#159440 - in reply to #159307)
Subject: RE: How long to cure hay?



Expert


Posts: 2453
20001001001001002525
Location: Northern Utah
Never paid any attention to this. Utah being a dry state we bale our hay like Marla, Usually at night or early morning so e have a little moisture to keep the leave. I've never had a problem feeding freshly baled hay, I always feed any bales that break to the horses the night I'm stacking, I do try to use up last years hay before starting on this years new hay, But it's never more than a week or two after I start getting new hay in the barn.
share Top of the page Bottom of the page
yeehaw
Reg. Mar 2010
Posted 2014-06-12 3:15 PM (#159450 - in reply to #159307)
Subject: RE: How long to cure hay?


Veteran


Posts: 178
100252525
Location: Richmond, Ky
here in Ky it's super hard anymore to get 3 days of dry weather, never less the moisture still in the ground, we get it as dry as we can and bale it before the next rainy weather. This year haven't cut the first cutting due to the weather man giving 6 out of 8 days of rain, wish they would get it closer missed some good chances "waiting on the rain".
share Top of the page Bottom of the page
hconley
Reg. Feb 2005
Posted 2014-10-16 11:21 PM (#161186 - in reply to #159307)
Subject: RE: How long to cure hay?


Extreme Veteran


Posts: 378
100100100252525
Location: Nebraska
Painted horse has it right, if hay is dry enough to bale , it is alright to feed.
share Top of the page Bottom of the page
huntseat
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2014-10-27 10:37 PM (#161312 - in reply to #159307)
Subject: RE: How long to cure hay?


Expert


Posts: 1989
1000500100100100100252525
Location: South Central OK
It really depends on the nutrients, grass and moisture. Johnson grass has to "cure" for about 2 weeks once baled if it was fertilized. This allows the toxic gases to escape (cyanide.) Most hay cutters just go off the moisture and for baling that's really what matters but again the type of grass/legume determines the correct moisture content for baling. Several recent studies have been done on this topic, you might check with your local county agent for more accurate information for your exact region and grass type. Good luck, there is nothing like knowing you are feeding your animal the finest hay available and it's yours!
share Top of the page Bottom of the page
lunaa65
Reg. Feb 2015
Posted 2015-02-11 11:44 PM (#162540 - in reply to #159307)
Subject: RE: How long to cure hay?


Member


Posts: 7

You can feed the hay right away. Some people say wait a month. But I think that is mainly for buying hay because any mold that was going to grow due to being baled too wet will have formed by then. And no more mold will grow after that. The mold will still be present, just not growing. If the hay was cured properly it can be fed right away, but it would be wise to transition your horses to the new hay with hay you already have.
share Top of the page Bottom of the page
Jump to page : 1
Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page]
Jump to forum :
Search this forum
Printer friendly version
E-mail a link to this thread
Message format
 

'
Registered to: Horse Trailer World
(Delete all cookies set by this site)