09/02/08 Tips on storing and feeding hay

Summer is about over, there is that "fall" feeling in the air and hopefully by now, hay in the barn, but is it stored correctly? I'm Jeff Keane and I'll be back after the break with some tips on storing and feeding hay. With the cost of hay skyrocketing it is more important than ever not to waste any when storing bales or feeding horses, isn't that right Susan? Jeff, I for one am going to make sure all my hay is well protected and that means keeping bales off the ground, out of sun light and covered for dust control. Last winter was the "year of the mouse "at our place, they were everywhere, probably because our old cat wasn't! I even noticed a few dropping in our hay yet I still tossed the feed to the horses but won't any longer after I read a horse health article telling how hay with urine or feces puts horse at risk for a host of rodent and scavenger diseases like EPM. I don't care how much hay costs, tossing the bad stuff, moldy or mousy is always cheaper than a vet bill. Susan, with the wet spring many hay growers faced, even if hay was harvested correctly bales could have retained moisture, meaning they can still heat up and ferment so it is important to make sure hay stacks don't become fire hazards. From a savings standpoint, when feeding horses in pastures it could be more cost effective to feed smaller amounts twice a day to monitor the horses intake rather than big round bales or feeders where you can lose hay to spoilage or waste caused from horses, deer and elk.