This year’s hay is usually a better bet than last year’s hay when it comes to feed value, but if quantity is short in some parts of the Prairies this year, buyers may see old hay as an option.
And sellers with lots of old hay may want to move it out to make room for this year’s crop.
Feed tests are recommended in such cases, said Alberta Agriculture beef and forage specialist Barry Yaremcio. Buyers should find out as much as they can about the hay they are considering.
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“Hay is a perishable commodity that deteriorates when exposed to weather,” Yaremcio said in a news release.
“Time is a factor. For example, 90 days after cutting, the vitamin precursors lose strength, and animals will require supplementation. The fat soluble vitamins A, D, and E are the first nutrients to oxidize.”
Bales stored under cover or wrapped in plastic are preferable to those stored outdoors.
Yaremcio calculated that for 25 millimetres of rain, 82 litres will land on a bale and some will soak in, causing mould growth and rot.
Legume hay is more susceptible to damage than grass hay. Producers wanting to preserve maximum longer- term quality should take care when baling.
“Applying twine at four-inch spacing reduces moisture entry into the bale compared to bales with twine at eight-inch spacing,” Yaremcio said.
“Net wrapped bales shed rain better and have less damage than bales tied with twine. Bales wrapped with solid plastic have the least amount of damage. A dense or tight bale sheds more water than a loose bale.”
Producers buying hay by the pound should re-weigh older bales and adjust the weight to a standard 15 or 16 percent moisture.
Many of last year’s bales were put up wet and in general the feed value of the 2010 hay crop was lower than average, said the specialist. Much of it had nutrients about halfway between good hay and straw.
As a result, many cows had poor winter nutrition and as a result were in poorer condition this spring.
Cattle producers planning to feed last year’s hay this year will need to provide protein and energy supplements to cattle, said Yaremcio, and the old hay should not make up more than 25 to 30 percent of the total ration.
He provided these tips for setting a fair price on 2010 hay:
• Weigh the bales. Don’t use average weights from last fall.
• Take a representative sample and test it.
• The price should reflect the 10 percent reduction in digestibility for hay stored outdoors.
• Compare the price of year-old hay to greenfeed or straw and pay according to quality, not forage type.
