How long can hay be stored

[wmsff]

I live in an area with high humidity. How long would the hay stay good in a dry barn? Also, would it be better to get the small (45lb) bales which cost around $3, or the large rounds (600-900lbs) which cost $20? Does the air circulation around and through the bales matter - good or bad? Sometimes the rounds are wrapped in plastic. The type of hay is generally Timothy, orchard grass, birdsfoot trefoil and sometimes alfalfa.

I would have to have it delivered and if the rounds I cannot get it up in the loft. Obviously the rounds are cheaper, but it may take a full two years or more to go through the 11bale delivered minimum.

Thanks all

[mqualls82]

OSU says on their website that Hay in the barn will lose 5% nutrients per year. Round bales don't always weight what they say. At least the square can be weighted on your bathroom scales. Around here (SE Oklahoma) squares go for $4 and rounds go for $45. Air circulation is important if the hay was baled a little on the wet side. Don't have to worry about that this year.

Square bale baler/hauler
MQ

[Wisconsin Ann]

The round bales are more economical, but harder to feed from for many people. They're great for dropping in a cattle yard...the cows will just munch from the outside to the in. Not good for sheep or goats...they'll eat from the underside..and it can collapse on them. If it's inside one of those big round feeders, no problem.

Farmers will USUALLY bale the big rounds only if it's a good dry hay., by the way.

The Dairy Forage people at USDA told me that year old hay is good to use, but after that you have lost too much of the nutrients and run the risk of some major mold issues.

I've seen barns packed tight with bales...and other old timers say you have to keep the air flowing. The air is important if the hay has a higher moisture content...let's the hay continue to breathe and dry a bit.

Choices around here (Wisconsin) are 60lb bales for $3., BIG squares (300#?) for about $25, or the big rounds for $45.

[rambler]

Good dry hay stored on a wooden floor of a hay barn will keep for decades. It will slightly lose some vitamins, but one typically will be feeding a lick block or mineral mix or grain along with the hay so that is of little concern.

The trouble with the round bales is storing them - sounds like you might end up leaving them on the ground, or not on a dry wood dloor - then the bottom will deteriate some. They are also less convienient.

If baled a tad on the wet side, the small squares are more fogiving as far as drying themselves out. Round bales will mold.

So, the price difference kinda answers the question - round bales are easier to bale, use less twine, and can be put up quicker - but they are less convinient, harder to store & use.

I'd guess small squares in your hay mow will give you more satisfaction?

--->Paul

[paintlady]

Just make sure that the hay is really dry. Our neighbor just lost about 700 large bales of his first crop due to a fire caused by wet hay.

[Chixarecute]

Most of the nutrition loss in stored hay is from vitamin loss.

[VaFarmer]

round bales stored on wood pallets prevents the bottom from rotting, same as square bales, keep them off the ground. If you don't have the equipment to move the rounds and 11 of them will be sitting in the way for several yrs, doesn't sound like what you save on price will be worth it. But hay could get scarce of go up in price and you'd have a couple of yrs supply on hand! Do you not have a tractor? You peel a rd bale and feed it out gradually with a pitch fork. Either way keep your hay dry and out of the sun light, away from any sky lights. Baled dry I recommend staking it tight.

[wmsff]

Thank you all. Yes I would end up with the rounds on the ground floor, on pallets, but taking up tons of space. The squares are easier by far and I will be using a pulley system to get them up.
Thanks on the sunlight info, I just put new skylights in to bring light inside!

And no I have no tractor. In fact I don't yet have the hitch on the
Minivan-my most useful vehicle. When I get hay I have to do it when the kids are at school or on a weekend and I can only get about a dozen bales at a time.

Thank again all; have a great day!

[Silvercreek Farmer]

A little thread drift, but we outfitted our minivan with a hitch and used 4x8 1 ton trailer for around $500. Probably one of the most useful pieces of "equipment" on the farm, as it also gets 23-24 mpg on the highway and can seat 7 if need be, and much better than a pickup/SUV for our purposes. I can haul 2 round bales, or around 20 square bales, 3 yards of mulch/manure (with some 2' scrap wood sides), a pallet of rocks, my garden tractor, 1/2 cord of fire wood, lumber ect. Most of these items listed are right at the limit of the trailer and I wouldn't want to go more than 5-10 miles with them and usually keep it around 35 mph, but we have hauled many lighter loads 100s of miles at interstate speeds. If I had it to do over I would probably get a 5x10 trailer with a 3500 lb axle. They run around $700-800 and you would have to be careful not to overload the van, but would be better for bulkier loads.