Wet hay

randm · #1 09/18/14, 07:03 PM

I have about 20-25 square bales in a barn, that I THOUGHT was water proof, we got a lot of rain today and some of the outer bales got wet, is this hay ruined now for cows? I read conflicting arguments when I search the internet, looking for some input. Thanks

haypoint · #2 09/18/14, 07:08 PM

Wet hay is fine, moldy hay isn't What's the difference? About 24 hours. Throw out any moldy or dusty hay that has gotten wet.

randm · #3 09/18/14, 07:50 PM

Thanks haypoint

msscamp · #4 09/22/14, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haypoint

Throw out any moldy or dusty hay that has gotten wet.

Cows couldn't care less about dusty hay, nor will dusty hay hurt them or cause problems.

msscamp · #5 09/22/14, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoubleR

Beware of fire if those wet bales stay in the barn with the others. They can get hot inside from the moisture and catch fire.

Only if they are alfalfa or contain quite a bit of alfalfa.

msscamp · #6 09/22/14, 01:43 AM

Valid point, and I apologize for my mistake. I was only thinking of grass and alfalfa hay.

randm · #7 09/22/14, 05:24 AM

I pulled out a few of the bales that looked like they got the wettest and went ahead and fed them and they were still fine in the middle. No complaints :-)

Missourifarmboy · #8 09/22/14, 09:02 PM

Hay that catches fire is hay that was put up green and wet heat from curing causes that. Depends on type of hay, we had a couple cows die years ago because we threw some old wet moldy clover hay in a gully and they ate it.

Le Petit Norman · #9 09/24/14, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randm

I have about 20-25 square bales in a barn, that I THOUGHT was water proof, we got a lot of rain today and some of the outer bales got wet, is this hay ruined now for cows? I read conflicting arguments when I search the internet, looking for some input. Thanks

Look at the bright side here in the hill country with the rain we got in the last 2 to 3 weeks everything is getting green again ….

randm · #10 09/24/14, 10:38 PM

Most definitely, all the rain we have had this year has been a blessing, I know a lot of ranchers around here that are getting a 3rd and 4th cutting. Good for us that are going to feed out this winter because there is a surplus of hay.

cooper101 · #11 09/25/14, 07:05 AM

I half shoveled, half piled up wet straw from a pig pen once planning to bring in a skid-steer to empty it out. I didn't get to it and I had a 2-foot high pile of steaming pig urine a couple days later. It felt like opening an oven when I scooped it out by hand. Even a small pile of wet hay or straw can generate a LOT of heat. I think the only reason I didn't have a fire was that all of the straw was wet and there wasn't enough dry fuel for it to catch.