In many places the first cut has already been made.
But be careful: if fresh hay is not stored properly, it can cause colic.
Munich (Bavaria) – In addition to long summer evenings in the stable and leisurely rides through the forest, riders love one thing above all in the warm season: the smell of fresh hay in the field, which the farmer soon brings in with the tractor.
What a lot of people don't know: Even if it smells like heaven, the hay needs a break right after the harvest.
Because feeding the roughage directly from the field can be dangerous.
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Be careful with fresh hay.
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© Frank Sorge/Imago
Feeding horses: Fresh hay can cause colic
Basically, freshly harvested hay must be stored sufficiently before it ends up in the stable as horse feed.
A guideline is at least six to eight weeks.
The background: Although fresh hay is apparently dry, it still has a certain residual moisture content (approx. 15 percent).
When hay is stored, the crop therefore begins to sweat.
This process, in which fermentation processes take place, is completely natural.
Meanwhile, bacteria and germs can multiply rapidly.
If the hay is fed to horses too early, it can lead to digestive problems.
In the worst case, severe (gas) colic develops.
The fermentation processes only subside after a storage period of at least six to eight weeks.
Feeding horses: storage time depends on crop and bale size
However, the waiting time before feeding horses is not always the same.
In contrast to small bundles, with densely pressed and large square and round bales it takes longer for the fermentation processes to be completed and for the bacteria to stop multiplying.
Accordingly, they must be stored longer.
More patience is also required with young grass and a high proportion of undergrass.
In general, hay should be pressed and brought in as dry as possible.
Feeding horses: Proper storage prevents mold growth
While the hay sweats, the risk of mold growth increases significantly.
Therefore, professional storage of the bales is important in order not to impair the quality of the harvest and ultimately not to endanger the horse's health.
But what does the ideal hay store look like?
Are important:
cool place without direct sunlight
good ventilation (do not stack bales too close to walls or cover with foil)
Protection from rain
suitable surface that allows sufficient air circulation (e.g. straw or stable wooden pallets)
If you want to be sure that the hay is of good quality, you can have it tested in a laboratory.
But the same applies here: the sample must be at least six to eight weeks old.
List of rubrics: © Frank Sorge/Imago