>>> This hay is from a hay field that is mostly grass with a tiny bit of >>> alfalfa >>> in it. There is very little mould as it seems our hay guy knows when to >>> cut >>> and bale it. We're very happy with it.
That wouldn't work here. I'm not saying that it won't work for YOU, Wanda, where you live, but I wouldn't do it here. I just say that people should check with their local Ag Agents. I think there are too many local/regional differences for us to discuss meaningfully here, given our wide range of geographies and climates. Hay has to be COMPLETELY covered here, or it will mold, get muddy, become a haven for wild animals to nest in...you name it. Do you have EPM up there? I think it's EPM - I get it and another disease confused sometimes - that is transmitted by body fluids of wild animals, particularly raccoons. We keep our horse feeds inside a closet in the barn, stored in tightly covered barrels, and hay inside an old barn, and we still watch for animals to try to set up homesteads. So far, our barn cats seem to do a good job of protecting the barns from rats and other small critters...I hope the influx of coyotes doesn't upset that balance. As far as mold - it's not just the issue of the hay molding during the baling/curing process here. If you put a big bale out and it gets rained on in the field, you have to be concerned about mold developing then too - not to mention it just getting muddy and gross, and wasting a lot, plus worrying about the horses eating contaminated hay. It could be that you don't have to worry so much about mold year-round, since it's SO cold where you are. I don't know. We can get mold here, even when it's just barely above freezing. (I don't think we can below freezing, but honestly, I've never thought about it. I just know we can get mold in the winter.) I know you said that you unroll the hay and feed sections, but I haven't heard of many people taking the time to do that. About 99% of the round bales I see are just plopped out in the pasture, uncovered - used because they take less time to feed, and because, per pound, round bales are cheaper. Karen Thomas, NC
