Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Summer Task: Choosing Good Hay
Good-quality horse hay should be leafy, fine stemmed, and adequately but not overly dry.
Because two-thirds of the plant nutrients are in the leaves, the leaf-to-stem ratio should be
high. The hay should not be brittle but instead soft to the touch, with little shattering of the
leaves, since lost leaves mean lost nutrition. There should be no excessive moisture that
could cause overheating and spoilage.
Good-quality hay should be free of mold, dust, and weeds and have a bright green color
and a fresh smell. In some instances, however, hay color may be misleading. Although the
bright green color indicates a high vitamin A (beta-carotene) content, some hays might be
somewhat pale green to almost tan due to bleaching yet still of good quality. The interac-
tion of dew or other moisture, the rays of the sun, and high ambient temperatures cause
bleaching. Brown hay, however, indicates a loss of nutrients due to excess water or heat
damage and should be avoided.
Dusty, moldy, or musty-smelling hay is not suitable for horses. Not only is it unpalatable,
but it also can contribute to respiratory diseases. Moldy hay can also be toxic to horses
and may cause colic or abortion. Bales should not contain undesirable objects or noxious
weeds. Check for sticks, wire, blister beetles, poisonous plants, thistle, and plants with
barbed awns such as foxtail and cheat grass.
