Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
be able to develop a regular account and place your order for the next year. You can also
purchase your year's supply of hay at auction, where you will find a variety of hay types,
bale sizes, quality, and prices. Although good-quality, barn-stored hay doesn't lose a great
amount of its nutritive value when stored for a year, it is always best if you buy the cur-
rent year's crop of hay, especially if it has been stored outdoors. Depending on how many
horses you feed, it is usually most economical to buy the largest quantity of good hay that
you can store. Instead of buying a pickup load at a time, if you buy a larger load, you'll
probably not only get a better perton price but also the transportation costs will be greatly
reduced.
Test hay quality
Because the nutritive quality of hay can vary so greatly, it is best to test hay before
a large purchase, especially if it is to be used for young or lactating horses. Your Ex-
tension agent will instruct you on sampling techniques, and the test results will reveal
crude protein, fiber, energy, and mineral content.
Buy the current year's hay rather than last year's hay.
