Your Guide When Looking for Quality Hay

If you have livestock, horses, or cattle then you know the importance of quality hay. It is this one that is needed so that your animals will not just thrive but stay healthy as well. For those areas that are not able to grow hay then it is them that will need to purchase it. If you are out in the market looking for hay then you should make sure that you are able to buy quality ones. It is by doing so that you can ensure that you are giving the best to your animal. For you to do this then it is important that you are able to look into some factors. These factors will guide you in choosing the best hay you could possibly buy. If you want to know what these factors market then keep in reading this article and find out.

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One of the factors that you will need to consider when looking for quality hay is the appearance and the small that it has. See to it that you will be buying hay that smells fresh. If it does then probably it is. Hay that also looks green and not brown can is also fresh and will provide the nutrition that your animals will need. It is also important to look into the seed heads that the hay ahs. It should be enclosed and the leaves that it has should be intact.

 

If you are looking for quality hay then you also need to look into the other things that are into it. It is important to avoid hay that has weeds, wires, or any other foreign object in it. It is these things that can be life-threatening to your animals especially when ingested. It is also you that should make sure that the hay that you are buying is free from any mold. Mold can grow especially when the hay was too wet when it was baled. Ingestion of mold by your animals is the one that can cause serious damage to their lungs.

 

You also will need to look into the moisture content of the hay if you are looking for a quality one. It is you that can determine this one by using a gauge that will test the moisture content. Animals that forage on hay like horses will need to have hay that has a moisture content of around ten to seventeen percent. It is also important for the hay to have a crude protein of around ten percent.

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It is also important to take note of the Acid Detergent Fiber or ADF value. Quality hay is the one that will have an ADF of around thirty to thirty-five percent. This is usually good for larger livestock like horses and cattle. The lower the value is, the better it is for your animals since it will be more digestible. Hay with an ADF that is over the recommended value is the one that you should be avoiding.

 

It is also important to ensure that you are able to buy hay earlier before the summer or fall. This is to ensure that you are able to get the best stocks out there. Waiting for until this time will only leave you with leftover stocks which will almost always be poor in quality.