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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

How long can you store hay?

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Bobby

07-18-2003 21:17:29




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I have some hay that's been in my barn for over a year, and I'm wondering if its any good to feed to my beef cattle. Does grass hay have a "shelf life"? Will they even eat it when the winter months come around? The hay has been stacked nicely and kept very dry while being stored in the barn.

Thanks!

Bobby in VA




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Mike (WA)

07-21-2003 08:09:07




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 Re: How long can you store hay? in reply to Bobby, 07-18-2003 21:17:29  
The first farm we bought was owned by an old fellow who covered up the holes in the hay loft floor by keeping a couple feet of old hay on the floor (and knowing where and where not to step!). I didn't step in the right places, and fell through a couple times- that was painful on the legs!. I decided it was time to get rid of the old stuff and repair the floor. I pitched it out the door- mostly old oat straw and grass. Made a pile clear to the level of the loft. I didn't have time to haul it away to compost until the next weekend, but the cows saved me the trouble- ate it all up. This was in June, when they still had plenty of pasture, too.

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It'll Beat Snowballs!!

07-20-2003 06:19:53




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 Re: How long can you store hay? in reply to Bobby, 07-18-2003 21:17:29  
We fed some hay that had been stored since 1979 in early 2002. I know because I was the one that stacked it. Within one day it was licked clean, you could barely tell that any hay had been fed on the ground.



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Chris L

07-19-2003 20:11:04




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 Re: How long can you store hay? in reply to Bobby, 07-18-2003 21:17:29  
it will keep until all other hay does - until it turns into compost..... .



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paul

07-19-2003 15:33:23




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 Re: How long can you store hay? in reply to Bobby, 07-18-2003 21:17:29  
In the late 1970's I feed out several tons of loose-stacked hay that had a 1952 newspaper stacked into it. Several months worth. The cattle did just fine. We also feed some grain.

Some say the hay looses a few % of minerals/ vitamins, but if it is not their sole feed, should work just fine for you. It did for me.

--->Paul



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Chas in Tn.

07-19-2003 15:21:22




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 Re: How long can you store hay? in reply to Bobby, 07-18-2003 21:17:29  
The hay is still ok. If you have a few tons I would have it tested just before feeding, if the protein and energy is low, add cottonseed meal in your salt for cattle, at half and half rate or where they will eat 1/2 to 3/4 lb per day of CSM. This works for me in bad and damaged hay.



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Firetruck

07-19-2003 12:23:36




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 Re: How long can you store hay? in reply to Bobby, 07-18-2003 21:17:29  
It seems I've read somewhere hay loses its nutients at about 10 - 20% a year. One year old hay will be fine.



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Nutritionist

07-19-2003 05:32:29




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 Re: How long can you store hay? in reply to Bobby, 07-18-2003 21:17:29  
Well, let's put it this way, if it ends up having no food value and it's maybe even harmful but the animals eat it anyways, it's just plain old junk food which all of us seem to eat so I say go for it.



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here, try this

07-19-2003 04:34:07




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 Re: How long can you store hay? in reply to Bobby, 07-18-2003 21:17:29  
hay stored outside in western nebraska seems to meld down a dissapear after 5 or 6 years but hay stored inside should last forever. We fed bales to horses that had been in the barn 15- 20 years.



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bob

07-19-2003 21:24:37




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 Re: Re: How long can you store hay? in reply to here, try this, 07-19-2003 04:34:07  
I have fed cattle hay that was 8-10 yrs old. No problem as long as stored in dry.



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Dale

07-19-2003 02:53:38




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 Re: How long can you store hay? in reply to Bobby, 07-18-2003 21:17:29  
You can feed hay for years, it will gradually lose feed value and palatability to the point where eventually they won't eat it but as long as it went in dry and has stayed dry no problem.



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Sid

07-18-2003 23:55:38




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 Re: How long can you store hay? in reply to Bobby, 07-18-2003 21:17:29  
I do not know for sure but I have fed hay that was three years old they gained on it. they did have acces to minerals.



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toolman

07-18-2003 21:42:34




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 Re: How long can you store hay? in reply to Bobby, 07-18-2003 21:17:29  
it should be fine , might lose some of it nutrition, but should still be worth feeding



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