Hey, y'all. I've been the un-happy recipient of some questionable alfalfa from my local feed store... I'm not in a position to be going back and forth and trading out bad bales every time I come across one, however, they will honor their product. So, this hay is not moldy, but musty... I think it was baled too tight and never got a chance to dry out properly. I'm feeding goats with it and they pick around it (they also get a grass mix hay, so they're not starving). Does anyone have any idea if you can 'refresh' the hay? Could one separate the flakes and let them air out a bit? How about steaming it? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks, dh in nm

-- debra in nm (dhaden@nmtr.unm.edu), December 13, 2000

Answers

I can't say for goats, but I never feed questionable hay to my horses. We have a neighbor with steers and we throw the not-so-great hay to them. I don't think you can fix it once it's gotten musty. Can you just stack the bad ones to the side and exchange them all at once?

-- elle (eagle-quest@juno.com), December 13, 2000.

That is what I would do or possibly trade it to somebody local with cows.

-- Tom (Calfarm@msn.com), December 13, 2000.

If you are not very careful Debra you will be on the forum in a few weeks, asking about neurological disease from feeding moldy hay, Listerosis! Questionable hay even for free simply isn't worth the chance of killing your stock. Feed only the very best bales and be very careful. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), December 13, 2000.

I am agreeing with Vicki. I don't know particulars about goats, but there are some real neurotoxins that develope in badly cured hay. I think what you've got there is called 'compost'.

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), December 14, 2000.

Thanks, everyone. I'm sure I'll hear more later on. No, as a former horse owner, I'd never feed questionable hay to horses... but know since goats tend to pick around bad stuff, I thought I'd ask. Yes, I'm putting the musty stuff aside. Last week I took two half bales back to the feed store and they traded me one good one, no questions asked. Sometimes it pays to be a well-known face! dh in nm

-- debra in nm (dhaden@nmtr.unm.edu), December 14, 2000.

Musty or moldy hay will lead to respiratory problems. The only good use for questionable hay is as mulch. Had a problem with my milk cow coughing and with a runny nose....asked someone who knew more than I did and they asked about the hay I was feeding. Sure enough that was the problem. It is a lot cheaper to buy good hay than to pay a vet for a sick animal.

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), December 14, 2000.

Feeding, or even handling "musty" hay, can give you, or your goats, heaves, a respiratory condition like chronic bronchitis, proper name, COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. I know, I had a horse develop it after exposure to "musty" hay, never again will I be so stupid! Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), December 15, 2000.

If the hay is just lightly dusty, or if you already have a horse/livestock with COPD, soak the hay in water for 20-30 minutes and feed it right away. If there is the slightest indication of mold or must the hay I toss it. Livestock with COPD should be outside as much as possible.

My daughter's soon-to-be 21 year old barrel horse has a minor problem with COPD and any type of hay fed in the barn will start him coughing. I feed beet pulp along with his grain (to fill him up), and soak his hay thoroughly at night while he's in the barn. He also doesn't drink well in the winter and I'm always worried about impaction colic so I soak 2-3 alfalfa cubes in a bucket of warm water- he drinks his "tea" right down.

Stacy Rohan

-- Stacy Rohan (KincoraFarm@aol.com), December 20, 2000.