Good hay?

[oldone]

Saw an ad for 2nd cutting hay. Alfalfa, Timothy mix. Rained on after it was cut. Baled dry. No musty smell no mold. Lost a little color. $2./bale. Do you think it would be OK for donkeys & goats for winter?
Thanks

[mogal]

Hi, oldone. If you could get a couple of bales to see if the animals would eat it, it would reduce your gamble. We had some grass hay baled from our place and it had rain on it twice--just tiny amounts like a very heavy dew. It was also round baled dry after being teddered, no apparent mold, but our goats won't touch it. They know better than we do. Our pasture renter baled it and it was part of our payment so no actual money out of our pocket. At least it will make mulch or compost but I hated to lose it as feed.

Sorry I couldn't give you a more definitive answer.

[oldone]

Thanks. Good idea. I'll see about getting a couple of bags tomorrow

[Maura]

No, I wouldn't. You lost nutrition when it was rained on.

[oldone]

That's why I asked. I haven't knowingly bought rained on hay before.
The man I bought hay from for years died about 8 years ago. Now I buy at a hay auction or from ads. One time at he auction I got hay that looked great all around the load but they hid the bad stuff in the middle where you couldn't see it. They even had slabs of cut wood in it. I was so passed. I took pictures of it took it too the hay auction & talked to owner. The owners banned them from ever selling there again. The owner also gave they're name to other auctions. Auctioneer wanted to give me all the money back. I wouldn't take it cause it wasn't his fault it was bad.
I just saw the ad for $2. But if it sounds too good you know it's bad.
I'm feeding 2 donkeys & 9 goats. I the winter I give the donkeys & goats some cubes or pellets to supplement the hay

[allenw]

It depends on how much rain it had on it Mostly alfalfa that was a bit bleached on top when baled, what is often called stripped in some areas, I would go for it. Bleached all the way through or mostly I would be hesitant. I don't have a clue about how timothy is affected by rain, I know some grasses can easily loose protein when rained on.

[oldone]

I went to hay auction Sat. bought 2 different loads of 2nd cutting both nice & green. I also made a deal with the one man to buy another 75 -100 bales. He'll bring that when he has some free time. I won't pay for that until it comes. Looks & smells great. Donkeys & goats love it. I will have more than enough to last to spring.
Thanks for the help