Buying hay

[mydaddysjag]

Since were bringing Domingo home (hes been boarded since we got him) I need to get some hay for him. In my area second cut wont be ready until late july-august. Until then would I be better to buy 2010 second cut, or 2011 first cut? Normally first cut in my area is stemmy.

 

[Marty]

How about buy one of each and do a comparrison!

 

[targetsmom]

Marty has a good idea if you can do that. But I was also thinking that those of us who still have second cutting hay in our barns from last year could have this same choice. I know I would rather be feeding last year's nice soft second cutting hay than whatever first cut might be available now. Now, if last year's hay was not that good, THEN, I might want the first cut from this year.

 

[mydaddysjag]

Ill see if I can get my hands on both. If this years first cut is anything like last years, I defiantly wont get any. First cut around here is almost as coarse as straw. Actually, I mistook it as straw before lol. My boarding barn used to feed first cut and I started buying my own chopped hay for Domingo because I didn't want him to have it. Hopefully last years second cut was nice. Price wise they are both $2.75 for small square bales. Im planning to just get enough until this years second cut comes around.

 

[CKC]

In my area of Virginia they have been getting a fairly nice 1st cutting this year, but I prefer 2nd cutting(they even got 3rd and 4th cuttings last year that were also, beautiful). I have found that we can't feed any stalky hay to our miniatures. Our hay is also, sent through a processor so it's cut in smaller pieces. Our hay guy ran out of 2nd cutting from last year and the hay we found from someone else has some stalk in it. As soon as we started feeding it we had horses with loose stools. Can't wait until the 2nd cutting is ready. We've had so much rain that it's been hard on them even getting the first cutting this year.

 

[CZP1]

I just got a load of 15 bales of fescue (for free). It is very stemmy and I still have an orchard mix that is second cutting from the feed store. My horse LOVES the second cutting better. I have mixed them both together and he is leaving the fescue.

I think the neighbor may take the stemmy stuff they also have big horses and it is easier for them to eat. I find that the minis love the softer type hay than the stemmy stuff.

I was also feeding the chopped hay and my guy loves that too but it is $20.00 a bag here and only 50#, compared to the 70# bale for $12.99. I only have one mini right now, so I only want to feed him the best. So I guess the best thing to do is compare and see what he will eat.