Every yr, billions of pounds are dropped all over the globe to inadequate feed storage in the equine field.
Deficiency of effectiveness in secure management can generate your price range sky high. Having said that, proper storage of hay and grain can assist you help you save on functioning fees and make feed safer and far more wholesome for your equine companions.
Obtaining Hay and Grain in Bulk – Is it a Very good Plan?
Most horse entrepreneurs try out to purchase as much hay and grain in bulk as they can. This tends to make for a extra successful use of time, saves money, and allows them prevent becoming caught out if there is a weather conditions crisis or lack.
These times, anything from covid-related transportation delays to climate transform can result in feed out of the blue starting to be unavailable.
But if you want to order feed in progress, it’s greatest to have a system in place to safeguard quality and decrease risks like spontaneous combustion. You study that the right way. Under certain situations, refreshing hay that is stacked tightly can achieve temperatures that enable it to capture fireplace.
You could possibly imagine that moist, clean hay is a lot less inclined to combustion, but essentially, recently cut hay can get exceedingly sizzling when stacked up. Moisture ranges of about 25-35 % can precipitate microbial overgrowth, which in flip makes incredible quantities of warmth. Bales of hay can be so sizzling that they ignite.
Mainly because of fire dangers and other problems, abide by these risk-free storage protocols for hay:
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- Attempt not to keep hay in the exact building where by horses are stabled.
- Hang outstanding signage indicating cigarette smoking is forbidden in and about the stables, and make guaranteed alarms and fire suppression systems are checked regularly.
- Use an digital humidity probe to check out dampness concentrations in distinct sections of the hay storage space when stacking new bales. Preferably, you want hay that’s underneath 14-20 per cent dampness (based on sizing) and no higher than a temperature of 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit). Sizzling bales must be removed and spread.
- Smoking bales or bales that are so hot they simply cannot be touched inside or out, need to not be unfold out, as the boost in obtainable oxygen can induce them to burn off.
- Hay bales that smell like caramel may well be also sizzling and prepared to combust.
- Keep hay in which it’s not subject to climate, leaks, or ground dampness (use wood pallets).
- Stack bales with area for air to flow into amongst them.
- Do not pile bales much too large or as well deep, which also lessens mishaps to humans.
- Use a initial-in, initially-out process when feeding, so older hay will get used up first.









How lengthy can you keep hay? It depends on your local weather. In more humid places, adequately guarded hay will previous a several several years just after its slicing horse homeowners in dryer locations might be capable to use hay for yrs or even decades past that. Hay loses most of its nutritional value in the initially couple of months following slicing, and right after that, losses plateau, other than vitamin A (see underneath).
Grain, however, doesn’t very last as prolonged:
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- A 12 months for unprocessed total grains
- Six months for pellets (heat processed)
- 3 months for most unopened sacs of textured feeds
- A number of weeks or a month for rolled oats in warm, humid weather




Soon after that, grains can shed vitamins and minerals and come to be rancid, specifically all those with higher body fat material. Including oil or molasses also lessens shelf existence.
