Wet bales

[flying belgian]

I tried my best to beat the rain. Baled 20 bales of the best hay all year. 3rd cutting alfalfa. Got 15 in the shed but the last 5 just got 3/4 inch rain before I got them picked up. If I space them out in the shed for a few days will they keep there color? Or should I just pile them outside with the rest of my rained on bales?

I have no livestock so can't feed. I sell all my hay.

 

[rrlund]

Let them dry and put them in the barn. They're not hurt a bit.

 

[Ray,IN]

IMO they are OK for cattle, sheep, goats; horses-NO. Years ago we used to sprinkle a few handfuls of salt over wet bales to prevent mold.

 

[farmersamm]

That's not "wet hay". Wet hay is when it's put up wet. All you had was a bit of rain. At most........any "damage" might extend 3/4" inside the bale at the outside diameter. If it was baled tight, most of the water runs off of it, like a thatched roof. That's the whole point of round bales.

Animals will eat it fine. It's the idiots looking to buy it that might find it objectionable........if they even know what they're looking at.

I think you're fine.

That stuff will suffer more damage when it's put out in a feeder, and sits for days, while they eat on it. Once it's broken open, a round bale might as well be a square bale.

 

[farmersamm]

Here's a little funsy for ya...........

If you drive by a field, and marvel at the beautiful green bales...................drive by again in about 3-4 days.

There's a pretty good chance that those bales will be starting to look like eggs. It was put up with too much moisture, and as it dries out.......the bales will begin to lay down.

That is wet hay