th<\/sup>, quality decreases rapidly.<\/p>\nRelative feed quality (RFQ) is a lab analysis used to estimate the energy and digestibility of a forage.\u00a0 A non-pregnant idle mare requires a hay RFQ of 100-115.\u00a0 This would be a hay containing little legume, relatively weed free, mostly grass hay cut in mid to later June. \u00a0\u00a0A nursing mare requires a RFQ hay of 120-145.<\/p>\n
The fairest way to buy hay is by the ton corrected to 12-15% moisture.\u00a0 Many horse owner\u2019s bock at this method.\u00a0 Historically hay has been purchased by the bale.\u00a0 Bales vary greatly in average weight.\u00a0 Small square bales are the most costly to make and will vary the most in weight.\u00a0\u00a0 The perception is that the average small square bale will weigh 45 pounds is a common myth.\u00a0 If the buyer is paying $3.00 per bale and assumes the bale weighs 45# ($133.33\/ton) and the bale weighs closer to 38 pounds; the actual price per ton is $157.89 per ton.\u00a0 In other words, the buyer paid almost $25.00 more per ton than they thought they were paying (16% more).<\/p>\n
What is a fair price per ton of primarily grass hay with a RFQ of 100-120.\u00a0 \u00a0The difficulty with producing grass hay is the need to properly dry the hay in the spring when rain and cool weather hinder the drying process.\u00a0 Another disadvantage in growing grasses verses alfalfa is that the grasses have a root system that is 4-8 inches deep compared to alfalfa which can have a tap root 1-2 feet or deeper.\u00a0 This allows the alfalfa plant to produce much more forage in latter summer when rain is less abundant.\u00a0 Alfalfa hay will yield 4-6 tons of dry matter per acre where grass hay will average closer to 2.25 tons per per growing season.<\/p>\n
This much lower yield increases the cost to grow grass horse hay.\u00a0 At 2.25 tons per acre the cost to grow and make grass hay will be $125.00 per ton of hay from the field.\u00a0 Add transportation cost and the labor to get the hay into and out of the barn to sell at the auction and the producer is often losing a considerable amount of money. \u00a0\u00a0A fair price when buying first crop hay out of the field would be\u00a0 $140.00\/ton.<\/p>\n
Horse owners should try to find a hay supplier that fertilizes well, sells you the quality of hay you need for the age and activity of your horse and is primarily weed free and as free of dusty molds as possible.\u00a0 The buyer must understand the true cost and struggles the grower has in the production of quality horse hay and pay a fair price.<\/p>\n
Greg Booher
\nFarm Business Instructor
\nLakeshore\/Moraine Park Technical College
\ngreg.booher@gotoltc.edu<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Before diving into the myths surrounding the buying of horse hay, let\u2019s briefly review the horse\u2019s digestive system.\u00a0 Even though the horse can consume forages they do not have the same 4-compartment digestive system as doze the ruminant.\u00a0 A mature dairy cow has a rumen as big as a barrel.\u00a0 The rumen is a large […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"coauthors":[27],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Myths Abound in Buying Horse Hay - Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n