June Hay

joshow

Hi,

I made hay in June during the good weather. It was extremely dry and I’m sure was fit to bale. It got no rain and I was worried that it might be too dry

Now when I look at my bales they are brown and dusty in the centre on the outside.

They seem ok a few inches into the bale.

Is this from heating?

I'm feeding horses so very concerned about it. I have attached a couple of pictures from the shed.

thanks

Josh

weatherbyfoxer

They are after heating a bit by the looks of it,the heat travelled up through the centers as its the softest part of the bale,you will know the full story but they could be dusty when you go to feed them,just for the future an idea might be an idea to wrap you grass when you reckon it's 1 day off fit for hay,we do alot of that for equine customers and none have went back to hay

joshow

Yes, weird thing is though that it doesn’t seem in the bale. Only the first few inches.

Also it’s only on the top bales, row underneath seems fine

TinyMuffin

3 bales high?

how long before they were drew in.

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121170013#Comment_121170013

+1

How long after bailing were the drew into the shed.

joshow

Yeah 3 high. Drew in straightaway. Just thought they were so dry….

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121170474#Comment_121170474

Unfortunately even in a good hay rearing year like we had in June people are too quick to draw bales into a shed. Hay when baled will always heat a little so it's best to leave the bales in the field for a few days to cool before drawing them into the shed.

TinyMuffin

Yes hay that doesn’t heat a little is no good. Sap in green hay will heat. Let it season out in the field for a while.

50HX

And yet plenty of posters will & have said if it's fit to bale it's fit to stack

limo_100

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121170519#Comment_121170519

I make 100 bales in June and I don't have a loader so 3 people let me down and I didn't get it in for a month and got some very heavy rain they didn't look great when I got them stacked but have to say they look completely different now looks great hay. What would the feed quality be off good June Hay?

kk.man

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121170927#Comment_121170927

It be very good. I often leave it out for ten days ish but did a two week stint once in heavy rain..no bother. A friend has a hay barn which the wind blows through an open gable end he leaves them on the ground on their side for a while before stacking them.

If it's very soft leafy grass, as often is with late May and June hay it can be more prone to heat too.

I often find July/August hay is drier. Which mightn't make it better quality as it has more traithnins and half done on the shank.

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121170907#Comment_121170907

They might say it but they’re wrong. Hay needs to breath outside for a week or ten days after baling.

Jb1989

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121171196#Comment_121171196

@Sami23

Dunedin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121171196#Comment_121171196

100%

Sami23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121171196#Comment_121171196

That might be the case for Hay that was maybe not quite fit to bale but Hay that is cracking fit to bale can be put into the shed no problem.

That's what I always do and never a problem with it.

The Hay in those pictures looks a little rotten in the middle.

lakill Farm

i baled hay that same time , both round and square . it didnt heat as i left outside for about a week until as close to the weather breaking as was safe .

its a little trickier with small squares as im moving with flat 8 grab & sleigh

893bet

I think if it’s fit to bale it’s fit to stack.

Problem is most lads bale a touch too early. When you are used to silage hay might seem cracking dry with it not being.

Rule of thumb….when you think it’s fit….leave it another day if you can.

White Clover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121172215#Comment_121172215

It depends. Experience means a lot. I baled a lot of hay back in the day, some of it is left get too dry altogether.

Jb1989

It's said may and June hay can take extra heating and still be fine feeding as it is usually pure grass.

July and August hay can have weeds and stems, all of which can vary in heat after baling thus affecting quality more so.

TinyMuffin

I’d love to spray some propcorn onto good dry green grass and see what would happen.

Silverdream

When Hay heats it's usually because it was too fresh when baling, it's not enough for the hay to be dry it needs to be fully wilted. June Hay or heavily fertilized hay can be very leafy and needs extra time. You can get away with fresh hay by making loose bales, especially small squares and stack the in the field for a few days. Round bales can be made loose too but often the baler is set up to make silage bales and over pack the bales for hay.

vincenzolorenzo

Hay wasn't fit. Any time we ever made hay here it was straight off the field into the shed. Never had heating like that

2smiggy

made hay during the good spell of weather in september. only took off the fields monday and tuesday. perfect. better to leave outside rather than bring in early