Per animal, per bedding per year is the best way to care for your animals. The average non-profit does about 60–90 pounds of hay per year, which is enough to stay current. However, if you are not keeping up with your animals, then you are wasting a lot of money.
Buying commercial bedding is an easy way to take care of your animals. Most stores sell large boxes that are labeled as “bales of hay” or “felts.” These may be sufficient for two or two dozen animals, but if you have more then that then more!
Bullet point: How much hay should you buy?
There are two main things to look at when buying hay: the volume and the cost. How much money you have to spend will determine whether you should buy cheaper or more expensive quality hay.
The volume of the box you buy determines how much space the hay has to grow. Smaller boxes require more space than larger ones due to production costs.
Contents:
Understanding the equation
When looking at lots of hay, it’s important to understand the equation. There are Parallel Bales, Single Bales, and Deliberate Bales. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Parallel Bales are usually laid out in a pattern and then grouped by owner. The owner then decides which kind of hay they want to use for their bales.
Single bales are just one piece of hay placed together without a pattern or grouping. It can be difficult to match up the layers of hay due to the differences in texture.
Deliberate bails are put on at each end of the bale to ensure an even thickness. This is done so there is enough moisture in the bale to hold heat from the fire or stoves used to cook the hay.
Assumptions involved in the equation
When determining how much hay should be in a bale of hay calculation, there are some factors that must be considered. These factors can be broken down into two groups: environmental demands and storage requirements.
Environmental demands include things such as temperature, rainfall, soil moisture, and animal defecation. When these conditions change, so do the needs of your hay.
Storage demands include things such as whether the hay is damp or wet, whether it is stored in a sealed container or with other materials, and whether the storage conditions are stable or not.
Knowing these differences can help you determine what amount of hay your bales of hay should have!
When looking at storage demands and environmental demands together, the average person comes up with an equation that includes 5 lb per cubic foot for moisture content and 5% for environmental stability.
How many rounds of cutting are required?
When cutting hay, the amount of rounds you make depends on how many bales of hay you have in yourHay cutter. There are two types of Hay cutters: corded and cordless. Corded Hay cutters require you hold a button down for a few seconds to activate the motor, and then you can rotate the hay bale to stack it.
Cordless Hay cutters do not require you hold a button down for a few seconds to activate the motor, but you must still change the angle of the hay bale to stack it. This requires more dexterity than using aHay cutter with a cord, because you must hold onto the blade while rotating it.
Reusable grocery bags may also come in two sizes: one that is too small and one that is too big. The smaller bag may prevent your gadget from breaking down the material when trying to collect enough hay, or it may not give enough space to easily stack all of the hay bales.
What is the yield rate?
The yield rate is the amount of hay per bale of wheat. This number can be important to know if you are looking at new or old hay. Old hay has a higher yield rate because it has been lying around in storage. New hay has a lower yield rate because it has to be cut and prepared before storage.
Old hay may have been lying around in storage for some time, sometimes even years! Many producers will say it is good for the soil as it is older, but we recommend checking with your local soil scientists first.
New wheat may not have been prepared prior to storage, which can lead to some wasted effort by the handler. Any difference in moisture content must be accounted for as well.
What is the price of hay?
For most people, the cost of hay is around $1 per bale of horse hay. However, there are some places that offer much more expensive horse hay. Some can charge as high as $4 per bale!
How much money you have left to buy horse feed and supplies should not be a factor when it comes to buying horse hay. While more expensive, higher quality hay can help your horses pay better in the long run.
Start checking prices for horse hay by looking on websites such as Website Umarea and HorseEarth. These sites connect you with people who have older horses that need more bedding or someone who has cheap turnout Equipment that you can exchange for more durable equipment. Neither of these sites offer sales pressure, only updates and new members are added every week!
It is also helpful to check local barns to see if they sell theirHay at a lower price than online or through websites.
How much land is required to grow enough hay for your animal(s)?
While there are many sales places where you can buy hay, it is important to know the type of hay your animal needs for optimal health.
Some types of hay are better for your animals than others. Many animals do not need the heavier, spring-type hay found in most markets. Others require more moisture or shorter dry times before feeding.
We recommend our clients contact their local barn to ask about their crops of hay and what type of animals they have that need it. Most barns will happy to let you borrow some for free!
There are several types of Hay available: Spring & Winter, Light & Heavy, Individual & Bales, and Even & Odd Lengths. Each has its own benefits and limitations regarding what type of animal needs it and how much it takes.
Is commercial or home-grown better?
There’s no wrong way to grow hay. Some land-owners allow you to, some do not. It is the growing process that varies little between the two methods.
In both cases, you must know how to create a hayfield for your pasture. In both cases, you must create and manage your hayfield system. In both cases, you must provide people with information about your hayfield and how to take care of it.
People have been harvesting and using grass for food for almost as long as they have been growing crops. So, there is not much of a “new” concept of farming that comes with new technologies.
However, technology does play a role in determining what tool you need forgrowing grass at your site.
What is the best type of grass for making hay?
There are several different types of grass for making hay. Some common ones are Bermuda, clover, fescue, and bermuda. Each has its own benefits when it comes to making hay.
Bebermes, or clover grass, is one of the easiest types of grass to care for. It can be tamed as a farmer tends to it with cuttings every few years to establish a new growth season.
If you are looking to make more cash in the hay business, try selling high-quality cobs or bombers that have not been dried yet. They tend to sell better due to their moisture content.
Bermuda grass has some people looking at it with suspicion, but it does make good hay. It takes some trial and error, but eventually you will find the right type of grass for you.