timothy hay is a grass a hay and can vary on the protein level depending on where is grown. alfalfa is your clover hay and protein levels will vary on where it is grown. we feed a mxture of grass and alfalfa. some alfalfa hay is very high depending where we get it from and can cause problems in horses if fed a lot of it all the time. especially in horses that are not being work daily, the more the horse is worked the easier it is for them to burn feed off . some feeds are to hot for idle animals ….we only feed grain when the ranch or rodeo horses are working heavy

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After you have purchased the best quality horse hay you can locate, it is necessary to pay attention to how your hay is stored.  In Florida for example, humidity and temperatures are high. Dry hay can absorb moisture from the air especially when hay is stacked in a breezeway with the doors on both ends open during rainy days. Dry hay approximately 18% moisture or lower stored in an environment of around 90% moisture in the air and the breeze flowing through the breezeway positions that hay to absorb moisture like a wick on an old-time lantern.

Hay must be kept dry so if you’re storing it in a barn make sure there’s no roof leaks or water drainage problems.  Also pay attention for the accumulation of condensation on the inside of your roof.  You can lose the whole top row of stacked hay just from condensation penetrating one to two inches into the top row causing heavy dust concentrations. Use a plastic tarp to channel water away from bales. Keep an eye out for rodents. Rats and mice can contaminate your hay. Plug any entrances with steel wool. If you can’t keep them out, cats and black snakes are great mousers!

Horse hay should not be stacked directly on concrete or dirt. The use of used pallets or placing a bed of heavy chaff four to six inches thick under your stack of hay works very well. I have seen a layer of plastic covered with a layer of gravel then a layer of chaff to be good for storage as well. Stacking hay in summer in hot humid climates can benefit by leaving some space on all sides to breathe by not having contact with walls. Square bales can be stacked on edge with narrow gaps between rows to also assist breathing in summer. Heat can be checked in the bales by driving a metal rod into the centers. Use older hay first. Pull old bales to the front or side before stacking in new hay, and feed older hay first before starting on the fresher supply.

Outside storage suggestions (best don’t do it but if necessary purchase smaller amounts and rotate often). For outside storage, hay should be stacked on pallets preferably on higher ground to prevent water runoff from storms penetrating stack. Some type of ventilated platform to keep ground moisture from infiltrating the bales would also work. Protecting stacked hay with tarps should be only considered if stack is sharply peaked at the top to prevent water from pooling on top of stack (very important). Tarps also prevent fading from the sun leaving hay somewhat brittle as well as nutrient losses.

For more of your Florida horse hay needs visit www.FloridaHorseHay.com

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