Claire - low sugar/startch hay

[Patti Woodbury-Kuvik]

Claire ~

Where have you been getting your hay. Connie (in Chandler) is looking
for low s/s hay to put up a year's worth.
Have you been going to the dealer and coring/testing before you
purchase?

Thanks,

Patti

[Claire Cox-Wilson]

Patti
We use to buy a yearly supply (2-3 short stacks) from Rivera hay but have not been happy with his hay the last 2-3 years.  The last 2 years  we got our hay at Bales Hay Sales but last fall their bermuda supply was pitiful in quantity & quality. So... we bought a couple of stacks from Rivera last October....big mistake...it was very unpalatable & quite a few moldy bales. I ended up throwing a lot away.

So in March of this year we started buying our hay from our little local feed store "Outwest". It has always tested under 9% in s/s( I hope I didn't jinx myself by saying that). I have tested 8 batches so far. We buy it about 2 weeks before we run out, test it & then I figure out the mineral balancing. He always gets his hay from the same grower & I have a base mix I use which I tweak with each batch ....has worked out great.
We've been buying 12 bales at a time which lasts us a little over 3 weeks.
The drawbacks are:

• he does not deliver
• & he only buys enough for 2-3 days at a time...so turnover is about every other day.
• so you can't test prior to buying.....just have to take your chances...
  

But as I said, his hay is pretty consistent & I'm pretty sure this grower always cuts his hay at  the crack of dawn...
Sorry I can't be of more help.
Claire

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Claire
http://members.cox.net/shotgun.ranch

[donna]

Clarie, I thought Greg would take the hay back if it wasn't good? I
got lucky this time from Rivera's, the hay I just tested is great. He
said it came from the Goodyear fields. My horses love it and it is
easy for Lady to chew as she was back to having quidding problems this
year.

I've never had moldy hay from Rivera's, but one stack my mare smelled
like sulfur for 6 months. Phew! I did have the sulfur tested from
that stack (.55)and it was higher than NRC, but I also tested the next
stack (.50) but no sulfur smells. I decided to have the sulfur tested
again this stack (.45) when I ordered for nitrates. Lower than the
smelly stack, but still higher than NRC. So I'm baffled what made my
mare's gas and both horse's manuer smell like sulfur.

Rivera's is the only place I've dealt with since starting to test in
May 2008. I don't really have anything to compare to and for the most
part my horses usually eat it, but there are times I wish I had
another source. I only have to buy a short stack twice a year, so
that makes it easier for me.

One thing, you gotta keep your eye on him. He usually tries to charge
for a 68 bale stack and delivers 64. He's tried that the last three
times I bought from him. I also don't trust that he really knows
which stacks were morning cuttings when asked to let us know for
testing purposes.

Donna

[Claire Cox-Wilson]

Donna
He did say he would come & pick up the 22 bales I had left and I never heard from him again.
So, I just bit the bullet & sold it as cow hay for $7/bale.....
I was very disappointed in him and haven't talked to him since.
I'm very happy with the hay we are getting now, my horses like it, it's low s/s, adequate (not too high) protein & iron levels are workable, easy to balance. I just wished he delivered & that I could buy in larger quantities, but you can't have everything....
Claire