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Post by gotkiger on Mar 12, 2012 19:23:05 GMT -5
So it has taken a while but I have located some Timothy hay. I haven't bought timothy before only alfalfa and Bermuda so is there any advice on what I am looking for. All I know so far is that it is from british cOlumbia just north of the Washington border. Bright green and nice from what the guy says. What do I need to look for in this hay good and bad. Thanks
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Post by mystickiger on Mar 12, 2012 20:24:51 GMT -5
What to look for in timothy vs alfalfa isn't that much different. The nutritional content of the hay will vary based on many things such as the actual field it comes from, the maturity at harvest, the time of harvest, the conditions at harvest. With timothy, 2nd cutting is normally the best due to less weed content; atleast in my area. That's not to say that a well tended, newly seeded field of 1st cutting isn't good too. If timothy is harvested beyond maturity it tends to be very stemy and dry yielding less nutritional value. By the same token I tend to be leary of really green timothy due to mold content. Timothy really needs to dry before baling to avoid molding. As in all hay, mold and dust are the biggest things to watch for. I get my hay from the same supplier yearly and have it tested every 2 years to be sure of the protein, calcium, and phosphorus levels not to mention the non existent selenium in our area. There is very little fluctuation in nutritional levels coming from the same supplier who rotates fields.
Purchasing outside of the area, I think that I would ask for an analysis of the hay which will show moisture content and nutrients. Have you considered feeding cubes which are less risky given the fact that you are unable to see the hay before delivery?
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Post by DianneC on Mar 12, 2012 21:02:50 GMT -5
a reputable hay rep should be able to show you a picture from a cell phone. Even my good hay dealer sent me too mature Timothy with large dry seed heads and big stocks. Now I go by and see it. another batch of Timothy and grass mix looked great, but when opened the grass had gone to seed and the little seeds get into the horses coats like you wouldn't believe. I may have to send it back.
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Post by gotkiger on Mar 13, 2012 0:25:38 GMT -5
Actually I can go see it before delivery. The guy won't sell it unless you look at it. I'm not sure if he has an analyses but if he does what exctly am I looking for as far as the levels go (I haven't looked for that before)
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Post by gotkiger on Mar 13, 2012 0:29:20 GMT -5
Cubes are so expensive here, $20 for 50 lbs, because no one uses them here. The hay I can get in my area is like $12-13 a bale for the Timothy At about 75 lbs a bale
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Post by kigerfan on Mar 13, 2012 9:32:16 GMT -5
Alfalfa here is 21.00, Bermuda is 18.00, don't have timothy, Orchard is 21.00. Bales range 90 to 120 pounds
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Post by prizmbluekigers on Mar 16, 2012 12:50:25 GMT -5
And I thought $220 a ton was bad for a winter price. I should pay $165/tpn for GOOD orchard grass hay in June. I have been buying from this person for a few years and the hay is tested yearly so protein is about 11-13%. He sells grass, orchard grass and alfalfa so I can customize what I feed if the need arises. Hay prices west of the Cascades - Eugene and Springfield was $130 a ton several weeks ago. It is expensive for us with gas prices so high so the trip expense would be almost the same as buying locally.
Our hay comes is grown in Southeastern Oregon - Christmas Valley mostly but some is grown closer to home.
I consider my hay guy to be as precious as my vet and more important than my farrier so we keep smiling at him and he always delivers wuality product. I have not had to reject a bale in 4 years.
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