How can you tell what quality of it you have? I've never had alfalfa before this year and i took some in on trade with a horse. I really just wanna know how good the hay they sent was. Some of it is more of a sage color and looks less coarse and some of it supper green and I wouldn't say sticky but it defiantly looks stiff. Really like to know which is better. And what to look for next year.
Posted 2014-02-22 6:52 AM Subject: RE: Alfalfa hay
Expert
Posts: 1367 Location: mi
can very alot. A decent first cutting will be medium green (on inside at least) with nice amounts of little leafs that want to fall off every time you move it. and should be fairly soft. each cutting after that will be softer, greener, and leafier.
I have found I just do the taste test. I tend to have several different types of hay just because I have to get it from whom I can. So my horses are always getting a mix from different fields. I just take and throw the different types in different areas and if its a day I can pay attention I know what is the tastiest and so on down the line to the kind they don't really care for and only eat when everything else is gone.
I have some first cutting alfalfa in the barn that came off the feild late it is nice and green but pretty tough. They all eat the grass hay prior to eating that alfalfa. That never happens but this stuff must be none too tastey cuz they all do it. To look at it looks ok. but they sure don't think so.
Posted 2014-02-22 7:05 AM Subject: RE: Alfalfa hay
Veteran
Posts: 222 Location: Texas
I'm not in the hay business I just feed it. You can have it sent off and analyzed but here's what we look for when buying hay. Color, thickness,moisture and Texture. Color you want a rich green with small blue/purple flowers Thickness you want to see how many leaves vs stem there are and the thickness of the stem. You don't want a super thick stem. Next is moisture. if it's to dry and the leaves come off ( leaves is where the nutrients are) then the horses have a harder time eating it. And if it's to wet mold/could set your barn on fire. Texture is nice soft leaves/flowers and a soft stem. Don't discount the sun bleaching as that can hide really nice hay. And this late in the year ( at least where we are) you are getting into the crappier quality hay. My professor always said to know if your hay is great or not with out analyzing it get naked and lay in the hay. She also said you should always get a second opinion LOL
Alfalfa hay
