I need hay.

[dhardawa]

I need or order some good hay. I know I'm supposed to get the second cutting, but I was on the Oxbow site and can't find one that says it is the second cut. What do I want?? Thanks.

Dana

 

[dagwellismypigy]

all oxbow timmy is second cut.

 

[aqh88]

You don't have to get a specific cutting. Besides at this time of year they are most likely going to be selling the last cutting of the previous year for most hays and 2nd cutting would have been sitting around for quite awhile collecting dust and losing nutritional value. It depends what time of year you order as to what cutting you get. If you order again toward the end of spring you'll probably get newly cut first cutting hay. Which for me and all my neighbors at least is always the greenest and freshest hay but the shortest and least amount too. Right now you'll get the more mature dustier hay that has been stored over winter. dagwellismypigy where did you hear oxbow only sells 2nd cut? I know they cut it slightly early so it's greener and has less seed heads but I never heard they don't sell their first and 3rd cuttings online. Dunno if they get a 4th or 5th cutting in Nebraska.

 

[dagwellismypigy]

well it says on the bag 2nd cut, Iv'e never seen it say 1st or 2rd or 4th or 5th. Thats why I presume it is indeed 2nd cut.

 

[PumpkinPunk]

2nd cut hay has more nutrition and is often greener than first cut. the reason 2nd cut timothy has less seed heads is because they only grow heads once, so once they're cut for the year (in 1st cut) they don't grow back. also, hay won't lose nutritional value within the year as long as it's stored in a dry place with air circulation and out of the sun. as far as what oxbow sells, I don't know (sorry) I get my hay from the barn that I ride (horses) at.

 

[aqh88]

My horse vet said within a year hay loses 40% of nutritional value if stored in a dark dry place. In the sun it loses more like 60%. We don't grow timothy in Iowa very often so I don't know timothy specifics.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Dhardawa, I don't know where you live but (broken link removed) has the most wonderful hay you will ever find. Right now she has 3rd cut timmy that I have heard is to die for. And she has bluegrass now known as blue orchard grass that is absolutely terrific. My pigs have had her bluegrass.

 

[aqh88]

*pulls out notes from horse nutrition class* Fat soluble vitamins in sun dried hay will break down within 60-90days. Vitamin A, E, and D deficiency can occur during winter months. It is more commonly seen in fast growing beef cattle. Two injections of at least vit E are reccommended for cattle over long winters. Vitamin A is completely absent from hay in 6-12months. Supplement hay with grain toward the end of the winter to avoid vitamin deficiencies.

The college doesn't keep their hay beyond 1 year and I usually sell off my extra when we get in the next year's cutting. Not that anyone will really buy year old hay unless they don't care and just want to feed their animals cheaply. I generally avoid ordering grass hay from oxbow in later winter-early spring because I know that much hay stored over that much has to be losing some nutritional value. A smaller amount can be kept indoors completely away from the weather much better and might last a bit longer. Even building stored hay is subject to dew collection and temperature changes from day to night.