Roughage: hay and straw
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About this section
Hay and straw in bales and loose stacks: alfalfa, mixed meadow grass, wheat and barley straw. What was cut, when it was cut and how it was kept decide the value, since a crop caught by rain loses both colour and strength. Alfalfa is bought for protein, meadow grass costs less, and straw belongs in a ration as bulk and bedding rather than as the main food. Adverts give bale weight and lot size, and the loading area shows at once, because distance sets about half of what you finally pay.
Why choose alfalfa over meadow hay?
Alfalfa carries more protein and calcium, so it goes to pregnant ewes and young stock. Meadow hay is cheaper and suits adults on maintenance. Swapping one for the other completely is a mistake, because a ration is built on need.
How much does a bale weigh?
A small rectangular bale usually runs 15 to 25 kg, a round one 250 to 500 kg depending on the press and the moisture. Sellers state bale weight in the card, and without it the cost per tonne cannot be worked out.
How can you tell good hay?
Look at colour and smell: sound hay is greenish and smells of grass, while grey dusty material was overdried or rained on. Mould and a musty smell are a reason to walk away, because such fodder poisons stock.
Is straw worth buying for bedding?
Yes, straw is taken both for bedding and as bulk in a ration. It carries little nutrition, so stock cannot live on it alone and it is combined with hay and concentrates.