What is hay?

hay is a general name for a number of dried grass, flowers and other plants used as an off -season food for horses and other animals. Producers usually grow rye grass, oats or alfalfa in large open fields and wait for the leaves to achieve specific maturity, generally just before their flowering phase. Grass or plants are then cut by machines and remain on the ground for several days. At this stage, excessive rain may be problematic. Some hay growers turn cut grass for even more drying, a process called Tedding. The back of the package creates rectangular or round bales of hay held together with a wire. These packages are left in the field until other workers cannot collect them. Traditional rectangular packages are generally stored in special barns called Haymows or Hay Lofts. Modern round packages are usually stacked together in a dry outdoor place and covered with a special plastic sail to protect the weather.

Fresh hay packages continue to swear on the spot for several months. Because the packages are relatively heavy, the compression force can help the bottom of the packages to dry even faster. One of the problems faced by farmers is excessive heat generated by compression of wet grass in the center of packages. For this reason, most HayLofts are airy and open in the barn. If the hay is stored in unmistakable areas, excessive heat could actually cause fire in the attic.

During the winter months or in areas where fresh grass is not easily accessible, rankers and farmers usually rely on hay to feed their horses. It is not always as nutritional as normal feed, but it has enough vitamins and roughness to keep the animals healthy for several months. It could help think of it as a form of granola or breakfast cereal for horses. Some hay supplies can be rot or fermented, which is useless for feed, but ideal for garden mulch.

Since rye grass and alfalfa continue to grow all year round, hay manufacturers can be able to reduce the same field up to three times before winter. This may prove to be beneficial for local farmers and ranch, because supplies can sometimes be dangerously low. Some hay sold as an emergency or cheap feed can lead to malnutrition and other problems, so manufacturers who can provide high -quality packages in volume are usually very popular in agricultural circles.