Every year it's a challenge to make sure you have enough hay to meet the needs of your animals. Once you finally get your hay "in" you breath a sigh of relief and feel comfortable knowing you have it.
But, now that you have it, are you doing your best to make sure that precious hay isnt wasted? Here are the top 3 ways to waste your hay.
1. Your hay is not stored properly and gets rained on. Hay waste can occur in both storage and feeding. You need to make sure it's stored in a clean dry place where the winter weather can't get at it.
2. Feeding your horse too much at each feeding. You know you are feeding too much when alot of it ends up on the ground and they end up laying on it as bedding. Your horse should be cleaning up what you gave them each feeding or it's too much.
3. Not having a feeder to keep your hay in. Horses will naturally spread their hay around if laid on the ground which increases the chance that they will trample on it and then not eat it. Having a feeder is so important! It can reduce your waste significantly enough that buying a feeder will pay for itself over time.