Does greener hay always mean better quality?

[Zoomies Dad]

My neighbor let me tag along when he was buying square bales for his goats and I noticed he always asks for the greenest hay he can find. I thought greener hay meant it was too wet and risked mold. How do you tell the difference between fresh green hay and hay that might spoil?

 

[Corrupted_Stone]

Color is deceiving. You’ll see bright green hay that’s too moist to store safely. Grass or legumes that were baled too wet will heat, lose nutrients, or mold. So always pair your “green check” with a moisture test and smell/dust inspection. Color alone isn’t enough.

 

[Zoomies Dad]

Color is deceiving. You’ll see bright green hay that’s too moist to store safely. Grass or legumes that were baled too wet will heat, lose nutrients, or mold. So always pair your “green check” with a moisture test and smell/dust inspection. Color alone isn’t enough.

Yep, bright green can be misleading and I’ve started checking for moisture and dust more closely. I haven’t used a tester yet but I’ll grab one before the next batch. Have you found a moisture range that works best for goats or does it vary by breed or feed mix?

 

[bin.bag]

Around 12 to 15% moisture to keep the hay from molding but still has a bit of softness to it. Doesn’t vary much by breed in my experience