Pennsylvania Horse Hay Producers

Tips for Selecting and Buying Horse Hay
When purchasing hay here are a few tips to keep in mind
Hay Quality Horse hay should be free of mold dust and other foreign materials.
Hay Maturity Hay that was cut when the plants were immature is soft leafy and tends to be high in energy and protein. Hay that was cut when mature is stemmy and contains seed heads and tends to be lower in energy and protein.
Cuttings First cutting hay refers to the first harvest of the year and is often but not always more mature than second or third cuttings due to the wet spring weather delaying harvest.

Type of Hay Legume hay like alfalfa and clover tends to be higher in energy protein and calcium than grass hay like timothy orchardgrass and brome grass.
Nutritional Needs Individual horses have different nutritional needs. For example a horse in heavy work or a young growing horse might benefit from an immature hay while an idle or overweight horse might benefit from a more mature hay with fewer calories. Work with your veterinarian or equine nutritionist to select the right hay for your horses.
Hay Analysis Some hay producers might have a hay analysis available for their hay which will list nutritional information like energy protein fiber carbohydrates and minerals. You can also send a sample to a laboratory for analysis yourself once you have purchased the hay if you are interested in its nutritional content.
Health Issues Horses that are prone to laminitis may need hay with low sugar and starch content. This cannot be estimated visually so a hay analysis is needed to determine the nonstructural carbohydrate NSC level of the hay.
Cost by Weight Bale weight can vary significantly. An 8 small square bale could weigh 45 pounds or 60 pounds. It is often wise to find

out or calculate the cost per ton rather than per bale when comparing prices.
Bale Size If you are able to handle large bales like round bales or large square bales they tend to be cheaper per ton than small square bales for similar quality hay. Your hay storage space may also impact the bale size you select. Using hay feeders significantly reduces the amount of hay wasted by horses when consuming the bale.
Horse Hay Producers in Pennsylvania
Kevin Eckert
Pleasant Meadow Farm
New Oxford PA 17350
County Adams
Phone Number 7174654421
Email Address Mmidengryahoo com
Rick Jones
Ricks Custom Baling LLC
East Berlin PA 17316
County Adams
Phone Number 7173096582
Email Address