[Oats]

Hey all,

A couple of home made bales from last summer have ended up quite dusty, there's no sign of white mould anywhere, but they do smell like an old attic!

Normally I'd just chuck these but the sheep go mad for it even when they're full up on plenty of nice hay previously. It would seem a shame to waste it as they're so keen, but at the same time I don't want them to end with respiratory problems as a result.

It was well dried for about 5 days in clear weather before baling, but wasn't as stalky when cut as I would have liked

yay or nay?

[twizzel]

I’d feed it on the ground outside rather than in a rack inside. They can pick through the good bits and trample the not so nice bits into the ground. Or if you’ve got a neighbour with cows, give it to them to eat.

[Penninehillbilly]

Try shaking it out and lightly spray it with water (clean garden spray?)
A friend with horses was told to dunk the bales (or the slices) in water, but apparently sheep don't like wet hay.

[Buttermilk]

If only a few bales I would feed from a rack outside.  Sheep do not have to do hard, fast work like horses so their wind does not get affected to the same degree.

[sheeponthebrain]

If the sheep are mad keen on it, could the dust be pollen? Hay made early from grass at its highest level of digestibility (during flowering) might still have pollen on it if it was made quickly

[Penninehillbilly]

I often find hay has what I call 'summer dust', but smelling like an old attic, that's not summer dust. ☹

[Oats]

I've started feeding it in an outside rack in small quantities, no ill effects so far. When I said it smelt like an old attic, I should have added it just smells like hay that has been sitting around for a couple of years rather than six months which is it's actual age.

Thanks for the replies all

[Penninehillbilly]

I know what you mean Oats, good 6mnth hay still smells of summer, makes me feel hungry,  not that i'd want to eat hay, but smells so good 
A field I used to get hay off had a slope on one side, those bales were never quite ready. Folk were too keen to bale.