What causes dusty hay?

[DieselRob]

As per title really, I've been making hay for 5 years or more on my own and have always made some really nice stuff but just opened a couple of bales made 12 weeks ago and its dusty, moisture meter said sub 16% when it was made, what have I done wrong? Or what is the science behind it?

 

[davidroberts30]

As per title really, I've been making hay for 5 years or more on my own and have always made some really nice stuff but just opened a couple of bales made 12 weeks ago and its dusty, moisture meter said sub 16% when it was made, what have I done wrong? Or what is the science behind it?

Old grass cut too late?
Pollen?
Damp..?

 

[Dry Rot]

Yorkshire Fog? If so, the stalks have hairs and the dust is this and relatively harmless. I got caught out until I put some of the "dust" under the microscope and did a bit of a Google. But it might also be mould, or dust, or pollen as above.

 

[DieselRob]

Old grass cut too late?
Pollen?
Damp..?

The grass is a 4yr old ley, cut around the same time as I normally do, or as soon as the weather allowed in other words. It was baled on a windy warm day, I remember as I was thinking I would have to rake it again in front of the baler it was rolling the swath over.

I think I'll try get some dust under a microscope, put a bit of science to it, the hay doesn't smell mouldy so hopefully it isn't that kind of dust

 

[Skintagain]

I have had dust in hay from time to time and put it down to these reasons before:

Not grazed over winter leaving a lot of dead matter

Rained on swath

Not turned enough - can be very tempting to just leave the sun to it if it’s red hot for a week but it needs turning every day at least

Cut too short with mower

Moles

Sweat a bit but not enough just festered away a little

Driving rain into a poor building where stacked

Try to learn by them all and not let it happen again.

 

[multi power]

Dust is no problems if it is pollen, it's smelly mouldy that is the problem, baled too soon

 

[DieselRob]

Dust is no problems if it is pollen, it's smelly mouldy that is the problem, baled too soon

The problem is selling it to the horse brigade they see dust as dust, doesn't matter what type of dust it is ?

 

[Nearly]

The problem is selling it to the horse brigade they see dust as dust, doesn't matter what type of dust it is ?

It might just mean that it's fecking dry?

 

[Dry Rot]

Work hay enough before baling and the whole lot will eventually disintegrate to dust. Now how do I know that?

 

[Rodgerdodger]

Just sold some 2020 hay last week and was told it was quite dusty but not moldy. It was made in reasonable conditions (but did get a little rain the morning after it was cut). I have been making hay on same ings land for years but never really had this before except when I have made bad hay! Only big difference I can pin point is I used a mower conditioner this year. A neighbour on same ings area has used a conditioner for a few years and not had a problem. Could my conditioner be too savage?

 

[Generally01]

The end of last year was extra dry around here. anyway and we bought hay from a guy that baled hay later than most other people dared (because of the drought) and that stuff was dustier than anything i have ever seen before or after. the cows liked it reasonably tho. when this dust got wet it turned into a mud.

 

[Agrivator]

Hay mites, or their droppings, might share part of the blame.

 

[Blaithin]

Just sold some 2020 hay last week and was told it was quite dusty but not moldy. It was made in reasonable conditions (but did get a little rain the morning after it was cut). I have been making hay on same ings land for years but never really had this before except when I have made bad hay! Only big difference I can pin point is I used a mower conditioner this year. A neighbour on same ings area has used a conditioner for a few years and not had a problem. Could my conditioner be too savage?

If it gets rained on it can be dusty. Even if it’s baled dry and isn’t mouldy, rain just kind of breaks down the plants and creates dust.

Not a big issue for cattle, can be trouble for horses.

 

[Rodgerdodger]

It's the horse market I aim at - small loads delivered locally. Still selling 2019 hay at present.

 

[Blaithin]

It's the horse market I aim at - small loads delivered locally. Still selling 2019 hay at present.

Are they big bales or small squares? Horses stuff their faces right in bales which is why dusty hay is worse for them. They inhale the dust.

Small squares can be more easily managed as you can shake out the flakes and feed on the ground or in nets so that horses can’t shove their whole heads in.

Then it’s just the horse people to deal with.

 

[Rodgerdodger]

Small square bales here but I think dusty hay carries a stigma - except in the drought of 2018 when they would have taken anything!

 

[Skintagain]

Small square bales here but I think dusty hay carries a stigma - except in the drought of 2018 when they would have taken anything!

Exactly. They are picky as hell until they have no choice and then the horse somehow survives.