Dry Hay is Good Hay
Dryness is the critical factor for the production and storage of hay. The total water content of hay needs
to be less than 15%. Microorganisms like mold fungus grow rapidly in dark moist hay bales. The chemical
process of plant decomposition releases heat. Mold fungus is bad because:
a. It consumes nutrients from the hay.
b. Mold produces toxins that sicken livestock.
c. Heat from decomposing bales can start a fire.
Spontaneous
Combustion in
a Barn
Mold in Bales
How would you define spontaneous combustion?
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What is the best buy in hay? A large square bale that weighs 800 pounds and sells for $80 a bale or 800
pounds of small square bales that weigh 50 pounds each and sell for $7 per bale?
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You have a cow you want to feed 30 pounds of hay to each day. You have a 900 pound round bale of hay.
How many days should this bale provide food for your cow?
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If you have two cows you want to feed 30 pounds of hay to each day and you want to feed them for 90
days, how many 900 pound round bales of hay will you need?
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The Colorado Reader publication and Ag in the Classroom are projects of the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture. Educational
projects are produced in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, other state and federal agencies, Colorado com-
modity groups, Colorado agricultural associations, state universities and colleges and interested individuals. Colorado Readers are
provided free to educators requesting them. For more information contact: Bette Blinde, Colorado Foundation for Agriculture, P.O.
Box 10, Livermore, CO 80536 or phone 970 881.2902. Special thank you goes to Vincent VanHook for his pictures and information on
haying. Financial support for this reader has been provided by Adopt a Classroom Sponsors.
Colorado Ag in the Classroom
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