Soaking hay

[nelle]

How much of the sugars do you loose by soaking hay for 12hours - is it virtually calorie free?

xx

[puzzles]

It will certainly not be calorie free: average-quality, dry hay contains between 5-7MJ/kg of energy. Soaked, this will be slightly reduced - the main thing reduced would be the various dust and mould particles.

:-)

x

[allcluedup]

i wouldnt want to soak a haynet for any longer than 20mins have you seen the colour of the water when it left in for any longer i was told if you left it any longer than 20mins it was like leaving it in sewage

[coss]

as allcluedup said... leaving it for a long time makes the water stink - my horses won't eat properly soaked hay... i have to dunk it in the water, make sure its fully immersed then take it out otherwise they won't touch it. 10mins is usually ok i believe.
i too though soaking was just to make the dust/mould particles swell up.

[nelle]

Oh, that's a bit worrying. I haven't noticed the water being particularly smelly and I tip it away every night and use fresh every day.

Anyone else heard this?

[artemis]

According to research in USA half an hour is enough to get rid of most of the sugars. I do this for my cushings pony.