How to use Round Bales for horses safely!  I know a lot of people love round bales…yes they are convenient and usually cheaper. BUT they are often used incorrectly and cause more problems than they are worth IF used improperly…so should one use them or not? Well I believe YES definitely they can be but how they are used is critical.

So here’s some tips:

• Round Bales go moldy easily when left outside for a long time. If you do not have enough horses to eat down a full round bale in 2-3 days either use small squares or see below for other options.
• Get your Round Bale under a cover/shelter (also some Round Bale feeders come with an umbrella type top) – do not leave it out in the elements. Once rain gets on it even a sprinkling…or snow that melts it is good as done. The mold has begun…and is SPREADS fast throughout the whole bale!
• MOLD GROWS EVEN IN COLD WINTER WEATHER JUST MORE SLOWLY! I often hear people say but I only use them in the winter time when there is no rain…no mold will grow — this is not so. Mold grows constantly – just faster in warmer/damp weather. It is the moisture content that makes it grow not so much the temperature.
• “But my horse has no breathing issues I don’t have to worry” This is something I also hear often. And here’s my take on that. Your horses doesn’t have breathing issues YET…it may take years to develop or your horse may just have other problems associated with mold and mycotoxins like digestive disturbances/colic/immune system being compromised. So in my mind it is not worth it.
• Buy a Round Bale and feed it in pieces. This is what I do. I purchase a round bale and take off layers – I put some in hay feeders/nets AND on the ground. This way there is less chance of my horses eating hay that is full of mold and dust. Horses love to bury their faces in the bales to find the ‘good’ pieces…breathing in dust/mold as they do. Also they can easily get stuff in their eyes. It is far better to distribute the hay as if it was from a small square.
• Be careful of hay nets! As some of you know I’m not a big fan of hay nets (my reasons are a few and will be left for another post). Well the ones with very small openings that is… The bale lasts longer yes…but it also has more chances of getting full of mold unless it is in a barn or under a shelter of some sort. Also, we have to realize small opening hay nets make your horses eat less – but sometimes TOO little and too slow and the horse is starving. Horses in the wild take big bites and small bites…depending on what they are eating. A healthy horses doesn’t need a hay net they can self-regulate. A metabolic horse needs Homeopathic remedies, missing nutrients and detoxing…not a diet. So if you are using hay nets make sure the openings are big enough so your horse does get enough food throughout the day…AND that they bale is covered properly so that you aren’t growing mold under that net!

So, Round Bales are not bad..on the contrary – BUT they need to be used properly to minimize spoilage. I drive by so many farms – and more than 80% of them have BLACK round bales full of mold…doing the above steps will help keep your horse happy and healthier for it.