ugghhh .... more advice needed!

[Southernspeed]

So, regarding my previous post about hot, wet hay, well, I really did screw up. There was obviously a lot more 'odd chewy bits' in there than I thought. I went into the barn today and the smell of sweet fresh hay had been replaced by that smell of rotting grass clippings. I checked the bales and temp/moisture levels had climbed again after previously cooling down a bit. Then I saw one bale (4x4) with a big black patch on top which was hot, wet and sticky. I pulled a handful out and a cloud of steam/smoke/mold spores rose up from it. That was enough to make me put all seven out on the hard standing away from everything. I put my hand as deep as I could into a couple more and they are really wet inside.
So my question is, what do I do with them now? I feel like they're a ticking time bomb just sitting there. I guess trying to soak them with a hose is pointless? I could roll them out by hand ( I REALLY don't want to) then, when dry try to gather it all up and put it goodness knows where. Any suggestions greatly appreciated (apart from the obvious .... stop trying to make hay!)

 

[scootr]

Sorry to hear this, it's easy to put it up too wet.
I have heard the Hay Dude talk about mushroom growers hay.
You may be able to salvage the outer layers? Others will know more

 

[oldnslo]

Open and spread the bales so they dry and don’t heat or mold. If already heated and moldy they might make fertilizer but never animal feed.

We used to throw some salt on the wet bales to help absorb moisture and then feed them to the young stock before they heated or molded.

 

[Southernspeed]

Open and spread the bales so they dry and don’t heat or mold. If already heated and moldy they might make fertilizer but never animal feed.

We used to throw some salt on the wet bales to help absorb moisture and then feed them to the young stock before they heated or molded.

Unfortunately I think I'm passed the point of saving them.

 

[jyoutz]

Cow hay

 

[MMC]

So, regarding my previous post about hot, wet hay, well, I really did screw up. There was obviously a lot more 'odd chewy bits' in there than I thought. I went into the barn today and the smell of sweet fresh hay had been replaced by that smell of rotting grass clippings. I checked the bales and temp/moisture levels had climbed again after previously cooling down a bit. Then I saw one bale (4x4) with a big black patch on top which was hot, wet and sticky. I pulled a handful out and a cloud of steam/smoke/mold spores rose up from it. That was enough to make me put all seven out on the hard standing away from everything. I put my hand as deep as I could into a couple more and they are really wet inside.
So my question is, what do I do with them now? I feel like they're a ticking time bomb just sitting there. I guess trying to soak them with a hose is pointless? I could roll them out by hand ( I REALLY don't want to) then, when dry try to gather it all up and put it goodness knows where. Any suggestions greatly appreciated (apart from the obvious .... stop trying to make hay!)

If I'm reading this correctly, you might still have some other wet bales in a barn. You simply have to get them out or ensure the internal temps are not climbing. You can worry about the value of the hay later. You can check this with a temperature probe or a metal rod or rebar. The fermentation reaction inside the wet bales will continue for days and temperatures will rise accordingly.

You can drive a rod into a bale to the center - leave it in for 10-15 minutes. If you can't hold the rod when you pull it out, you have a dangerous situation. If I remember right, somewhere between 130 to 170 degrees you get a runaway situation. Spontaneous combustion destroys barns on farms each year...

If you're unsure how to proceed, give your county agent a call and get advice.

Perhaps others have on here have additional thoughts or advice, but I have seen this several times in my life, and yes, I have a temperature probe I use here when we bale.

As for "caramelized" (scorched) hay used later, cattle will eat it, but there is little nutrient value left. But I have seen them clean it up...

Best of Luck

 

[Southernspeed]

If I'm reading this correctly, you might still have some other wet bales in a barn. You simply have to get them out or ensure the internal temps are not climbing. You can worry about the value of the hay later. You can check this with a temperature probe or a metal rod or rebar. The fermentation reaction inside the wet bales will continue for days and temperatures will rise accordingly.

You can drive a rod into a bale to the center - leave it in for 10-15 minutes. If you can't hold the rod when you pull it out, you have a dangerous situation. If I remember right, somewhere between 130 to 170 degrees you get a runaway situation. Spontaneous combustion destroys barns on farms each year...

If you're unsure how to proceed, give your county agent a call and get advice.

Perhaps others have on here have additional thoughts or advice, but I have seen this several times in my life, and yes, I have a temperature probe I use here when we bale.

As for "caramelized" (scorched) hay used later, cattle will eat it, but there is little nutrient value left. But I have seen them clean it up...

Best of Luck

They're all out thanks. I've only just built this barn, not wanting to see it go up in smoke! Won't there be mold in the bales though? Surely that's no good for any animals? I've been using temp/moisture probe.

 

[jyoutz]

They're all out thanks. I've only just built this barn, not wanting to see it go up in smoke! Won't there be mold in the bales though? Surely that's no good for any animals? I've been using temp/moisture probe.

Cows will eat it without harm. Mold will kill horses.

 

[oldnslo]

Beef cattle may eat moldy hay without issues but it can cause problems in dairy cattle if mold is excessive.

 

[scootr]

Seems to me you could roll them out and spread out the good from the bad hay and salvage something.... Just be generous in cutting out the bad