Why Timothy Hay is at the Mercy of Mother Nature
As you heap yet another pile of timothy hay into your rabbit, guinea pig or chinchilla’s cage, here’s betting that the last thing on your mind is how the weather contributed to this vital food.
Yet one of the biggest concerns for those who farm timothy hay is the weather conditions during most of the year. Too much rain; too much sun; too much wind – or not enough of any of them, really can be a dilemma for the poor farmers. And ultimately, to your pet.
In fact, the number one factor as to the quality and quantity of timothy hay produced each year is the weather. The last two years, 2012 and 2013, saw the largest and best producing timothy hay region in the world, the Kittitas County and Columbia Basin, beset by a huge amount of rain, wind and thunderstorms. And weather such as this can literally halve the amount of hay produced from the fields.
Not only can inclement weather affect the growing of the hay, but the most difficult time is when it comes to harvest. The best timothy hay is harvested when the weather is fine and dry. This allows the hay to be cut, turned and baled in the shortest amount of time possible. It also allows for a good amount of drying before it’s packed together in bales. Rain during this crucial time can cause soft green hay to turn brown and brittle. Hay that’s baled when still damp can end up with mold and fungal spots. And neither of these scenarios make for good nutrition for your small pet.
Many producers have said that the weather in 2013 was the worst for 30 years. So you can bet that the farmers are keeping their fingers crossed that the 2014 harvest will benefit from more conducive weather conditions.
As a small pet owner, this makes it vital that you only source timothy hay from a reliable supplier. With over 75% of the first and second cuts of 2013 timothy hay believed to be affected by rain damage to one degree or another, there’s going to be some poor quality hay around. Of course, purchasing from a source that specializes in producing for small pets will guarantee that you only get your hands on the best for the smallest members of your family.
So here’s the Small Pet Select quick guide to checking that you’re giving your pets the best quality timothy hay you can:
1 – It should be mostly green in color. Minimal amounts of brown or yellowing.
2 – The hay should be soft to touch.
3 – Good quality timothy hay should smell slightly sweet. Chew a strand and it should taste slightly sweet as well.
4 – There should be absolutely no sign of mold. This is seen in the form of white or black spots within the hay.
5 – There should be no sign or smell of dust.
6 – No foreign objects (such as stones, mud etc) should be present in the hay.
And, most importantly of all, your pets should actually want to eat it. A big pile of untouched timothy hay is probably one of the best indicators that your pet is saying, “bad, bad quality….. find me something better, please.”
The proof of the pudding, so the saying goes, is in the eating. And never has this been so true as when relating it to your small pets and timothy hay…
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