Hay Quality and Selection

What makes hay good or poor quality?

Quality depends on the plant type, the stage of growth when it was cut, how it was dried and baled, and how it was stored. Hay cut early tends to be leafy and nutritious. Hay cut late is stemmier and less digestible. Rain during drying, mold and dust all reduce quality.

Price alone does not tell you quality. Cheap hay can cost more in the end if animals waste it or need more supplemental feed to stay healthy.

Different cuttings of the same field can vary a good deal. The first cutting of the season, later cuttings, and hay from a drought year will each look and test differently. Ask the seller which cutting you are buying.

How do I judge hay by looking and smelling?

Open a bale and look inside. Good hay is generally leafy, fine stemmed and fairly uniform in color, with a fresh, pleasant smell. Be wary of dusty bales, a musty or sour smell, visible mold, heavy weeds, sticks, dirt or anything that looks like it does not belong. Color alone can mislead, since bleached outer layers often hide good hay inside.

Also check for signs of heating, such as warm bales or a burnt smell, and for foreign material. If you see mold, do not feed it, and ask a veterinarian about the risks to your species.

• Leafy rather than stemmy.
• Fresh smell, no musty odor.
• No visible mold, dust clouds or foreign objects.
• Weeds and plants you can identify as safe.

Why should I get hay tested?

A forage test from a certified laboratory tells you protein, fiber and energy values that the eye cannot. Your extension office can explain how to sample bales correctly and how to read the report. With test results you can match hay to animal needs and decide when extra feed is actually necessary.

Testing is most useful when you buy a large lot or rely on the same field year after year. Ask the seller if they have recent results.

A lab report lists numbers, but you do not have to interpret them alone. Bring the report to your extension office or veterinarian, tell them the species and stage of your animals, and ask what it means for how much hay and supplement to feed.

Which hay suits which animal?

Needs differ. Growing animals, lactating mothers and working animals need richer hay than idle adults. Horses generally need clean, low-dust hay, and some are sensitive to feeds higher in certain sugars. Sheep and goats can be fussy and waste coarse hay. Beef cattle often manage on lower quality if body condition is watched.

Ask your veterinarian or extension agent for hay recommendations for your animals, particularly if you have horses with health issues or animals in late pregnancy.

Pay particular attention if you have animals with special needs, such as an older horse, a pregnant doe or a sick animal. These animals often need a feeding plan designed with a veterinarian, not just a good bale from the barn.

How do I buy hay without getting burned?

Ask where and when the hay was grown and cut, how it was stored and what the bales weigh. Inspect the actual hay you will receive, not a sample bale from the top. Check several bales across the stack and look at the inside, not just the outside. Beware of bargains offered by strangers with no history.

Build a relationship with a reliable producer, and agree on terms in writing, such as price, delivery and replacement if the hay turns out moldy. Confirm local rules for sales and transport of hay with your state department of agriculture, since weed and pest rules may apply.

What can go wrong with hay?

Mold can cause respiratory problems and abortions in some species. Certain toxic weeds can be baled into hay, and some of those stay toxic when dried. Contaminated hay from sprayed fields may carry herbicide residues that harm gardens when manure is spread, so ask about field history.

If an animal shows signs of illness after a feed change, call your veterinarian promptly and keep a sample of the hay.

Dust and mold spores affect people too. Wear a mask when handling dusty hay and open bales outdoors if you can. If you or a family member develop a cough or breathing trouble, talk to a doctor.

How much should I plan to buy?

Estimate what your animals will eat across the winter, then add a cushion for waste, bad weather and a late spring. Keep records of how much you actually used in past years. A drought year can make hay scarce and expensive, so buying earlier when you can store it well can be wise.

Drought.gov offers local information on dry conditions that affect hay supply, and your FSA office can tell you about any assistance programs.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.