Horse Quality Alfalfa
How do we measure horse quality alfalfa is that our horses eat the same alfalfa bales from the same alfalfa fields as we sell to others. We seek to make that hay as best that we can and will never oversell our hay quality. Two weanlings on our Cowbones Farm.
Buyers want to know if the alfalfa they are purchasing is good for horses by often asking if our alfalfa is horse quality. Our answer is always: "no". It is 'no' as the phrase "horse quality alfalfa" is not recognized by any industrial standard and as such it does not have a universally accepted definition.
The common language definition of horse quality alfalfa includes broadly expressed phrases as: "will horses eat it". The answer is a relative yes compared to what else is available. If the choice is between brome and alfalfa the horses will overwhelmingly chose alfalfa. If the choice is between processed treats or grains and alfalfa, horses will chose other than alfalfa. The real answer is that pampered horse pets will be finicky. Other than that class of horse, our alfalfa will be readily consumed.
Other more informed criteria include, mold, dust and mildew (web worm). All mostly affecting the smell of the hay.
Mold/Mildew is controlled by baling alfalfa less than 19% moisture and stored in barns raised above the floor.
Dust is limited to that in the field at the time of bailing and completely dependent on weather conditions. After bailing, the bails in the barn will not collect dust leaving transportation method as the last and uncontrollable factor as to dust levels.
Color is more useful to the buyer than the horse as horses are color blind (most know this but for some buyers this has been new information). Color does not have any effect on RFV.
Alfalfa Bales & Green
Horse owner alfalfa buyers want green bales. We understand that consideration and bale our alfalfa to achieve as green a bale as possible and it is not always possible to keep alfalfa bales green.
When harvest is slow then sun bleach is the outcome.
In the first telephone call inquiry about our alfalfa we will tell the buyer before they travel to our farm whether the alfalfa bales are green, light green, stripped or sun bleached.
Every so often we will have a new to us alfalfa buyer look at our hay and reject it for being poor horse quality alfalfa. Those same alfalfa bales will be bought by another hay buyer later. The latest we ever been able to have alfalfa in the barn for sale was January.