Buying hay or silage after a flood, fire or drought – visual assessment

Summary

Home grown or purchased hay or silage are extremely valuable feeds after a flood or fire.

If well made, they should be safe to feed and are excellent “comfort food” for short term feeding of cattle, horses, sheep and other grazing animals.

Use of hay or silage for longer term feeding after a flood, fire or during drought depends on feed quality and cost relative to other feeding alternatives.

This factsheet covers the following topics:

• Hay versus silage
• Feed quality
• Using bales that have been in water
• Dry matter is important