Hay — What to Look For
Good hay should be greenish in colour (not yellow or brown), smell sweet, and feel dry to the touch. It should be free of dust, mould, and weeds. Shake a handful — if clouds of dust come off, the hay was either baled too dry or has deteriorated in storage.
Small conventional bales (20-25kg) are ideal for horses and small livestock operations. Large round bales (250-300kg) and Hesston-type square bales (400-500kg) suit larger farms. Prices vary significantly by region and season — expect to pay £3-£5 per small bale, £25-£45 per round bale, and £40-£70 per large square bale for decent quality.
The best hay is made from a clean, leafy sward, cut before the grass goes to seed, and baled at the right moisture content (below 15%). Ask when it was made and how it has been stored — hay that has sat outside without cover deteriorates rapidly.
Straw — Types and Uses
Wheat straw is the most common and cheapest option for bedding. It is durable, absorbent, and widely available after harvest. Barley straw is softer and some farmers prefer it for young stock, though it can be dusty. Oat straw has good feed value and is sometimes used as a forage supplement.
Pricing depends heavily on location and season. In arable areas (eastern England, East Lothian), straw is relatively cheap — £20-£35 per round bale ex-field. In livestock areas far from arable ground (Devon, Wales, Cumbria), delivered prices can reach £50-£70 per round bale or more.
Buy early if you can. Straw is cheapest at harvest (July-September) and increases in price through winter, particularly in wet years when ground conditions delay baling. Many farmers agree standing contracts with local arable farms for annual supply — this guarantees both price and availability.
Silage — Understanding Quality
Silage quality is measured primarily by D-value (digestibility) and ME (metabolisable energy). Good grass silage should have a D-value above 65 and ME above 10.5 MJ/kg DM. High-quality first-cut silage can reach D-values of 72+ and ME of 11.5+, substantially reducing concentrate requirements.
The only reliable way to assess silage quality is through laboratory analysis. A silage analysis costs around £20-£30 and provides D-value, ME, crude protein, dry matter, pH, and fermentation quality. Ask your supplier for analysis results — any serious silage seller will have them.
Visual indicators can help: good silage should be olive green, smell slightly acidic (like vinegar, not like ammonia or rotten), and have a firm but pliable texture. Reject anything that smells foul, is slimy, or shows visible mould.
Haylage — The Middle Ground
Haylage (or big bale silage wrapped in plastic) sits between hay and silage in terms of moisture content and feed value. It is made at a higher dry matter than silage (typically 50-70% DM) and wrapped in plastic film to ferment.
Good haylage is popular with horse owners and livestock farmers who want a dust-free forage with better feed value than hay. Prices are higher than hay — typically £30-£55 per round bale, with premium horse haylage reaching £60+.
When buying haylage, check the wrap is intact with no punctures. Damaged wrap allows air in, leading to mould and spoilage. Once a bale is opened, it should be used within 3-5 days in warm weather as it deteriorates quickly once exposed to air. Ask when it was made — haylage that has been stored for 6+ weeks will be fully fermented and stable.
Storage and Handling
How you store feed affects its quality as much as how it was made. Hay must be stored under cover — a barn or at minimum a well-secured tarpaulin. Hay stored outside without cover loses feed value rapidly and develops mould.
Straw is more tolerant of outdoor storage but still deteriorates over time. Stack bales on pallets or rails to keep them off wet ground and cover the top rows. Round bales should be stored end-to-end, not stacked pyramid-style, to shed water effectively.
Wrapped silage and haylage bales should be stored on a firm, level surface away from sharp objects, trees, and areas where birds or vermin might puncture the plastic. Check bales regularly for damage and repair any holes with silage tape immediately. Stack no more than 3 bales high to prevent crushing.
Finding Suppliers and Buying Tips
FarmExchange lists hay, straw, silage, and haylage from farms across the UK. You can search by type, region, and price to find suppliers near you. Buying locally reduces haulage costs, which can be significant — delivering 20 round bales 50 miles might cost £200-£300.
When buying in bulk, always view a sample before committing. Open a bale, check the quality throughout (not just the outside), and smell it. If the seller will not let you inspect before buying, walk away.
Build relationships with reliable suppliers. A farmer who consistently produces good hay or silage is worth their weight in gold. Agree prices early in the season if you can — many sellers will offer a discount for a guaranteed bulk order collected at their convenience.
Finally, always calculate feed costs per tonne of dry matter, not per bale. A cheap bale of wet, low-quality silage may cost more per unit of useful feed than an expensive bale of high-analysis material.