Some of you will have already had your first crop of hay made this year before the rain came. In France hay can be made slightly earlier from the UK, from about mid May depending on what part of France you live in, with some people managing to  get a second cut later in the summer.

Here is a useful site explaining the hay making process and also some info on haylage here.

If you are wondering how best to manage your horses pasture you may want to take a look here.

In the past it was thought that new hay shouldn’t be fed before Christmas. This is actually a myth and and as long as the hay has been properly dried and is introduced gradually along with the old hay there should be no need to worry. The nutritional value of the new hay will obviously differ to the old hay with a higher sugar and soluble protein content.

Another important thing to remember, especially with making hay in France, is to leave the hay out for long enough in the field once baled to prevent it combusting in the barn and becoming a fire hazard.