KENYA STANDARD      KS 2832 -1:2018  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hay as animal feed  — Specification  
 
Part 1: Grass Hay  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© KEBS 201 8 First Edition 201 8 
 
 
  KS 2832 -1:2018  
ii  © KEBS 2018 — All rights reserved  TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPRES ENTATION  
 
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee:  
 
Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation  — State Department of Livestock  
Kenyatta University —Department of animal science  
Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research  Organization  (KALRO) 
Unga Farm Care  EA Ltd.  
Modern Ways Ltd.  
Directorate of Veterinary Services  
Association of Kenya Feed Manufacturers (AKEFEMA)  
Government Chemist Department  
Pioneer Feeds Ltd . 
Embu University  College  
University Of Nairobi  
Accelerated Agriculture and Livestock Enterprises  
Global Space Africa Agribusiness (GLOSAA)  
Pembe Flour Mills Ltd. 
Joeliz Bone meal Ltd.  
Sarnergy Ltd.  
Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat  
 
 
REVISION OF KENYA STANDARDS  
 
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for improvements to published standards, addressed to the Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards, 
are welcome.  
 
 
 
 
© Kenya Bureau of Standards, 201 8 
 
Copyright. Users are reminded that by virtue of Section 25 of the Copyright Act, Cap. 130 of 2001  of the Laws of Kenya, copyright 
subsists in all Kenya Standards and except as provided under Section 25 of this Act, no Kenya Standard produced by Kenya Bure au of 
Standards may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or transmitted by any means without prior permission in writing 
from the Managing Director.  
  KENYA STANDARD                                             KS 2832 -1:2018  
 
© KEBS 2018 — All rights reserved    iii  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hay as animal feed  — Specification  
 
Part 1: Grass Hay  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KENYA BUREAU OF STANDARDS (KEBS)  
 
Head Office: P.O. Box 54974, Nairobi -00200, Tel.: (+254  020) 605490, 602350, Fax: (+254 020)  604031  
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Fax: (+254  041) 229448    Fax: (+254 057) 21814  
 
  KS 2832 -1:2018  
iv  © KEBS 2018 — All rights reserved   
 
 
Foreword  
 
This Kenya Standard was prepared by the Animal Feeds Technical Committee under the guidance of the 
Standards Projects Committee, and it is in accordance with the procedures of the Kenya Bureau of 
Standards.  
Though over 70 percent of feed for domestic animals comes from forage materials, institutional and 
regulatory framework governing their production, processing and marketing including private sector support 
is underdeveloped . Market analysis allude to the existence of significant market opportunities for  fodder 
farmers provided they increase productivity, reduce cost of production, improve quality and safety, and 
enhance efficiency in marketing. In order to achieve quantity and quality pasture and fodder,  promote fair 
trade and allow c ustomer choice of type of hay,  development of standards need to be prior itized . The 
proposed Standard seeks to guard against hay adulteration, enhance traceability, under commercial hay 
production and marketing. The hay standard provides guidelines for  minimum nutritional, weight and safety 
requirements of commercial  hay in o rder to facilitate trade.  
 
It is anticipated that this standard will assist both hay producers and animal feeds millers to maintain good 
quality and exercise proper quality control during, storage, processing and manufacturing.  
 
In the preparation of  this standard, reference was made to:  
 
 Fertilizers and Animal Feedstuffs Act, Cap 345.  
 Directive 2002/32/EC  on undesirable substances on animal feed.  
 Heuzé V. , Tran G. , Baumont R. , Lebas F. , 2016. Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) . Feedipedia, a 
programme by INRA, CIR AD, AFZ and FAO.  
 Heuzé V. , Tran G. , Delagarde R. , Lebas F. , 2015. Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) . Feedipedia, 
a programme by INRA, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO.  
 Heuzé V. , Tran G. , Sauvant D. , 2015. Red oat grass (Themeda triandra) . Feedipedia, a programme 
by INRA, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO.  
 Heuzé V. , Tran G. , 2015. Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) . Feedipedia, a programme by INRA, 
CIRAD, AFZ and FAO.  
 Heuzé V. , Tran G. , Hassoun P. , Lebas F. , 2015. Jaragua (Hyparrhenia rufa) . Feedipedia, a 
programme by INRA, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO.  
 Typical nutrient composition of some common grasses and legumes in Kenya. 
https://www.livestockkenya.com/index.php/blog/feeds -and-feeding/134 -typical -nutrient -composition -
of-some -common -grasses -and-legumes -in-kenya  
 FAO, (2006)  Kenyan pastures (Orodha, A.B). Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profiles  
 
 
Acknowledgement is hereby made for the assis tance derived from these sources . 
  
KENYA STANDARD        KS 2832 -1:2018  
 
© KEBS 2018 — All rights reserved    1  
 
Hay as animal feed — Specification  
Part 1:  Grass Hay  
 
 
1 Scope  
 
This Kenya Standard specifies  the requirements and test methods for grass hay used as animal feed.  
. 
 
2 Normative references  
 
The following referenced  documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  
 
KS 63 , Methods of test for a nimal feedstuffs  
 
KS 2543 , The animal feed industry  — Code of practice  
 
 
 
 
 
3 Definitions  
 
For the purpose of this standard, the following definitions shall apply:  
 
3.1 Hay 
Hay is grass , legumes , or other herbaceous plants  that have been cut, dried, for use as animal feed, 
particularly for ruminants such as cattle , horses , goats , and sheep . 
 
3.2 Rhodes Grass  
Is a grass of the species Chloris  gayana  widespread in the tropical and subtropical countries. It is drought  
resistant and has been improved in terms of biomass production and nutritional quality .  
 
3.3 Natural pastures  
Natural pasture is grass that has not been cultivated. Natural pastures are adapted to specific local growing 
conditions and can be found in most agro -ecological zones but are more predominant in grasslands of the 
tropics and subtropics.  
 
4 Requirements  
 
4.1 General requirements  
 
Grass hay;  
 
a) Shall be presented in form of bales  weighing minimum  of 14 kgs . 
 
b) Shall  be free from harmful constituents, weeds, stones and soil, metallic objects, adulterants,  
 
c) Shall be free from moulds, pathogenic bacteria or insect infestation  
 
d) Shall be free from  musty, rancid ity or uncharacteristic odour.  KS 2832 -1:2018  
 
2  © KEBS 2018 — All rights reserved   
e) Shall be free from rain damage  
 
f) Shall be free from poisonous plants and seeds  
 
g) Shall be free from plant pest s and diseases  
 
h) Shall be free from pesticide and herbicide residues  
 
i) Shall be free from animal pests and disease causing agents  
 
 
4.2  Specific  requirements  
 
Grass h ay shall comply with the nutritional requirements prescribed in Table 1.  
 
Table 1 — Nutritional requirements for Rhodes grass  and Natural pasture grass  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 SL No  Parameters (%DM)  Rhodes 
grass  Natural  
Pasture  
grass  Test method  
i Moisture content ( %) (Max.) 18.0 18.0 KS -63 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
ii Metabolisable Energy  (Mj/kg ) (Min)  8.0 7.5 
iii Crude protein ( Min)  8.0 7.0 
iv) Crude Fibre (max.)  35.0 40.0 
 Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF), (max.)  70.0 75.0 
 Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF) (max.)  40.0 45.0 
 Acid Detergent Lignin (ADL) (max.)  7.5 10.0 
v) Total ash (max.)  10.0 12.0 
vii) Calcium (max.)  0.2 0.2 
viii) Phosphorous (min.)  0.1 0.1 KS 2832 -1:2018  
© KEBS 2018 — All rights reserved    3 5.0 Heavy metals and pesticide residues  
 
 
5.1 Heavy metals Contaminants  
 
Hay shall comply with the maximum limits of heavy metals as specified in the table  2 
 
Table  2:   Limits of heavy metals  
 
S/N Heavy metal  Limits  Maximum limit 
(mg/kg) Test method  
i Arsenic  4.0  
ISO 27085  
 ii Lead  30 
iii Cadmium  1.0 
iv Mercury  0.1 
 
5.2   Pesticide residues  
 
Shall not exceed the limits established by the Codex Alimentarius  CODEX STAN 193 -1995 on 
Contaminants  
 
 
 
6 Aflatoxins  
 
Total aflatoxin level shall not exceed 100 ppb while aflatoxin B1 shall not exceed 5ppb.  
 
7 Packaging and labeling 
 
7.1  Packaging  
 
7.1.1 Hay for sale shall be  baled using sufficiently strong twines so as to withstand reasonable handling 
without tearing, bursting or falling open during normal handling and transportation.  
 
7.1.2 Hay  should be transported  in clean vehicles  and the hay should be covered.  
 
 
8.2 Labeling  
 
The following particulars shall be legibly and indelibly displayed on the label.  
 
I. Type of hay (Rhodes, Natural pasture  Grass).  
II. Name and the physical address of the producer.  
III. Net w eight.  
IV. Batch number   
V. Date of harvest /production . 
VI. Expiry dat e 
VII. Instruction for storage  
VIII. Nutritional information. (  Moisture ,Energy (ME) , Crude protein(CP) and Crude fibre(CF ) KS 2832 -1:2018  
 
4  © KEBS 2018 — All rights reserved