Yearlings fed hay in feeders rather than on the ground gained 18 percent more per day on 18.5 percent less hay. Mature horses fed on muddy ground will probably waste more than 18.5 percent of their hay. In times of hay shortage, this is critical and a significant economic loss. Feeding hay on the ground requires buying 20-25 percent more hay. Round, 600-pound bales of hay are popular for cattle.
Mold is of concern in feeding round bales to horses.
Round bales placed inside off the ground on wood pallets or other material immediately after harvest may still have internal spots of mold. Horses eating round bales may easily consume such moldy hay. The safest method of using hay from round bales is to remove and inspect it before feeding each horse. This is a labor- intensive operation and may negate the advantages of feeding round bales of hay. Stored hay loses about 5 percent of its dry-matter.