5 tips to avoid getting ripped off when buying hay.
There are 5 key factors to understand to avoid getting ripped off when buying hay.
- Bale weights
- Feed quality tests
- Packaging
- Delivered price
- Analysing value for money
The hay game can be a murky business. Seeking information on bales weights, quality, how it was made, availability and freight can be like pulling teeth. At the risk of my own safety in the hay industry, I spill the beans below…
1. Bale weights
Small bales are generally sold $/bale, so you might think you’re onto a bargain if one bale is cheaper than another. However… some producers (#notallhaygrowers) make 20kg small bales and others make 22kg or 24kg bales. At the same $/bale price, the 20kg bale is 20% more expensive.
Balance value for money and weights that are simply too heavy to lift. If you need lighter bales, just be aware of the $/kg price equivalent.
Some producers (again, #notallhaygrowers) make 18-20kg so they can sell more bales at the same “market price” therefore making more money. Clients need to buy more hay as they don’t receive as much by weight, again the producer makes more money.
At GreatHAY, we aim to make 22-24kg bales that are 770-800mm long with 12-14 biscuits per bale. This means we make tight, well packed Baron bundle of 21 bales, making freight cheaper and storage easier.
Note: if you don’t hear from me for a while, it’s because I’ve been hunted out of the industry by hay producers who rip off their customers.
2. Feed quality tests
Premium quality hay should be sold with a feed test. It’s the only way to know if it’s as good as people say it is. Colour and smell play a role in determining palatability, however the feed test is the key to determining quality.
What do you look for in a feed test?
Dry matter (DM %) tells you the amount of the bale you’re buying that isn’t water. IE. DM 88% means there is 12% moisture. DM contains the nutrients (protein, fibre, fat, minerals etc). Very high DM means the hay will be dry and too low, the hay may go mouldy or combust. Ideally DM is between 85-90% for small bales. Don’t buy dry hay but don’t waste money buying water!
Crude Protein (CP %) is the total amount of protein. Generally, the higher the better the hay. Above 20% CP is considered average for Lucerne (our prime lucerne is 26%!). Protein does all the work for muscle development and recovery.
Metabolisable Energy (MJ/kg) determines the performance of the hay. The higher the better particularly for animals consuming a lot of energy in work, pregnancy or lactating. Above 9 MJ/kg is considered average for Lucerne (GreatHAY’s prime lucerne is 10.72 MJ/kg).
Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF %) indicates the digestibility and palatability of the feed. The lower the NDF %, the easier and faster the feed will be digested and nutrients absorbed. 41.7% NDF was the industry mean in 2024-25 and GreatHAY’s prime lucerne is 32.1%.
Water Soluble Carbohydrates (WSC %) indicates the amount of sugar in the feed. If you have horses susceptible to sugar, choosing hay with low WSC can help.
3. Packaging
Packaging impacts the cost of freight. For example, our small bales are in Bale Baron bundles of 21 bales and our big squares are 8x4x3 ft bales. These are the most efficient for freight, allowing more tonnes on a truck which cheaper freight cost.
Packaging impacts the ease of handling your hay. For example, small bales loaded traditionally require hand unloading or the use of a grab which is slow. Baron packs can be handled like a big square bale using large hay forks and is 180-320% faster than traditional grabs, handling 42-63 bales per movement vs. 15 bales.
4. Delivered price
There is a price to get the hay to your shed regardless of whether you have it delivered or pick it up yourself. Freight is expensive so ensure you receive a freight quote to establish a delivered per tonne or per bale price.
5. Analysing value for money
Using feed quality tests, hay can be analysed on a Dry Matter, Protein and Energy basis to determine value for money. Let’s assume GreatHAY’s prime lucerne is $20 per bale and the industry mean is $18. Below, I compare GreatHAY’s 2024-25 prime lucerne with the industry mean feed test results from the 2024-25 season to show which offers better value for money.
In summary, GreatHAY’s Prime Lucerne is better value on all fronts even though the $/bale price is higher.
- Dry Matter Basis: 10% cheaper
- Protein Basis: 33% cheaper
- Energy Basis: 22% cheaper
The graph below shows GreatHAY’s 2024 and 2025 hay ranked against the industry mean feed test results for the same period.
Source: GreatHAY quality tested by FeedCentral, Toowoomba QLD. Industry mean test data from Agrifood Technology, Werribee VIC.
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