There are growing concerns about a potential hay and straw shortage in the UK for the winter of 2025, due to dry weather impacting crop yields. This could lead to higher prices and necessitate alternative feeding strategies for livestock and horses.
The UK’s unusually dry weather, particularly in the spring, has significantly affected hay and straw production across the UK. Farmers are reporting significantly lower yields compared to previous years, with some areas experiencing drought conditions that have severely impacted grass and maize growth.
With this in mind, farmers are facing challenges in maintaining their usual fodder stocks, with some needing to feed livestock earlier than usual and potentially reducing their herds.
Horse owners are being urged to plan ahead and consider alternative feeding and bedding options, as hay/straw shortages could drive up prices and make it harder to source.
Some farmers are reportedly selling livestock earlier than planned due to concerns about their ability to feed them through the winter.
Hay/straw suppliers are already selling out, highlighting the severity of the situation. A lot of farmers have recommended livestock owners explore temporary hay storage solutions like hay tents and buying hay early.
Alternative strategies:
Feed:
Dengie Horse Feeds recommend using high-fiber feeds like Dengie Hi-Fi Senior, Hi-Fi Lite, or Meadow Lite with Herbs to extend or replace hay and haylage.
M Chaff by RSA is a great inexpensive chaff. Best quality chopped, mollassed straw, just add to concentrate ration or feed on its own.
Honeychop have a great selection of chaff, including flavoured, senior and mollasses free.
Bedding:
Chopped Straw Chopped straw is another good choice for bedding. Dust extracted. The straw is chopped into short lengths making it easier to muck out. The extracted dust helps maintain a healthy stable environment. A great example is ‘Green’ by Sundown, with added eucalyptus fragrance for a fresh clean smell.
Shavings
Shaving bales are easy to stack and store. The higher quality bales will be dust extracted, making them a great choice for horses with any respiratory problems. Shavings can be mixed with straw pellets for really wet beds. You will need between 8 - 10 bales to get started in a 12’ x 12’ stable, then just top up as required.