What you do (& don't) want in hay

Buying good quality hay can be a fraught business. A good bale should:

• look slightly green;

• have a high leaf content, and no sign of thistle, dock, barley grass, or other weeds;

• fall apart rather than stick together;

• smell sweet – be aware that dried out, low-nutrient hay can still smell sweet. Don’t buy:

• mouldy, dusty or musty-smelling hay;

• hay from the bottom of the stack where it has been subject to damp.

Be careful if bales are heavy. They may just be tightly packed bales, but often they're heavy because they're wet. Ask to break one open and check.