Standlee Organic Alfalfa Hay and More...
Standlee Grab & Go Compressed Hay
Standlee receives many inquiries about their popular Grab & Go® and Compressed Bales. Here are a few:
1.) What are Grab & Go and Compressed Bales?
Grab & Go and Compressed Bales are created by slicing a 4’x’4’x8’ large bale into 36 smaller bales and then compressed and banded. Grab & Go Compressed Bales are simply wrapped Compressed Bales with handles to eliminate color bleaching and to promote clean and easy transport and storage. Standlee presses both Grab & Go and Compressed Bales to deliver approximately 50 lbs. of premium western forage.
Premium Organic Alfalfa Grab & Go Compressed Bale
Premium Organic Alfalfa Grab & Go Compressed Bales are formed by allowing Standlee forage to grow to the proper stage of maturity, cutting the plants, allowing them to sun-cure (dry) to an acceptable moisture level and baling the forage at the optimal time. Standlee Premium Products creates Grab & Go compressed bales of forage from a large 4’x4’x8’ bale that is put through a press, sliced horizontally, pushed onto a scale, weighed, compressed, banded and then shrink-wrapped.
2.) Why do animal owners use Grab & Go and Compressed Bales?
There are several benefits consumers quote when asked this question. Convenience and cleanliness in handling and transport and the reduction of storage space at home and on the road are typical mentions.
3.) What are the benefits of Standlee Grab & Go and Compressed Bales versus other baled hay sources?
Standlee carefully manages our farms, production facility and distribution centers to deliver the most consistent, high-quality forages to your beloved animals from coast to coast, 365 days a year. Since 1991, Standlee’s main focus is to reliably deliver the best forages in the United States, bar none!
4.) What varieties of forages are available in Grab & Go and Compressed Bales?
Standlee Premium Western Forage Grab & Go and Compressed Bales are available in the following forage varieties: Alfalfa, Timothy Grass, Orchard Grass, and an Alfalfa and Orchard Mix. We also offer a Straw Grab & Go and Compressed Bales for bedding and Lawn & Garden uses. Lastly, we have Organic Alfalfa and Certified Noxious Weed Free options across several of our Grab & Go and Compressed Bale varieties.
5.) How do you feed Grab & Go and Compressed Bales?
Standlee recommends slicing open the wrap covering from end to end and cutting the bands to allow the bale to expand for at least 12 hours before feeding. We strongly encourage feeding by weight and not by volume or flake. The average 1,000 lb. horse needs about 15 to 25 lbs. (1.5% to 2.5% of body weight) of forage throughout the day from dry hay and/or pasture.
If you have any feeding questions specific to your animal, please contact the nutritionists at Standlee, or consult with your veterinarian.
6.) Can I leave the wrap on the Grab & Go Compressed Bale? Can I feed the bale out of the wrap material?
You can leave the wrap on only when storing our Grab & Go Compresses Bales. However, if you live in a hot and humid area, we recommend removing the wrap to allow the bale to breathe to avoid moisture accumulation which could promote mold spore growth.
Do not feed the bale in the wrap material. If an animal ingests the wrap or band material, it can cause significant digestive upset.
7.) Why are some Grab & Go or Compressed Bales ‘dusty?’
Grab & Go and Compressed Bales are made by cutting larger 4’ x 4’ x 8’ compressed bales from our fields into their final size. The cutting process can shatter leaves and stems creating forage fines. Some consumers refer to these forage fines as the ‘candy’ for their animals. So, don’t throw out these tasty morsels as your animals will thank you!
8.) How long can I store Grab & Go and Compressed Bales?
If stored properly, Grab & Go and Compressed Bales can last a year, or longer, without any significant nutrient degradation. We recommend storing our products off the ground (on a pallet) in a covered, well-ventilated and pest-free environment free from the effects of weather or moisture.
9.) What are the brown blades of grass in Timothy Grass Grab & Go or Compressed Bales?
Timothy Grass is a difficult forage variety to coordinate harvesting and baling. Standlee always attempts to grow, cut, sun-cure and bale at the most ideal time. However, Idaho summer thunderstorms can throw-off harvest timing which can result in brownish-colored grass called ‘brown blade.’ Brown blade is a shorter, off-colored grass which gets less sunlight than the taller blades. Brown blade is not a weed, nor unhealthy, for animals. However, some animals find brown blade less palatable than their green-bladed cousins.
10.) Can I feed this product to my rabbits, guinea pig, hamster, mouse, rat or chinchilla?
You absolutely can but we recommend our Standlee Hand-Selected Forage products for your small companion animal family. These products leverage our super premium forages which are typically softer and have better leaf retention than the Grab & Go and Compressed Bales. Furthermore, the packaging provides hassle-free and cleaner storage in home.
If you have any feeding questions specific to your animal, please contact the nutritionists at Standlee, or consult with your veterinarian.
Standlee Organic Grab & Go Alfalfa Hay is coming to American Farm and Larder! Reserve your bag today!
TIPS FOR FEEDING COMPRESSED BALES
Always feed by weight not volume.
Feed 1.5-2.5% of body weight in forage per day. For a 1000 lb horse, that’s approximately 15-25 lbs per horse per day.
Standlee compressed bales weigh approximately 50 lbs per bale, but will vary slightly so always weigh your horse’s forage.
Cut bales during the previous feeding to allow for expansion and be sure bale is placed in a large tub, wheelbarrow or something of that nature to keep the forage contained.
When you cut and remove the straps from the bale, as an example, you may count approximately 11 flakes. However in this case, after 6-12 hours of expansion, you would then count approximately 22 flakes. You haven’t magically made more hay, it has just expanded into normal flakes.
As an example, if you count 22 flakes in the bale (number of flakes may vary), you would divide 50# by 22 flakes and the flakes would average 2.27# each. Using this example, a 1000 lb horse with no other forage should consume around 15-25 pounds per day or 6 to 11 flakes per day (be sure to weigh your horse’s forage).
Once you have become accustomed to the expansion of the bale, you will likely not need to cut the bale in advance of feeding the forage, since you will be familiar with the product.
