Specifications include, but are not limited to: Item 1 – Orchard Grass New Castle County is seeking Orchard grass. The hay must be leafy, light green to green, early to medium seed head, crude protein 8-12%. The visual profile is to be as follows: • The greater the leaf to stem ratio, the better the nutrient quality of the hay. • More leaf and less stem = more protein, energy and greater digestibility. • Few mature seed head and thinner/finer stems and mostly leaf. • Texture: the shorter the stem length, the softer and more flexible the hay. • Color: the brighter the green color, the higher the protein and vitamin content. • Aroma: hay should not have a musty or moldy odor or show dust on being “slapped”. • Weeds: hay should have few or no weeds, especially thistle, burdock, nettle, or seed rose. • Foreign material: hay should have no wire, glass, paper, plastic, etc. Unless otherwise specified when placing orders, all grass hay regardless of grade must have a minimum content as follows: • Crude Protein: 8-12% • Moisture Content: No Greater than 12% • Crude Fiber: No Greater than 35% • Crude Fat: Greater than 1.5% Item 2 – Straw Straw is graded visually, and by weight, according to the following specifications. Type: Acceptable varieties are oats, wheat, rye, or flax straw. Texture: Looser, shorter stems are preferable. Cleanliness: Straw should be free of molds and dust so that when the flakes are “slapped,” they do not give off powdery clouds. Safety: Bales should be free of debris such as plastic, wire, paper, bird droppings, etc. Handling: Bales should be easy to handle and easy to fluff apart in a stall, i.e., not baled wet so the flakes pack together or too loose so the bales fall apart prior to cutting the strings, plastic straps or baling wire. SPECIFICATIONS - OTHER All HAY AND STRAW NON-WORKING ANIMALS (except for the 600 - 1,000 lb. round or square bales of hay) are to be square baled. Each bale is to be of consistent quality. The weight per small bale should weigh: Orchard Grass – 45 lbs – 60 lbs Straw – 45 lbs – 50 lbs
