Soaking Vs Steaming
In comparison to dry hay, both soaking and steaming methods have been shown to reduce the amount of airborne particle, significantly! However, for those unsure about the quality of their forage, steaming may be a more effect route as it has been shown as a more effective way to reduce harmful respirable particles such as bacterial and fungal spores.
In one scientific study, it was found commercial steamers reaching 99C reduced mould and bacteria spores by 99%! However, the same cannot be said for the homemade steamer many equestrians may use.
Homemade steamers usually entail using boiling water from a kettle, poured into a container which is large enough to fit a haynet and has a lid to contain the heat and steam. When looking further into how effective these devices were, researchers have found they may actually worsen hay quality. As home-made steamers cannot reach the temperatures required for killing bacteria and mould, the environment created is actually perfect for encouraging growth – warm and moist!
On the other hand, the other, inexpensive route to reducing airborne particles is soaking. However, soaking may also be be harmful to our horse’s health. Although reducing respirable particles, soaking hay has been found to increase bacteria levels by up to four times the amount found in dry hay, which may impact overall condition.
