Moldy alfalfa hay?

[PamperB]

Hi everyone. Today I bought 3 bags of alfalfa hay from a shop I always go to and when I opened the first one, it smelled weird, in a bad way. I also saw these little “cotton-like” balls between the leaves, and I decided not to feed it to Pamper just in case it was bad.

Could it be that alfalfa smells differently but is still in good conditions? Something in my gut tells me the cotton isn’t normal, but I’d appreciate some feedback. Thanks.

[Bam]

Hay can go bad if it’s bagged when it’s not dry enough. If it doesn’t smell good, don’t feed it. Hay should always smell sweet and appetizing, reminiscent of a grass-meadow in the summer. Alfalfa has a high protein-content and that means lots of food for funghi and bacteria. You should return it. Don’t give it to Pamper. It’s not worth it even if the shop won’t give you a refund.

The shop may not have known.

[Deleted User]

I’m a bugga – if it doesn’t smell, look or feel right I don’t feed it to anyone. Gee it can be annoying (& I say that politely, ha hah) having been caught out myself – but as Bam mentioned above, the supplier may not have known? So besides getting a refund, you may be help him out and others wanting to buy the same product.

[PamperB]

I took your advice and went to the shop, and politely explained that it wasn’t in good condition, and the saleslady told me that it was okay and I could give it to her anyway. Then, when I felt I was being treated like an idiot – all because they wouldn’t give me a refund – I told her “would YOU eat something moldy and take your chances?”. Reluctantly, she traded the three moldy bags for another three unopened bags, and to my surprise, when I got home, it smelled as rotten and moldy as the ones I gave her.

Went to another shop, bought alfalfa and compared them – the new ones were greener and less dusty, and definitely smelled fresher.

Conclusion: always trust your instincts.

[Deleted User]

Good on you PamperB! (though you still got ripped off). You know what I don’t get? For the sake of a few dollars profit – (I’m guessing) they lost a customer? They could have made a fortune from you as an ongoing customer? Idiot! And some places wonder why the go broke and have to close up shop. What ever happen to good old customer service and product? ‘My’ pet shop is a good 30 minute drive away, but gee he’s good, offering advice (that I don’t need, ha hah – thanks BBer’s) keeping me up to date (did you know there is a new Oxbow hay coming out to Australia soon, lol!) and always with a friendly smile – nothing is a problem for him. The pet shop down the road – the money I wasted on ‘junk’! I wouldn’t even go there to buy my dog a toy bone – customer lost! I still can’t get over the lady saying it was ok to feed that to your precious bun?!?!? Your instincts were spot on PamperB!

[Bam]

The saleslady should be grateful to you for warning her about the hay. It’s likely to kill their whole business if they sell petfood that kills people’s pets or make them sick.

Lucky little Pamper has a good human who looks out for him =)

[Author]

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