Currently, I am soaking hay nets of our untested barn Teff and Bermuda, in cold water for 1 hour. I have been using my Rubbermaid wheelbarrow consistently for only soaking. We recently noticed that there was a red, residue in the bottom of the wheelbarrow. It took scrubbing to remove it. We thought it was perhaps, red clay but it be iron? We are waiting to get test results for our Teff hay and I am wondering if the test will include iron content? Or, do we need to ask for that if this sounds appropriate for my situation.

 I just read in one of the threads a reference to rinsing hay. Besides removing dust, etc. why rinse hay? I am a nubie at this. Thanks!
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Peggy J
September, 2022
Vista, California
Case History: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/PeggyJ%20and%20Solo
Photos: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=278595

Hi Peggy,
If you requested the 603 Trainers test from Equi-Analytical, it will include iron.  If you used a different test, the specifics of the test will be found with its source.  Testing companies get lots of questions and are set up to answer them so give them a call.  I don’t have hay with iron, filter my high Fe/Mn water and I still see red/brown in soak water drainings.  Good to test your hay for that and other reasons.
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Hi, Peggy. 

As Sherry and Martha said, whether your hay analysis will solve this mystery depends on the test that was ordered. When you receive the hay analysis, post it in your Case History folder and let us know in a new message that it’s there. Then we can sort out a bit more about the level of iron in your hay.

Speaking as a longtime hay soaker, I can tell you most iron in high iron hay is in dirt/soil **on**the hay. Hay grown in iron oxide/red soil may leave reddish grit at the bottom of the soaking container. Most of it it washes away, but some fine grit could clinging to your Rubbermaid.

Iron isn’t the only source of reddish gunk. Much of the rust color in hay soak water is from tannins that leach out of the hay as it soaks. Think tea. That color is normal and doesn’t necessarily mean high iron. Another source of reddish stuff is reddish or pink algae that can grow in containers that always have a little water in the bottom. Do rinse your hay soaking container after use and keep it clean with periodic scrubbing. 

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Cass, Sonoma Co., CA 2012
ECIR Group Moderator
Cayuse and Diamond Case History Folder                
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I find I get a red brown algae-like coating on my plastic soaking barrel over time.  Not sure if that's what you're seeing but it does scrub off easily.  When I dump out the soaking water it is dark red-brown so I rinse my hay after to remove any residue.  Depending on the hay, I'll sometimes see more brown water run off.  I use a wagon made of metal mesh so the hay can continue to drain until I feed it.

If your hay tests low in sugar and starch and doesn't need to be soaked, but tests high in iron, you'll want to rinse your hay to wash off the surface dirt. 

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Kirsten and Shaku (EMS + PPID) and Snickers (EMS) - 2019
Kitimat, BC, Canada
ECIR Group Moderator
Shaku's Case History
Shaku's Photo Album

Snickers' Case History
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Do you have well water?  We do, and we have high iron in our water, which leaves a reddish residue behind.  Doesn't matter if you dump water out, if you don't scrub it afterwards, you'll get that reddish staining.
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Jennifer in NH
2020

CH - https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Jennifer%20and%20Flea

Photo album - https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=251041&p=Name,,,20,1,0,0

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all of your responses and great information. Jennifer, your thought on the quality of the water I am soaking hay in was an overlooked variable.  I am going to investigate having the well water tested. We should have actual hay analysis soon and I will add it to Solo's case history as requested. The analysis from our hay broker will include Iron content. I suspect the red / oxide residue left by soaking is from the soil. I do drain the hay nets before feeding and rinse the wheelbarrow out regularly. 

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Peggy J
September, 2022
Vista, California
Case History: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/PeggyJ%20and%20Solo
Photos: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=278595

Hi Peggy,

I’m not sure if the Teff in Southern California is dealing with this, and it’s a little off your topic of soaking water, nevertheless, I’ve tested some really nice low starch and low sugar Teff hay this year up in Northern CA that showed a high amount of protein. In one sample the lab tested for nitrates and it came back at a level that an ECIR chart showed to be of moderate concern.

My horse had a reaction to a small amount of it fed soaked. 
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Chris H in CA 2021
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Woody%20and%20Chris