WHY NOT?
DIY hay steamers might seem like a cost-saving option—but they come with serious compromises in both safety and effectiveness.
No temperature control – Without controlled heat, hay often fails to reach the temperatures required to effectively kill mould, bacteria and dust mites. Instead, they create a moist and warm environment which increases the bacteria and mould content.
Inconsistent results – Uneven steam distribution means parts of the hay remain untreated, defeating the purpose.
Safety risks – Homemade systems using kettles, wallpaper strippers or improvised boilers can overheat or build unsafe pressure—posing fire and burn hazards.
No tested hygiene outcome – DIY setups are not scientifically validated to reduce respirable irritants.
HAYGAIN HIGH TEMPERATURE STEAMING:
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Haygain Hay Steaming is the only scientifically proven method of significantly reducing respirable particles in hay, without reducing nutrients.
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Maintains the temperatures required – around 212°F/100°C – long enough to kill mold and harmful bacteria by steaming in a double-walled, thermally sealed chest.
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Patented spike manifold system injects the high temperature steam evenly through all hay in the chest.
FROM LEADING VETERINARIAN
When asked about homemade hay steamers for this article on the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ website:
“Not an option. Temperatures need to reach the range of 212°F (100°C) to kill bacteria and fungi. Steaming at lower temperatures actually serves as an incubator for contaminants. This happened with a dressage horse referred for coughing while exercising. Using an over-ground endoscope, we found he had an obstruction in his upper airway. Determined to help their horse, the owner had made their own hay steamer. What happened, though, was putting contaminated hay into what was, in effect, an incubator. It wound up culturing fungus to the highest level, to where the fungus produced neurotoxins that affected the muscle function and resulted in the obstruction.”
DR. EMMANUELLE VAN ERCK WESTERGREN
