Why not let them dry out inside a barn? I’d imagine leaving them out, exposed to the elements, would allow for a higher likelihood of fodder becoming mouldy?
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Oddly enough, it’s *because* some of the hay is rotting.
Decomposition is an exothermic reaction, and it causes the hay bale to warm up and eventually auto-ignite. When left out exposed in a field, the breeze can carry away some of the moisture, and if it does auto-ignite, it’s not going to burn down the barn.
Eventually, the hay will dry out enough that it doesn’t support enough bacterial life, slowing down the decomposition reaction enough that the hay won’t heat up anymore.
It’s very similar to the effect that can cause oil soaked rags to auto-ignite when left in a pile without air circulation to carry off heat released from decomposition.
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