Big bale haylage

[blond1]

Hi

My horse's field mate has just had 2 big bales of haylage bought for him and my question is how long can you feed the haylage for once it has been unwrapped? The haylage was opened on Wednesday night and the owner wants to feed it until it has gone and isn't worried about finishing it in 5 days. Her last big bale of hay of a similar size lasted for about a month.

There are only the two horses in the field and until now we each put out a contribution of hay. Obviously from now on there will be both my hay and sections of this big bale haylage put out.

A friend of mine says it will be fine as the haylage is covered and out of the sunlight and I shouldn't worry but I've always used up any haylage within 5 days of opening. I've only ever had the small bales of haylage though and wondered if the use within 5 days rule changed for big bales.

Has anyone known a horse to be ill after eating big bale haylage opened for more than 5 days? Does anyone else do this?

My feeling is that I'm going to have to ask that the haylage not be put out after Monday next week as there is no other way to make sure that my boy doesn't eat it. This isn't going to make me popular at the yard so thought I'd ask for your experiences.

 

[Always Blue]

the horse would soon tell you if there was anything wrong with it as they will stop eating it IME....be better off getting hay to be honest or small bales if its not many horses....just check and make sure the bale has no heat in it AND doesnt smell funny...although it wont hurt them but wont do any good either...

 

[BBH]

We are getting through a big bale haylage every 7 - 8 days with 2 ponies and a tiny eating it. These are in the field. We now have one in the barn and the last lasted 12 days without any sign of going off.

I think just keep an eye out and if it turns wet or white reconsider.

 

[Angua2]

I get big bale and I feed it until it goes and I only have one horse. One bale lasts me a month and my horse, dispite being fed adlib, still mugs me for it even at the end of the bale/ month. I have found if stored correctly once opened all that happens it that it drys out a little, i have never had a problem with it heating up or going mouldy.

 

[galaxy]

Depends on the haylage really... it can vary so much

The ones we buy last 2 weeks and are absolutely fine all the way through. It really is not that wet (if you compare it to horsehage).

Someone up the yard has had one open nearly a month though and is throwing it (I think and hope!) as it's really not nice!!

Can you not go halves on it? Our horses would fight over the hayledge over the hay if we put out both....

 

[Spotsrock]

my OH bales the stuff, they store it in the big bales. It's really only in the heat that it goes funny. At this time of year it should be fine fed like this and you will know immediatly of it goes off. Mostly it will just go dry.

 

[horse_lover]

I agree with above posts, nothing wrong with leaving it longer than 5 days in the winter (summer would be different). One big bale last my 2 horses 10days.