Coughing From Dusty Mouldy Haylage

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lea

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My mare has developed a cough from a batch of dusty, mouldy haylage. She has been getting better but still is coughing abit during exercise. There is no discharge and it sounds more throaty than on her chest. Has anyone used that DustX from global herbs or anything similar? I will obviously get the vet out if she does not improve but she devlops a cough a few times throughout the year. Feeding on the ground has helped but I wondered if there was something I could use to help her with this allergy. Thanks
 
Can I be the one to ask a really obvious question.....why on earth would you feed anything dusty and mouldy???
 
My thoughts entirely!

If you have a reputable supplier they should take back bales that are spoiled when you first open them. If the haylage is going dusty and mouldy because you're not getting through it fast enough then consider getting smaller size bales.
 
Feeding from the flooor is excellent.
In future soak all your hay for at least 30 minutes to prevent your horse from building up an intollerance.
Also ensure that your stable and adjoining stables are kept dust free by removing all cobwebs, dust etc on a weekly basis.
 
The bale of haylage was fine when I bought it, perphaps a little drier than usual but the farmer said this was fine. Fed it for a week and as I got nearer the core the bale was infact mouldy looking, to which I stopped feeding immediately. On horsehage at the moment.
 
I wouldnt bother wth the vet. My gelding had this mid winter when he had been on dusty, unsoaked hay(he had never had a problem with unsoaked hay before) He was coughing for coughings sake and his breathing was slightoly laboured at rest. Other than that he had a healthy appetite and was still eager to mount the mares so i wasnt to worried. I just turned him out for a few days with no hay, just feed and he soon got better, now he gets soaked hay.
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[ QUOTE ]
Feeding from the flooor is excellent.
In future soak all your hay for at least 30 minutes to prevent your horse from building up an intollerance.
Also ensure that your stable and adjoining stables are kept dust free by removing all cobwebs, dust etc on a weekly basis.

[/ QUOTE ]

You shouldn't need to soak haylage! If you soak hay it should be for a maximum of 15 minutes!
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