Does Horsehage have a 'sell by date'?

[0ldmare]

I was clearing the barn today (well making a start, its a right old dumping ground )

Anyway there were 6 bales of blue horsehage which are 4 or 5 years old. I was going to open them up and chuck them on the muck heap, but when I opened the first one it seemed perfect! None have got any holes in them but they are old!

What do you think? Feed or chuck?

 

[charmeroo]

I would have thought that privoding the bags are not perforated and it smells ok then I would feed! Waste not want not!

 

[0ldmare]

It smells perfect!

I looked to see if there was a sell by date and couldn't find anything on the bag.

I am v tempted to feed it, I've just bought 10 bales of new horsehag as my old mare is going to need either that or soaked hay this winter. I'm feeding soaked hay at the moment, but when the water/taps freeze up I'd sooner use horsehage! Its so darned expensive this year that the extra 6 bales would be handy

 

[henryhorn]

We have fed three years old before now but just use your own sense of smell, if it looks ok it probably is!

 

[lauraandjack]

If the horse will eat it it's probably ok - they are generally pretty fussy when it comes to hay etc! Mine certainly leaves bits of haylage that are not up to his exacting standards!

 

[Izzwizz]

You could always ring the makers of it to find out. Takes the guesswork out of it.

 

[touchstone]

I'm sure that their website says that it is safe to store unopened for eighteen months; but if it smells and looks fine then I would think that it will just be like canned foods and well preserved. I wouldn't want to throw it away if it seemed okay and mould free.

 

[LadyRascasse]

How long does a bag of HorseHage keep?
Unopened, for up to 18 months, and once opened, it should be used within 5 - 7 days. However, any bags with holes in should not be used. (unless they are used within 5 - 7 days of the hole being made)

but if it seems ok i would give it a go horses aren't stupid!