Feeding haylage to a could be fatty?!?

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emmaln

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Hi all,

I think I've already discounted this as a possibility but I just wondered whether anyone feeds their good doers haylage successfully?

I have a dilemma in that my horses have stopped eating their hay (same supplier/grower for the last 2 years) I have tried some of someone else's and they eat it no trouble, the problem is that my current hay comes in big round bales and costs me approx £2 a day to feed both my girlies (21 yr old semi retired tb and 5 yr old welsh PB in moderate work) both girls live in at night and are turned out during the day the welsh is fully clipped and fed baileys lo cal and Alfa a unmollassed chaff she is not fat and is well muscled, the tb has a grown out trace clip and is fed veteran vitality, fast fibre and unmollassed chaff and is also in good condition for her workload (hacked gently once/twice a week and round penned or long lined once a week)!

If I change onto other hay suppliers in the area my hay cost will go up to £4 a day (minimum) and I will find that really difficult to fund (although think im going to have to)... I'm getting to the question, honest!

So here it is, my bro feeds haylage as his horse has a dust allergy, it is good quality and his girl is doing really well on it, she has not put on too much weight and is full of beans, if I were to change mine to haylage then my costs would be £2 a day (we weigh all our hay/ haylage which is why I can do these calculations!) my worry is that the welshy would get too fat and the tb might tie up as she is not doing much work! Is it worth trying them on haylage or not? That is my question?!?

Ps I would double net the welsh

Pps thank you if you read through all that gobbledeegook!!
 
I used to feed my exmoor and his companion haylage with no problems at all. This was years ago when haylage and hay were miles apart in price, so when I found a hay supplier I switched.

I'm now considering getting haylage for the coming winter, as Henry has been quite coughy on hay this year and the price of haylage is now less in the area than hay! You don't get much more of a good doer than an exmoor! :)
 
Most horses are fine on haylage. I prefer to hay and so do most horses.

Mix a bit in with their hay and increase the amount daily to try it rather than just switch over.
I've kept 2 good doer cobs right on it, it's like anything else, over feeding will of course make a good doer fat!:D
 
I feed my boys (Both forest bred foresters) on horsehage blue and hay. :)
Everyone told me if I fed both they would leave the hay but my boys eat it all up. (Could have something to do with living out 24/7 naked ;) :p :D )
I also fed Lucy horsehage, she was a lami pony she was even fed horsehage when she was on steriods.

Just remember to feed a little less haylidge than you would hay. :) and yes I would double net the welshie ;) :p :D
 
I feed haylage to agood doer with no problems, although it is th blue horsehage, the problem is that a 'normal' haylage might have a higher feed value. You could mix it with straw though to dilute the calories a bit.
 
Thanks all, don't worry would definitely introduce slowly! They had one slice in with their hay tonight, the welshy thought all her christmasses had come at once and happily set to trying to pick out the individual strands of haylage from her double netted small holed haylage net!!

Still not sure what to do for the best it's the age old problem we face every day of trying to balance cost versus what's best!! I can't believe we've seen the day when haylage is cheaper than hay though it seems crazy!!
 
Thanks irishbabygirl!! This is a pic of the welshy at the end if the summer we have managed to maintain her weight and I'm so happy just concerned that if I change things she'll balloon, just have to keep my ey one her I think!!

332cc74a.jpg


And this is my 20 yr old tb in the autumn:

44209194.jpg
 
If I wasn't on my phone I would post pics of my fatty WB and ISH who has developed a bit of a crest! Started off on hay at beginning of winter but found the wastage was a nightmare! Least you don't get that on haylage, every last scrap is decent and I would rather have them come out of winter well on haylage than hat racks! And it works out cheeper for some reason.....?
 
Ooh shame would love to see pics! Having always had tb's or finer types I am obsessed with my welshies weight, I have had her from 10 months so it would be heart breaking if she got lami through a poor management decision on my part!
 
I feed New Forest youngstock, a cobby Irish sportshorse & a fatty Connie very successfully on haylage. When i want to feed more forage (like now as grass is covered in snow!) i mix it 50/50 with stalky hay. They spend a long time picking through it for all the haylage & then eat the hay when they realize that's all there is.
I much prefer haylage, it's more consistent & less dusty.
Good luck.
 
Thanks hazyxmas, I think 50/50 is the plan for now, I agree less dust etc.

I have to say I'm surprised as I was so against the idea and yet the replies have all been positive! Weigh tape and scales at the ready I shall be adding some bales to my bros order on Friday he he!!
 
Hi, I feed Hay up until end of November - then through December/Jan and Feb I feed big bale haylage as its cheaper and easier - my 2 get through one big round bale in about 10 days.

I have an 18 year old welsh D cross (retired) and a 16h appaloosa - both are very very good doers. They have ad lib haylage (in hay bars) and maintain their weight beautifully - can feel ribs but not see etc etc. I just have to make sure that I take them off the haylage end of Feb well before the grass starts coming through.

The appy was overweight but as soon as I started hunting he dropped the excess and almost overnight looked like a different horse - all toned, fit and happy !!!!! havent been in a while so have withdrawal though.
 
Wow thanks meesha, gosh if my welshy was retired I don't think I could feed her anything, let alone ad lib haylage!!! I have to make sure she works hard to keep the weight off and to ensure she stays fit and forward!!

You must take your appy hunting again for both your sakes he he!!! I bet you don't see many other spotty's on the field when you're out!!
 
he is a few spot so everyone just thinks he's a grey !! but must get out again, on holiday then ill then frozen ground etc etc but in just the first 3 outings his shape had totally changed - and that was just autumn hunting !!! fat club for horses !!!! yipeeee

strangely Sec D used to be always overweight but since turned out 24/7 (have field shelter on hard standing and arena at night then on field in day) and on adlib seems to have settled weight wise ! I think they eventually regulate how much they eat when they are on adlib

the best big is it is much cheaper - big bale delivered is £25 so only £2.50 a day between them !!
 
I have to feed haylage to my good doer as I am allergic to hay. I wouldn't be able to do anything with her if she was on hay as even standing grooming her with it in a net affects my breathing.
 
And how do you feel his weight is saving grace? My bro is allergic to horses but has his own so he can feel your pain, they're worth it though eh?!?
 
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