Feeding haylage vs hay

[chaps89]

During spring/summer/autumn my mare comes into a coral during the day in order to try and keep a lid on her weight. I'm looking at feeding timothy haylage this year instead of soaking hay. I've found a supplier of 110kg bales, and also the small 20(?)kg bags but trying to work out how quickly we could go through it vs hay.
Last summer one of the big bales of hay (Heston?) Would last 3 weekish. She's in the coral for about 12 hours and although I move it about every few weeks there won't be any grass in there for her to munch particularly.
How long is a 20kg bag likely to last, or equally would I be likely to get through a 110kg bale before it goes off without wasting too much? Have read varying reports of bales needing to be used within 4 day, others saying 10 days. Also some stuff I've said says you need to feed more than you would hay, others say the same or less so I'm a bit confused! TIA!

 

[Red-1]

If it is just for one horse I would not try big bale haylage in summer.

Mine eat the same amount bale for bale as hay.

Have you looked to see if anyone sells wrapped hay nearby? We are on that now and it is a lot more forgiving as it is dry already, but not dusty at all, and no mice!

Our farmer did it a couple of years ago when they had to bring hay in early because of the weather so he wrapped it to stop it heating up and it has been a popular product ever since.

 

[ycbm]

In summer you need to use it all within a week, so you would be pushing it with 110 kg bales and one small horse. However, it'll still be cheaper than 20kg bales, so you might s well buy those and throw the rest away if it heats up, or give it away.

Can you please let me know where you have found timothy 110s, I have looked everywhere and not found big bale timothy?

 

[meleeka]

Haylage goes off a lot quicker when the temperature is warmer. I used to use a bale a fortnight in the winter but in summer it would only last a week at most.

 

[chaps89]

Thanks all.
Wrapped hay probably isn't a possibility - she is an exceptionally good doer who also has respiratory problems so it's either fully soaked hay or one of the low sugar/starch timothy haylage options. But thanks for suggesting.
My local feed store has just got in Devon haylage which is great- if I can find a way to get a pallet to my yard it's also quite a bit cheaper.
YCBM - it was easypack haylage but I spoke to them yesterday and they're out of stock now and their contractor sold his small baler so they won't be doing it again this year at least. There was someone else, I'll see if I can find th details.

 

[OldieButGoodie]

I feed my fatty Devon Haylage 20Kg bales in the summer. He only gets 1 slice a day so the bale lasts 4 days. But I don't live anywhere hot (I live on a hill in Scotland)!