Follow on from hay shortage thread - what about this?

[aimeetb]

Hi,

Just wondered, I was looking into hay/haylage suppliers last year and found a few that import Canadian Hay.

It looks really nice (willow green colour) and you have a choice of type of grasses (the norm - timothy, rye, orchard mix) and no shortages.

Has anyone used this?? Would you??

I have a niggling worry about importing dont know why but worry something nasty might be on it or something....

Opinions please?

xxxxx

 

[bounce]

I'm also really interested to hear peoples responses on this after just having a sample sent to me which was absolutely lovely stuff. The horses couldn't get enough of it.

I have been told that you do not need to feed as much of it. I need to know whether that it is purely because it is higher energy or whether they take longer to eat and digest it.

 

[aimeetb]

apparently its about 8% protein, was the sample soft or quite course?? xxx

 

[bounce]

It was a little coarse I guess. Horses ate it faster than I could analyse it.

 

[aimeetb]

LOL - I bet!

I have just emailed for a sample as well, at least there isnt a shortage of it! xx

 

[FairyLights]

We, the UK, used to import tons of hay from Canada pre ww2

 

[aimeetb]

We, the UK, used to import tons of hay from Canada pre ww2

Really?? I didn't know that??

Are there any risks associated with it?? I've no reason to think so but just have an uneasy feeling about it for some reason.

xxxx

 

[FairyLights]

Yes, and when the war came and atlantic convoys were being torpedoed a shortage ensued.
On of the reasons why thousands of horses were sent for meat during te war,not only to provide meat for the people but hay was rationed and only those animals allocated as "worthy" by the war agri ministry were given a ration. These included work horses and the better animals at studs and racehorses. Surplus and inferior stock went to feed the population.

 

[aimeetb]

Yes, and when the war came and atlantic convoys were being torpedoed a shortage ensued.
On of the reasons why thousands of horses were sent for meat during te war,not only to provide meat for the people but hay was rationed and only those animals allocated as "worthy" by the war agri ministry were given a ration. These included work horses and the better animals at studs and racehorses. Surplus and inferior stock went to feed the population.

OMG - thanks v interesting, unfortunate but interesting to learn something new!

 

[Cuppatea]

lots of racehorse trainers import from canada, usually rye grass. It used to be fairly expansive but probably not much different to uk prices now.
It was pretty good stuff when i knew of it and very consistant quality.