Giving this year's haylage a big thumbs down!

[oldie48]

We have just finished our haylage which was made two years ago, didn't make any last year and this year we have over 60 square bales. It smells lovely and looks good. The first bale is probably a bit stalky but nothing about it would have put any of my previous horses off. Rose is just pulling it out of her net and leaving it. She is eating a bit of it overnight but a fraction of what she would normally devour. She is a bit fussy and I have upped her feeds as she is working quite hard. We have plenty of grass but it's fairly poor quality now and she's ready to come in by 15.00 and tucks into her feed. Fatty is happy to eat anything so he's fine with it. Thoughts??

 

[ycbm]

How annoying, wrong time of year for that with a naturally light horse!

Teeth/mouth check? cant think of anything else, sorry.


ETA this isn't your first winter together, is it? I've had a mare who wouldn't eat unless she was regularly coming into season.

 

[Carrottom]

Has the increase in feed coincided with the haylage change? Could it be she doesn't need so much so is just eating the best bits. One of mine is doing that with his hay atm, I think there is still quite a lot in my grazing as he is still producing plenty of droppings.

 

[oldie48]

ycmb, No, I got her a year ago and she was quite poor but put weight on nicely. I make my haylage later in the season and it's relatively dry compared with the stuff you buy. I thought she'd hoover up the new lot as the old was past it's best really. She is fussy which is why I switched her to Ease and Excel, which she likes. I'm pretty sure it's not her teeth as they were done fairly recently, need to check exactly when.
Carrotbottom, no, I started the new haylage on Monday, we were away Mon/Tues so she was stabled and it was very noticeable that she'd eaten a fraction of what she would normally have and the number of droppings are down overnight. She seems really well in herself, just doesn't seem to like the haylage!

 

[ycbm]

Was it made at a very different time of day or year? it may taste either too sweet or not sweet enough? if so, hopefully she'll get used to it.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Have you got some of the last lot left? Can you mix the 2 together so that she gets used to the taste of the new stuff, while still eating the old?

 

[oldie48]

Sadly, no I don't think so but I'll check. Last time I saw the last bale, Fatty was standing in it! I do usually mix the old with the new but didn't this year!

 

[Pinkvboots]

I know when a new batch of hay or haylage is delivered to me mine are not that into it for a few days, I think it's sometimes because it's a bit different to what there used to, but after about a week they are eating normally and seem happy.

 

[oldie48]

I know when a new batch of hay or haylage is delivered to me mine are not that into it for a few days, I think it's sometimes because it's a bit different to what there used to, but after about a week they are eating normally and seem happy.

That's good to hear, in the past my horses have been greedy so and sos, so having a bit of a fussy eater is a bit of a novelty. I've just gone out to give Fatty his soaked net but given it to Rose instead and she was tucking into it so I might try that for a little while. she is a bit of a princess! Fatty got a bit trug of zero chop and looked slightly appalled, poor thing!