hay or haylage

[debsflo]

always fed hay but local farmer that i always use hasnt any spare and will need some mid jan now i have 2 horses. wondering whether i would be better changing to haylage or trying to find different supplier.any thoughts pros and cons on both thanks. like to feed them both ad lib day and night and had hay this year since august.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Depends what your horses are doing and if they can tollerate Haylage as it has higher feed value than hay. Haylage goes through my mare like a does of salts, so it wouldn't be an option for me.

 

[Chex]

I prefer haylage, but my horse is a fussy pest. If I can find really good quality hay, then I use that if I have to, but it always seems a bit minging by the end of the winter.

 

[vicm2509]

My horse cannot tolerate haylage but if he could I would feed it. It is generally higer in nutrients and if you have 2 horses it should work out much cheaper for you aswell.

 

[Theresa_F]

I personally prefer to feed hay, though Cairo would argue with my preference

I find that hayledge puts too much weight on my boys and made my WB too fizzy, even with the lowest feed value types.

There is for me cost, Cairo eats 1/2 to 3/4 of a bale a day and Chancer eats 1/2 a bale - I get hay at £2 rather than £5.20 for hayledge.

I also like to put in huge haynets so they can eat all the time and feel sorry for the pony next door who has limited hayledge due to breathing problems and putting on weight easily.

 

[miamibear]

Im another vote for hay, i didnt like the affect it had on my old horses temprament so i always feed hay now although i do have a choice (included in livery price)

Remember aswell you have to feed more haylage than hay because of the high water content it has.

Plus it can make them loose which i dont like.

So basically im a hay girl!!

xx

 

[Sags_Deer]

always fed hay and lots of it, never tried haylage, my gelding would get bored as you are not meant to feed as much as hay. my old mare has had hay for too many years so reluctant to change thats.

 

[debsflo]

like them to have big nets and think my warmblood who is very greedy would get through it in no time .any one know of hay suppliers in south lincolnshire.

 

[sleepingdragon10]

Well,I'd always been led to believe that you fed MORE haylage than hay due to the lower fibre content/higher water content.

Feeding SWUO Timothy Horsehage right now as she struggles with hay,although it was only by accident that I discovered that she'd eat this(another of the liveries offered her a little bit and she practically removed the ladies arm to get at it

)Naughty pony!!

 

[SamuelWhiskers]

Hay all the way for me, mine went nuts on the haylage trial, ended up with 2 little monsters....back to soaked hay we go!!

Sorry can't help with hay contacts in lincolnshire, only Nottinghamshire, but that may be a treck for you!

 

[flyingfeet]

We have both and make our own (so I ignore the cost aspect)

Personally I prefer hay, but only because we have larger bale haylage and its a pain to handle and feed. Its a joy to feed small bale hay!

 

[miller]

Debsflo - have PM'd you

 

[jodiew]

My horse has had haylege for the last 12 weeks and i think we are going to have to sawp him on to hay as he doesnt really like it and is maiking his droppings very sloppy!