Hay v Haylage

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millyspaniel

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I have 4 horses, 2 welsh sec a's - one is 2yr and the other is 9 but has a tendency to put on alot of weight , a 16.1hh TB who is just coming up to weight and seems to be keeping it on and an 18 month cob whos around 14hh.
I have quite a bit of grazing at the moment which should last untill the end of this month. I have been looking into feeding haylage - the supplier can get me the big huge round bales for £16, this would work out alot cheaper than hay.
The only concern would be using it all up before it goes off -
I dont want to over-feed them esp the welshies.
they all live out all year round

So i have a few questions please!
How long does your haylage last?
What about the welsh pony? hes quite fat?
How much do i give them all?
Will it be ok left out on a pallett and just opened abit then covered over again?
thanks
 
well, i can get mine to last about 2 weeks if i only have a couple in. It depends on the heylage, wetter heylage may only last abour 6 days where a dryer heylage may last longer than 2 weeks. It important to smell it when you open it and you will notice it when it starts to go off.
yes you could keep it on a pallet and then recover.
I feed mine at lib, within reason. most of mine being TB do not eat much anyway so they dont pig on it.

When i feed heylage to good doers i dont feed any hard feed so it could save you more money there but it would be worth getting the views from someone who has natives as i have always fed it when i have had the few occasional ones in for breaking but it would be worth speaking to someone who takes care of them on a regular basis.
 
A bale lasts my 16.1 warmblood about 2.5 weeks. The nets weigh around 8-9 kg. If it starts to get warm at any point in that time, I split the bag open and spread it out. I would have thought with 4 on it you'd never have any wastage. If they all live out, how do you ensure that they eat their own and don't dip into someone else's?
 
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If they all live out, how do you ensure that they eat their own and don't dip into someone else's?

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My big mare will have her share so will the little welshie and the little cob will have hers too, the big mare and the little welshie are not greedy nor are they bullys so the little cob will be okay with them and still get her share.
The gelding ( the other welshie) is greedy and will happpily chase the mares away from food/hay. He will be kept apart from the others - will put a partition up with elec tape to keep him from eating everyone elses!

From what everyone is saying then i should get about 2 weeks out of a large haylage then? (welshies are tiny - 11.3 and 11h)

I should be able to get through it then without it going mouldy depending on how dry it is.

One more question - do i have to introduce it slowly to them or straight away? if slowly shall i gradually introduce it mixed with hay over a week??
Thanks and sorry for the questions, never fed haylage before!!
Thanks
smile.gif
 
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One more question - do i have to introduce it slowly to them or straight away? if slowly shall i gradually introduce it mixed with hay over a week??

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Slowly, mixed with hay - 50% then 75% over 2 weeks. They may go a bit looser for a few days and could be rather hyper too. But that generally wears off.
 
Take all the wrap off when you first open it even if it takes two to get the base off. Otherwise you're creating an environment for it to ferment and therefore goes off quicker. Yum hayalage - your horses will love you!!
 
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