Hay vs Haylage

[Missmac]

I am taking charlie to university with me this year. Am going down there to check out a couple of really nice sounding yards this week. Can't wait!!

Both of the yards grows their own haylage and I was just wondering how much difference there is nutrition-wise between hay and haylage.

I am constantly at war with my fatty NF so I was just wondering would the haylage be too rich for him?

Sorry if this sounds completely stupid. I've never used haylage before!

Thank you!!

 

[Dressagebabe]

Haylage tends to be less dusty but with more water content, I make our own and supply to the livery horses/ponies, two of whom are rather on the large side but the owners just use a small holed hay net. I also feed it to my ancient lamminitic pony through the winter months.

 

[Lyndz]

Haylege has alot more protein etc in it than hay! Some horses are a little loopy on it, some(like our baby) get really wet on it(both poos and more wee!) My Mare get protein lumps on the stuff, so we have to stick to hay! You don't have to feed so much is probably the only up side of it..oh and it Stinks! Hope this helps, sorry its a bit doom and gloom!

 

[scotsmare]

I prefer haylage (I love the smell of good stuff!) less dusty than hay and provided you get the quantities right then it's certainly no more difficult to feed.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
Some horses are a little loopy on it

[/ QUOTE ]
I have never, ever known a horse go loopy on haylage. I've fed it for the past 11 years to both native's and TB's and they've all done really well on it.

Just feed it in a smaller holed net if your horse is prone to being a little fatty.

And haylage that is well made smells like roasting nuts - just delicous! The poorer and wetter quality smells very unpleasant.

 

[Missmac]

Thank you.

I will give him a go on it.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

I feed my haylage on the ground so its fab, no more haynets! Its so much less messy and the horse loves it. He had to stop having hay as it was causing choke. I wouldnt go back to hay for him, tho the pony still has it, she is also fed from the ground, Id rather waste some than have to make up haynets and its better for them dustwise to eat from the ground.

It does make them a bit messier in stable poop wise but no waste of the feed as he eats every scrap.