Haylage experts- a question

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bathmat

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How soon after making haylage (big bale) can you feed it?
I rang a feed company helpline and they told me that you can feed new haylage pretty much straight away.
However, for the last 2 years when i have opened a new bale about a month after making it, it seems to go off very quickly. By off i mean hot, sweaty and starting to smell mouldy. When it is opened several months after making it this doesnt happen. So does this mean it hasnt finished fermenting yet?
How long do you leave it before feeding?
Thanks :)
 
I would imagine if you open it soon after making then the weather will still be fairly warm and that would be why it goes off quickly, later the weather is cooler and so it will last longer. As haylage is preserved by the wrapping I wouldn't imagine it changes at all after it is wrapped so should be no different whether you feed it the day after baling or months after. We are feeding this years haylage already with no qualms.
 
There are changes happening in the first few months, if you open it and it starts to heat up, spread it out and turn it to let it dry like hay, you need to shake it up and let the air in, just the opposite to ensiling haylage.
Some is of high moisture content and this more likeley to heat up than haylage which is dry and stalky.
 
Thanks for your replies everyone. Very helpful. Dont worry marydoll, im not feeding it! Just wondered if it could be going like this because i have opened it too soon or some other reason someone may know about! The bale i opened was definately heating up.
 
Hi, please can someone help me?

I am feeding my 16.hh big round haylage and need to know is it ok to leave the wrapper off once opened it is stoered indoors? I have been covering back up but everytime I have opened it on top its very warm and wet. Please help
 
Miss L Toe said:
There are changes happening in the first few months, if you open it and it starts to heat up, spread it out and turn it to let it dry like hay, you need to shake it up and let the air in, just the opposite to ensiling haylage.
Some is of high moisture content and this more likeley to heat up than haylage which is dry and stalky.
Click to expand...

What changes? It is preserved anaerobically, hence the wrap, so opening it up WILL start changes. Mine never heats up, unlike hay, and provided I can get through a bale in less than a month I will use it as and when. Warmer weather does make it begin the process of going off quicker once it is open to the air though.
 
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