Haylage for one horse...

JackDaniels1

JackDaniels1

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I'm trying to put weight on my mare and thinking of buying haylage instead of hay. Can this be done? I realise it goes off after about a week but a farmer said you can just cut a small hole in the top to get it out and then use a bin liner and tape to wrap it back up and it will keep. Anyone tried this? How much do you pay per bale?

Thanks
 
You should be able to get small bales that would only last you a few days - my haylage supplier does these. They're about the same size as a small hay bale and I think would last 2-3 days if you were feeding just haylage. I use the big bales - feeding three horses - and one bale lasts me around a week. I've never had a problem with it going off, I think it helps that it's square bales and so only one end has to be opened, unlike the round bales where you have to take the whole wrapper off. You could probably just about get away with big bales for one horse in colder weather but it might be a bit late in the year now. I don't know how much the small bales are, but my big bales are £25. The horses love them, much nicer than hay!
 
I have been using haylage as a round bale or one of the big squares lasts me about 2 1/2 weeks taking out two haynets a day. I just smell it a lot. I did have one bale which was quite moist so shared it and it lasted a week and a half fine. I kept it covered with its plastic sheet and some of the packing wrap from shavings. and then tied it down with bale twine and lorry pallets. Bit of a pain to do in the rain but oh well.
 
I'm trying to put weight on her , will it make much difference with haylage rather than hay? She has hard feed as well.
 
Yes it will make a difference,but just remember that the grass is coming through now and that works best. Don't panic about being a little lean now,its been such a harsh winter. Another couple of months and everyone will be going on about fatties!!
 
again dont worry to much . my mare has drop slighlt this year aswell as youngster but im not at all conserned as come summer and i be whinging they are too fat
 
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