Haylage gone off?? Help!!

Sambo

Sambo

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I haven't been feeding haylage for that long, but as it is cheaper and more available than hay - I have been feeding it since November. I buy 400kg bales and they have always been a good quality... until today...

I opened one of them and on one side and halfway along the top, the haylage looks normal (tiny bit darker), but is wet to touch and smells really strong - it's not a foul smell - it's just not right... its a very sweet smell when smelt up close but from a distance isn't a very nice smell - almost like manure after a while when its on ur hands...

There is no mould in it and the horses didn't hesitate in eating it...

Do you think this is safe to eat? Should I let it dry out first? Or just bin it? Or should I rip the whole bale open and take out all of the wet part?

I think there was a pin hole on the top - so some rain must have got in.
 
It depends if it is wet and fermented like silage almost?? In this case do not feed and google "botulism".
 
For me haylage is confusing, I know when I first started feeding it i was constantly going up to people on the yard asking them to smell if it's ok.

It ranges from dry like hay to wet and smelling like beer.

My friend says the wet stuff lasts longer than the dry stuff, and sends any she,s not happy with back.


I would ring your supplier and ask them.
 
The older the bale is the more often you get a patch of wet, where it seems to settle out. I feed it. Botulism is usually caused by cutting too low and getting soil in it, don't feed any with soil in, or black or brown mould, but white mould is OK, that's just yeast. My horses actually like the strong smelling wet bits best :)
 
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