Haylage - How much of it should I feed?

[CastleMouse]

I was given a few bags of haylage today by a friend, and I was thinking about using it over the Winter as it can reduce the amount of hay you feed by up to 50%. I would obviously introduce gradually into Castle's diet, but how should it be fed? And is it worth it? He is 13hh, cob-like build, who is just the right weight for his type, will be stabled at night and turned out during the day as he will be given a hunter clip. He will be exercised 5/6 days a week and hunted or hunter trialled every weekend. Any help appreciated

 

[meganograph]

How big are the bags? Haylage can go off very quickly so it will probably not be worthwhile just feeding a haynet a night. Do you have someone on the yard to share it with?

As for how much to feed, if you want to be exact you need to use a weighing tape and consider how much work he does. Roughly I'd feed him around 10lbs overnight - if he scoffs it all too quickly put one haynet inside another!

 

[CastleMouse]

Erm, the bag is about 10kg I think. It says to be used within 5-7 days of opening on the bag, I have no one to share it with, I'm the only person where I keep Castle

 

[cariadssogreat]

TBH , I have always fed it ad lib! Once they've had they're fill all my horses and all my boss's horses tend to stop.

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[Skhosu]

I always feed ad lib, with no problems.
Hay might be better TBH if your worried about weight, but I've never fed hay and far prefer haylage.

 

[goeslikestink]

for one horse a small bale can last up to 2/ days depending how much you give them- its surposed to be a one 1/3 to hay quanity

if its a small bale and made by farmers then that equals one full size bale of hay--

if its big bales made by farmers equals 15/20 small bales of hay

if its made by a company like haylage blue and green then that has straw mixed with it and equals 1/2 a bale of hay

so-- 15.2hh on famers own haylage --3sections --
morning and night -- equals two days that with horse turn out during day

if hay lage blue or green--- 3section night and day would last one day
so big huge bales i use form 8 horses last me a week 8/9 days

but i do feed hay ab lib to -- just a guide line
once your horse is on it will help for copd as not dusty
and will fatten them quite quickly --in fact my horses love it
so i only feed it twice a day and hay the rest of the day
as they have it ab lib

 

[Stasha22]

Can I just add that you are actually meant to feed more haylage than hay due to the high water content haylage has. Its a common myth that you should feed less.

Therefore, if you do decide to go with haylage, you need to feed more than you currently feed in hay.

Personally I prefer haylage as it is much 'cleaner', although it can cause them to put on a little weight.

 

[so03]

[ QUOTE ]
Can I just add that you are actually meant to feed more haylage than hay due to the high water content haylage has. Its a common myth that you should feed less.

Therefore, if you do decide to go with haylage, you need to feed more than you currently feed in hay.

[/ QUOTE ]

I totally agree. I went to a talk run by my vets and a feed specialist. They pointed out that most people think you should feed less, but actually due (as you say) to high water content and lower fibre value (than hay) you need to feed more than you would hay and to reduce your hard feed.

Personally I'm not sure I would feed a pony haylage. This was advice given to me from my haylage provider.

 

[Judie]

I agree with Stasha22, always feed haylage and alway adlib, but then my horse stops eating when he's had enough..

 

[TGM]

I think it should be clarified that you need to feed more haylage than hay BY WEIGHT, because of the moisture content making the haylage heavier. But the VOLUME is probably about the same.

 

[Parkranger]

All I know is that my boy still gets a full bag of soaked hay and 2/3 sections of haylage a night and he's still putting on weight very very slowly.

Have noticed that he's got alot more energy though so it's definately worth it!

If he's being ridden he also gets a bit of hay while I'm grooming and tacking up.

God he eats alot! x

 

[_jetset_]

We have to weigh our haylage at the yard. I only have a 16.2hh IDxTB so i I give you the amounts I feed her you can have a go at working out what to feed, although a lot is trial and error to be honest depending on how rich/dry the haylage is:

Winter
Morning - 8kg
Night - 8 kg (7kg if not finished all morning haylage)
If it is richer she tends to go down to 7kg.

Summer
Morning - 1 kg while I muck out etc
Night - 5-7kg depending on how much she has eaten from the previous night

I know a 13hh Welsh Sec C is on 5kg a night on our yard because she believes in giving him as much as he wants and exercises him a lot too!

Rebecca x

 

[CastleMouse]

Thank you very much for your advice everyone