Haylage or hay - numpty questions

[MuddyTB]

Hi,

I've had my TB for several years now and he's always been fed hay. His weight has always been good but I do have to soak it to stop him getting a dust cough.

We are about to move yard and I have the option of either hay or haylage on site. I've never used haylage so looking for opinions. Which do people prefer? How much do you feed compared to hay? Any other advantages/disadvantages either way?

Also if I did swap would you mix and phase haylage in?

All answers highly appreciated

 

[ThePony]

If you swap then def mix in so that you transition gradually to allow him to get used to it. We also have a choice on our yard, both ours are only fed hay. Mine gets v snotty if her hay isn't soaked so we always make sure it is well soaked or steamed. Haylege makes them both rather too full of beans, and they are both good doers so don't really need the calories. My mare is also rather a sensitive soul and it just upsets her stomach and she is always loose on it - even if she is given time to gradually get used to it. Just doesn't suit her I guess!

 

[Daisy11]

Haylage is an ideal replacement for hay and excellent for feeding to horses with dust allergies etc
you don't want to end up under or overfeeding your horse or pony.

As haylage has a higher moisture content, the same riding horse would need a daily ration of 7 to 8.5 kilos of haylage.

Although you need to feed more haylage by weight, you need less by volume - haylage is much denser than hay because of the higher moisture content, .

When you start out feeding haylage to your horse it's best to weigh out the amount every day - until you get accustomed to estimating the volume.

As haylage has about a 10% higher nutritional value than hay less supplementary hard feed will be required to meet a horse or pony's energy requirements

i use hay but i do use haylege sometimes . and i would mix with hay just to help him adjust to it