Haylage or Hay?

[Bobthecob15]

Hi all, moving yards soon where they provide ad lib hay or haylage depending on what you want. I’ve searched online but can’t seem to find a definitive answer…which is better for a horse in light work with no respiratory or laminitc type issues? Not overweight or underweight. Don’t need any extra energy!

My gut says hay but read some bits about a mix of both? Thanks

 

[rabatsa]

Depends on grass type and quality so only by seeing/testing would you know which is right for your horse.

 

[Goldenstar]

If the horse has any type of wind problems haylage is best choice .
You can’t really tell which is the highest energy without analysis .
if the haylage is rye I would start on the hay .

 

[Polos Mum]

It's really difficult because there are so many variables with both.

It's like saying what's better for a snack cereal or biscuits ? If your cereal is crunchy nut cornflakes with baileys on top that will be worse than a rich tea light.
If your comparing Weetabix with a chocolate and toffee covered all butter shortbread the reverse would be true.

with a normal weight horse with no medical issues I'd look at both and assess the quality (smell, any mould, texture) ask about which fields it came from and see if they know what type of grass it was and how dry it was when made. This year, with the terrible summer, there is very little quality hay around.

 

[mini-eventer]

My horse was super dirty on haylage and I find that is common. This years also sent him bonkers .

He can cough so I now feed him on damp hay and it is much better, sometimes it give him a small amount of haylage as I feel the bigger variety of forage the better. It is a case of trying them, but i would say if you are currently both happy on hay and it is nice hay. Maybe if it isn't broke don't try to fix it?

 

[Fransurrey]

What is your horse on at the moment? Doesn't it make sense to stick with that? Changing yards for him will be stressful enough, so you don't want to be changing feed at all if you can help it.

 

[Bobthecob15]

What is your horse on at the moment? Doesn't it make sense to stick with that? Changing yards for him will be stressful enough, so you don't want to be changing feed at all if you can help it.

Hay at the moment, really poor quality (dusty and discoloured). New yard it seems better. Will stick with that, many thanks.

 

[Birker2020]

You need to feed more haylage than hay as haylage contains a lot more water so its empty calories. I'd feed in a small holed net or double bag the haynets.

 

[mini-eventer]

You need to feed more haylage than hay as haylage contains a lot more water so its empty calories. I'd feed in a small holed net or double bag the haynets.

This is by correct if feeding by weight, not necessarily if feeding by volume. One strand of hay is lighter than one strand of haylage because of the water haylage contains. But they both take up the same amount of space. In my experience Haylage often takes up less space in a net as its weight and softness squashes it down

 

[Birker2020]

This is by correct if feeding by weight, not necessarily if feeding by volume. One strand of hay is lighter than one strand of haylage because of the water haylage contains. But they both take up the same amount of space. In my experience Haylage often takes up less space in a net as its weight and softness squashes it down

Yes I guess so, you are right.