Haylage- what do I need to know

sidesaddlegirl

sidesaddlegirl

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I'm having to go onto feeding haylage as I've discovered that I'm allergic to hay now! First it was straw so had to go onto shavings (my yard is shavings only now) and now it's developed into a hay allergy as well so is costing me a fortune in Benedryl. I should be alright with haylage as it's the dust on created by straw and hay that I'm allergic too (gives me giant itchy hives!).

I have small holed Trickle Nets and give my horse two of these each night (my TB cribs so have to make sure she has forage all night).

Can I still give two haynets a night or do you have to feed less with haylage as it's richer? I still have half a roll left of hay so will mix it in gradually to wean her off of it.

Anything else I need to know about haylage?
 
You need to feed more haylage, weight for weight, due to the higher water content. Sometimes the acid can upset the gut, so it may be worth feeding something like yea sacc during the switch.
 
You can get very dry haylage which is not so likely to upset a horse's tum. All our horses are on haylage. My supplier is Baillie Haylage. There haylage is drier than most and they do several types according to whether you want high or low fibre or energy. They are excellent and deliver nationwide.
 
You might find haylage worse.

I have mild hayfever like symptoms with hay and try to avoid chucking it about or being in the barns too much, put it down to the dust.
With haylage I have mild hayfever like symptoms and come up in bright red rash (like a more intense grass rash) wherever it's come into contact with my skin.
 
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