Haylage!

[spotty_pony]

I’m just looking into Haylage options ready for the winter for my two horses. This will be my first full winter on DIY and I am keen to research my options and to find the most cost effective way to buy Haylage. I considered small bales but think we would get through them too quickly, I am now considering getting a big bale and opening it all up to stop it going off and using that. Ideally medium bales would be best but I realise not many farmers make these! What do you all do and how much does it cost you roughly per month/week?

Anyone know who sells medium bales in Leicestershire/Rutland?

Thanks!

 

[Kallibear]

Up in scotland this year's haylege is very very dry ( basically wrapped hay) and will keep for weeks.

Normally dryish haylege will keep for 2-3 weeks if it's kept dry once opened. Wet stuff like last years lasts no more than 10 days if you're lucky. I'd expect two big horses, fed adlib in the stable, to use up a large bale within 2.5weeks.



Ask the farmer for dry haylege and sort your storage once open and you'll be fine. Feed adlib and they're unlikely to need much/any supplementary feeding.

A large round bale is about £30 normally. Small (and esp branded) bales are about £6. When given unrestricted access (and no grass) my two big horses will eat a large round bale in under two weeks ( so about £8 each a week). They'll easily eat a whole small branded bale (I.e horseage) EACH a day or one of the less common farmer-made small bales between then a day. That's a hell of a lot more than £8 a week!