Hayledge getting hot in the middle

In this weather it goes off really quickly - if it's really hot in the middle spread it all out but check it carefully before feeding as it may already be inedible. I only use little haylage bales at this time of year, as anything bigger just goes to waste.
 
Vinegar smell can sometimes be the smell of the additive they sometimes put in haylege to (ironically) stop it going mouldy, esp if it has been rebaled into small bales.

As long as it isnt mouldy (proper blue white mould inside the bale, not just the little white crumbs you occasionally see on the outside, and doesnt smell of nail varnish ie so chemically that the horses wont touch it anyway, then if it is cooled down and the horses like it still, it may well be ok.
 
It's meant to be hot in there... don't worry. Imagine if you hadn't opened it? It'd baking itself silly... just like all our black radiators at the farm :)
 
Well, not really. NOt in the very middle, it will cool eventually but it's best to use up asap as once it cools and moisture condenses, thats when it'll smell bad and is bad for horses.
Personally, I think unless you have lots of horses to feed i.e. a yardfull where one bale disappears in two days, it's not ideal.

Hay, on the other hand is baled dry so you don't get this problem and lasts much longer...
 
It's not meant to be hot at all. Some heat, and you shouldn't be surprised but you should be incredibly careful about feeding haylage that has been very hot. It will start growing mould spores within hours of heating up.


(just to add I do know what I'm talking about with having an awful lot to do with haylage production)
 
Actually yes, sorry, it's not meant to be hot but they usually are... even in winter IME. Just don't feed them the hot bit :)

re: mould spores, I thought it had to be too wet for that to happen? have used haylage on large yards but I've only been helping out with baling the last two years (for cattle) and seen it used over last winter. They're warm believe me but no mould... just wondering.
 
haylage shouldnt be hot at all unless the unopened bales been sitting in the sun. Pull it apart at the top of the bale to try to cool it down, if its just heat from the sun itll cool off quickly, if its getting hotter and wetter as you go in to the middle youve got a problem boiling hot haylage, i personally wouldnt use it.
 
tallyho! said:
It's meant to be hot in there... don't worry. Imagine if you hadn't opened it? It'd baking itself silly... just like all our black radiators at the farm :)
Click to expand...

This is incorrect. The haylage is fermenting again having been exposed to air. Once the haylage is baled, it will ferment until there is no air left in the bale. Then it stops.

Best way, as said above, is to take all the wrapping off and spread it out so that it dries out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top