Help! Fungus growths growing on outside of haylage bale

[kgj66]

I have 28 bales of haylage and only used the first one a couple of weeks ok. It was nice until I got half way though where it turned very mouldy.

I went to open another this evening and noticed a little fungus/mushroom like growth on the top. I knocked it off and it was coming out a tiny hole (2mm at the most) through the wrap. To my dismay the majority of the bales have them! I opened three of the bales with these on them and they are all very wet-almost silage like.

However I then opened a bale that didn't have a growth/holes and it looks perfect.

Does anyone know what causes this?? I have never seen it before. Last year we had birds peck holes in some of the bales but this did not happen. When cut it could have done with one more turn but the rain was coming so we had to bale. And as I said, it's not all of the bales!

Sorry, a bit rambly. I'm just wondering how we can prevent this next year.

Also does anyone know if farmers would take wet/slightly mouldy haylage for cattle? And if so much would a very large round bale usually sell for?

 

[popsdosh]

You have holes in the plastic from birds or badgers or fox and the mould grows from the hole dont feed them ! Talking as a cattle farmer good luck finding a home for it! I wouldnt feed it , I had the local yard once chuck a couple of bales to my cattle as they wanted rid,result two dead cows with listeriosis and two with nerve damage. So to answer question re value nothing and potentially £60 tonne to dispose of.

Another year cover the bales with another sheet and net to keep the feet and bills off.

 

[cornbrodolly]

This has happened to our haylage bales this yr - thanks to our new cats! They love scramblng up the stacks. Their claw puncture holes are so small you cant see them - until the fungus grows. As we have cattle its fine , but a bit stuck as to what to do next year. Edited to say, the bales havent gone mushy, just white in parts inside , and cattle eat them fine

 

[Dry Rot]

I had haylage here that lasted a long time, so I still had some left after three years. It was well made with EIGHT layers of wrap. Opening these bales, I noticed a white mould on some of them. I was worried and offered them to a neighbour for his cattle. Later, I discovered he'd fed them to horses he had liveried on the farm! So I did a bit of research.

The white mould is actually a harmless fungus. The horses my neighbour fed not only survived but thrived. So I started feeding the bales with the white fungus to my Highland ponies but made sure mine initially also had the option of "normal" haylage. They ate the bales with the white fungus and simply left what they did not like. I had no problems. It smelt a bit odd but not nasty.

I have been advised that Haylage with black mould on it and with an unpleasant smell is altogether and can be dangerous and I can believe it. But I wouldn't let some "white mould" put you off. That has been my experience but I can't speak for your bales or your horses and you have to make your own decisions. But if you Google "white mould haylage" or something similar you might come up with more information.

Edited to say if the haylage supplied really was unfit for feeding, ask your supplier to take it away and either replace or refund your money as it is not fit for purpose. If there are holes in it because you didn't store it correctly, that sounds like a lesson learnt. Any problems with the supplier, speak to Trading Standards.

 

[kgj66]

Hi. Thanks for the replies. I'm absolutely gutted. We made it ourselves so can't return any unfortunately!

I think there was only one layer of wrap so that is maybe the problem. Last years was pecked by birds but it had two layers so was more hardy.

The white mould doesn't bother me too much, but some smells very bad is looks very wet, ie more like silage.

Lesson learnt for next year!

 

[HaffiesRock]

Hi. Thanks for the replies. I'm absolutely gutted. We made it ourselves so can't return any unfortunately!

I think there was only one layer of wrap so that is maybe the problem. Last years was pecked by birds but it had two layers so was more hardy.

The white mould doesn't bother me too much, but some smells very bad is looks very wet, ie more like silage.

Lesson learnt for next year!

I think this is your problem. The haylage I have from my supplier has 12 layers of wrap on it! It's a pain to open ever with a sharp knife, but the haylage is wonderful and keeps for ages after opening (its quite dry)

 

[Wagtail]

Hi. Thanks for the replies. I'm absolutely gutted. We made it ourselves so can't return any unfortunately!

I think there was only one layer of wrap so that is maybe the problem. Last years was pecked by birds but it had two layers so was more hardy.

The white mould doesn't bother me too much, but some smells very bad is looks very wet, ie more like silage.

Lesson learnt for next year!

One layer of wrap is never enough. I buy in my haylage and it's very expensive, but worth it as has around 8 layers of wrap. Touch wood, I've never had a problem with mould.