How do you tell when hayledge has gone off?

[parsley]

The title says it all really. My two have had dioarreah and colic and I am wondering if the last bale of hayledge was OK. They have a big round bale and it lasted them about 10 days. It smelt fabulous at first and then just ordinary after a while. No white bits or sloppy bits. I am worried about starting them on it again (have switched to hay for a while) and I don't want all the problems I have been having this week again!

 

[K9Wendy]

Usually if our haylage is off it smells like baby vomit, smell clings to your clothes, is damp and warm!! The white mould that is sometimes around the edge tends not to smell much, but if black or green then it reeks (never feed mould)! We would never have a bale last 10 days, 3 at max as there are a lot of horses, but I know some people who will not feed if older than a few days. It very much depends on the quality of the haylage to begin with. Sorry to hear of the colic, hope they are ok now..

 

[Llwyncwn]

The horses wont normally eat haylage if it is totally off. This years harvest of haylage has been dry due to weather conditions, but if it is wet and heating up from the inside (fermenting) it probably wont last for 10 days before it 'goes'. There has been quite alot of squits and colic in the last couple of weeks as you can see by the various threads. Sorry, havnt really got any answers for you apart from try to establish causes by process of elimination.

 

[parsley]

Thanks both of you - the hayledge was quite dryish in the core and there wasn't any unpleasant smell about it - it just didn't smell like a lovely new bale so I guess it wasn't off.

 

[CSYMolly]

You'll know if it is off, it smells awful and I doubt the horses would touch it. We've had a lot of horses with the runs at my yard. Mine can only have the older hay, they started feeding very green stuff and Molly had an awful tummy.

 

[shadowboy]

It smells like white wine vinegar! and is usually really wet and soggy, it should smell sweet and be soft but fairly springy to the touch if its good still. most horses dont touch the dodgy stuff but mies a pig and eats anything so i always have to keep my eyes open.

 

[air78]

I was always told that hayledge should be used in 3-4 days once opened.
We used to get small bales for my horse so he would get through it quick enough. They are expensive though.

He had colic a while ago and the vet suggested giving him hay instead, as it is lower in protein. I'm glad i did change now, as i haven't had to wash his bottom, entire dock area and back legs in weeks!