How much haylage to feed?

[GrassChop]

I'm just curious to know if there is an average weight of haylage to feed per day.

My two horses live out 24/7, there is still grass but not much and a fair amount of mud currently over about 2 acres. I currently give them about 2 and a half slices each night with their dinners. One is nearly 3, weighing about 300kg and the other is in her teens and about 400kg.

I can't work out how much one slice of haylage would weigh as they seem to vary.

Does anyone know how much haylage a horse would "need" on average?

 

[blitznbobs]

Depends on the horses, the conditions
And the work load — lots of variables. Are they good doers?

 

[KittenInTheTree]

I use a weigh spring to check mine. One thing to remember is that haylage has more moisture in it than hay, and so it weighs more. This means that you need to feed more of it than you would hay. I tend to find that it works out at about a third more, so 12kg haylage instead of 8kg hay, and so on. But your haylage might be drier or wetter than mine. Anyhow, and presuming that there's no grass to speak of, for the older horse, based on our local haylage, I would expect to feed 10 1/2 kg of haylage per day. The younger one could be anything from 8kg to 12kg of haylage per day, depending on how much growing they're doing. Youngsters sometimes seem to have hollow legs!

 

[GrassChop]

Depends on the horses, the conditions
And the work load — lots of variables. Are they good doers?

My mare is only hacking a couple of times a week at the moment due to the weather and dark evenings. I would say she's probably very borderline as a poor doer and the other is a good doer but growing. She manages fine on a higher calorie feed and the same grass/hay portion as the 3yo at the moment. He only gets chaff with vits/mins and is a healthy weight for his age/time of year.

They both seem to do fine on about 2.5 slices between them but it just makes me wonder if they need more or less. Some slices can be really heavy and others are really thin and light so I give extra when they're like that as you need double the amount to make up the same weight as the usual slices! They don't appear to be hungry but there's not usually any hay left by the next day.

Would you say an average slice of haylage is about 4kg?

 

[GrassChop]

I use a weigh spring to check mine. One thing to remember is that haylage has more moisture in it than hay, and so it weighs more. This means that you need to feed more of it than you would hay. I tend to find that it works out at about a third more, so 12kg haylage instead of 8kg hay, and so on. But your haylage might be drier or wetter than mine. Anyhow, and presuming that there's no grass to speak of, for the older horse, based on our local haylage, I would expect to feed 10 1/2 kg of haylage per day. The younger one could be anything from 8kg to 12kg of haylage per day, depending on how much growing they're doing. Youngsters sometimes seem to have hollow legs!

Thank you.
That's interesting. So if the average slice is about 4kg potentially, I'd need to be putting out 6 slices a day which is nearly triple what they have now! I can safely say that they wouldn't eat it and it would just get trashed all over the floor. They always seem to do it if there is more than they actually want. Even when I've given them about 2 slices each when the weather is going to be really bad, most of it will end up on the floor and covered in poo. I suppose it just really varies on the individual horse.

 

[blitznbobs]

poor doers I just tend to stick a big load in a feeder and fill it up when it’s getting low… not scientific but at least I know they have a lot. Similarly yoingstock Unless they are particularly fat get as lib forage and often nothing else but a balanced or mineral supplement

 

[Highmileagecob]

If you feed until there is a small amount left in the morning, you've probably got it right. Or perhaps that's just me - I don't like to leave periods of no fodder for very long.

 

[Wishfilly]

If you feed until there is a small amount left in the morning, you've probably got it right. Or perhaps that's just me - I don't like to leave periods of no fodder for very long.

Yes, this is my aim too- a small amount left over in the morning- although I wouldn't necessarily do this for a very good doer!

OP- if you are worried about waste, could you put part of the haylage in a hay rack/bar or net? I know some people don't like nets, but I do put part of my pony's haylage in a net, because otherwise as you say it's a lot of waste!

 

[PurBee]

Because haylages vary in moisture content, i’d stick to the same volume as hay you were giving, rather than focus on weight.

I’ve used various haylages and it generally turns out that the same volume, no matter type of forage, is what keeps their weight even.

For a very good doer, if you switch to a higher protein/sugar forage, same volume could mean they’ll put on weight, and then that soon gives an idea the volume needs reducing a bit.
I have a fairly good doer and she’s fine with volume switch 1:1 between forages.

 

[GrassChop]

Yes, this is my aim too- a small amount left over in the morning- although I wouldn't necessarily do this for a very good doer!

OP- if you are worried about waste, could you put part of the haylage in a hay rack/bar or net? I know some people don't like nets, but I do put part of my pony's haylage in a net, because otherwise as you say it's a lot of waste!

I've been putting it into 3 crates spread out in the field and in the shelters which has helped a lot and seems to have saved a lot of the waste!

 

[GrassChop]

Because haylages vary in moisture content, i’d stick to the same volume as hay you were giving, rather than focus on weight.

I’ve used various haylages and it generally turns out that the same volume, no matter type of forage, is what keeps their weight even.

For a very good doer, if you switch to a higher protein/sugar forage, same volume could mean they’ll put on weight, and then that soon gives an idea the volume needs reducing a bit.
I have a fairly good doer and she’s fine with volume switch 1:1 between forages.

Thank you. I have been giving what I would have done with the big slices from the bigger hay bales and it's seeming to be okay but I always worry that maybe they don't have enough!

 

[PurBee]

Thank you. I have been giving what I would have done with the big slices from the bigger hay bales and it's seeming to be okay but I always worry that maybe they don't have enough!

I agree, its a tricky balance. Haylage gets wrapped and preserves a lot more nutrition than hay generally, so i’ve opted to swap volume 1:1 and take it from there as first step. If they alter weight, i alter the forage.
Mine have always preferred the taste of well-made haylage, than hay, so theyve always had the propensity to gobble up haylage, and just nibble at hay, which caused me years ago to opt for smallish hole haynets to slow them down. Not the really tiny holed nets - those frustrate them! - but nets with 2” holes. Its a marked difference from them literally taking a huge mouthful amount and chewing quickly, to having to pick a 1/4 mouthful from the net and chew that well.

Im so sad, ive timed them! Loose haylage verses netted can be inhaled in half the time. The nets help them regulate themselves, without frustrating them, as i want to avoid neck strain and worry that yanking from teeny tiny holes, for hours per day, would cause accumulative muscle strain. The 2 inch holes seem a good compromise and work for them.

 

[ihatework]

I have literally never weighed forage in my entire life!!!!

I’m not sure there is an average weight to give. Depends on how much grass they have. Size and type of horse. Fat or thin. How wet the haylage is (it’s the dry matter that’s significant). Weather etc.