How soon can big baled hayledge be fed?

[runaway]

Hello,

Can you please tell me how soon after it has been baled/wrapped can you safely feed big baled hayledge to horses? I've heard that it should be made for at least 8 weeks before being used, can anyone confirm or deny this?

Thank you

 

[birchave0]

ours was made and wrapped at the end of June, we opened our first bale last week, and used it. No problem, ours did have an additive on though, so not sure if that makes a difference......

 

[runaway]

So yours has been baled about 6 weeks then yeah? This stuff hasn't had anything done to it, just baled, no additive.

 

[jrp204]

We wait 6 wks with no add.

 

[runaway]

It's looking like 4 weeks is a bit too early then.

 

[runaway]

Have had a word with my vets and they recommend 2 months (8 weeks) as do a local firm of hayledge producers. Not what I wanted to hear as could do with some! Shall have to wait another 2 weeks at least really, to be safe.

 

[mcooper]

We use Ecobale additive on ours and use it at 6 weeks. I phoned the Ecobale people to find out how long before we could use it and they said that if when you opened up the bale, if the middle as cool, then fermentation was complete. Basically when haylage is wrapped it ferments anaerobically (without air) this produces heat. When finshed frementing the bales cool the the ambient temperature, but will start to frement again aerobically when opened, which is why you have to use them up within a week or they go 'off'

HTH


Mark

 

[runaway]

To be honest we've never used a large bale of haylage within 7 days! We always check what we feed to make sure it's not hot/mouldy or smells bad. If the bale is feeling warm we unrevel it to let it dry out! We haven't had any problems up to now.

 

[mcooper]

As a supplier we recommend that it is used in 7-10 days, however we have clients leaving bales open for 3 weeks without a problem but it is their choice. The coller the weather and the dryer the haylage, the longer you can leave it open. Best to unwrap all the bale and let it dry out a little if you cannot use it a quickly.

Mark