interesting article on forage

[sheep]

Just came across this:

http://www.ehhaylage.co.uk/forage_article.asp

Pretty interesting, explains in simple terms the importance of forage.. I've noticed a few threads on this topic, so thought I'd post it.

 

[FairyLights]

Thankyou, its a good article.

 

[Paddy Irish]

Thanks , that was really informative and although I would like to say I'm pretty clued up on forage as my boy is out 24/7 with just a balancer , I wouln't have known that i could feed just as much haylage as hay ( or even more ) as the water content of the haylage is so much more .. suppose it's obvious really ( I'm just a dim wit )

 

[BorgRae]

That's REALLY interesting! Thank you for posting!! ...I shall be slowly swapping both of mine back over to hayledge over the next few days

 

[Wagtail]

Thank you. Yes it is particularly interesting regarding the 3% of bodyweight being the upper limit of weight of feed. I have found that feeding 3% of body weight in haylage maintains weight throughout winter with the horse neither gaining weight or losing it. Yet many suppliers of haylage recommend only 1 1/2 - 2% of body weight. My horses would lose weight on that.

I agree that you have to feed more haylage by weight than hay.

But, feeding adlib haylage usually results in overweight horses IME except for poor doers. I guess the answer is to slow them down eating with small holed haynets. However, many people, including myself prefer to feed it from the floor to avoid neck and back strains and the possibility of the horse getting caught up in the net.

 

[Black_Horse_White]

Haylage tends to be more expensive than hay, not anymore it doesn't. Interesting read though, thanks.