Is it normal for haylage to smell of alcohol?

[Princess P]

Have recently started feeding haylage, opened second small bale tonight and it had a really strong smell of alcohol if you put your face right up to it, not like cider as I have smelled in haylage before, but stronger like vodka!

Is this normal / ok?!

Wasn't too sure so gave a handful of it rather than a whole net (gave hay instead) and he loved it (he is fussy) so it is obviously appealing, but don't want to give him anything that might make him ill!

Thanks in advance for any advice

 

[cptrayes]

Yes, the sugar ferments into alcohol. The horses will love it!!!

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

It shouldn't smell like Cider either!!

That is not normal, but you can sometimes get round it by fluffing it up and drying it out, especially if you are feeding it to a horse that is not used to it yet.

ETA - I personally don't think it should smell that strongly of alcohol. It does have a sweet, heady smell though.

 

[ct1]

Mmm the neddys will love it. X

 

[FionaM12]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks haylage smells alcoholic! My daughter disagrees, she just says it smells rank.