Large Bale Haylage.

If the temperature stays below 5 or 6 degrees it will do you a week. It will probably go longer whilst it's very cold like it is now. It will also depend on how much moisture there is in it. The first few bales I had in were made before the rain came, so were May grass, they were almost dry and more like top quality hay they would not have gone off regardless of how long they were open.

The batch I am on now is July/August grass and much wetter. No yeast on them but I doubt they would go beyond 7 or 8 days if the temperature gets above 10 degrees. I keep mine in a shed with plenty of ventilation going through it and also open the bale out if it starts to feel warm. You do need plenty of space if you open one out though, but if you turn it to get the air through it helps to keep it nice.

How many horses are you feeding.
 
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Depends how wet it is. I have had large baled haylage last me almost three weeks before now but it wasn't particularly wet, wetter than wrapped hay but not as wet as horsehage for example.....
 
A lot depends on the storage and moisture content.

My supplier makes very dry haylage and have had bales last 3 weeks easily, but they are barn stored.
 
We have very dry haylage - more like hay - which takes 3-4 weeks to use up and its absolutely fine. Stored in the american style barn where the stables are.
 
If it smells like it's dying it's off and black is bad.

I can always tell when it's turning as simply smells off. Can't describe but it doesn't have a nice rich smell anymore, can easily smell the turn without knowing what to smell for! And when it's truly gone (should know well before) you don't want to be near it.
 
My big bales always last 10 days easily and this one lasted 2 weeks and would have gone on and on but it was a nice dry bale. Check for any mould (apparently white isnt a problem - although double check this) or for it becoming reallly whiffy !
 
PandorasJar said:
If it smells like it's dying it's off and black is bad.

I can always tell when it's turning as simply smells off. Can't describe but it doesn't have a nice rich smell anymore, can easily smell the turn without knowing what to smell for! And when it's truly gone (should know well before) you don't want to be near it.
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I agree with you, but for less experienced owner the comment could be misleading. The smell of haylage with a high moisture content will make many people think it stinks and is off. I have a bale open now that is superb but it has a very sweet smell that my Oh refers to as baby sick and my coat is banned to the outhouse because he can't stand the smell.
 
AdorableAlice said:
I agree with you, but for less experienced owner the comment could be misleading. The smell of haylage with a high moisture content will make many people think it stinks and is off. I have a bale open now that is superb but it has a very sweet smell that my Oh refers to as baby sick and my coat is banned to the outhouse because he can't stand the smell.
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I love that smell :o Smells like I'm about to get pissed on haylage :p
Agree though it is a strong sickly smell. Don't know how else to describe it though!
 
PandorasJar said:
I love that smell :o Smells like I'm about to get pissed on haylage :p
Agree though it is a strong sickly smell. Don't know how else to describe it though!
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I sat in a breakfast meeting last winter and had a friend comment that she thought my perfume was rather sweet and what make is it.

Eau de parfume too blinking early for meetings, had to come straight from yard and change in the blinking carpark - that's what it's called !
 
Its a lovely sweet smell when good, its a strong vinegary smell when going (IMO). Our big bales last about ten days (we use it all) but they are what the farmer describes as haylage that is almost hay!
 
Thanks guys, never used haylage before, we have a secb and 2 sec ds, which are turned out 8 hrs a day and on hay .However this year we baled a field we had left and got 10 large bales of haylage from it .It was done in sept so will have a high moisture content.We were gonna sell it , but might try mine on a bale and see how it goes, how long should a large bale last 3 welshies:D
 
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