Marksway Blue High Fibre Horsehage - anyone else noticed a change?

nikicb

nikicb

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As per title really - I've been using this ever since I started keeping mine at home 2 1/2 years ago. But lately I've noticed that the stalks are much thicker and the texture decidedly coarser. My three are definitely not so keen on it and are really just toying with it rather than devouring it as usual. I know it's a natural product, therefore is likely to change (especially given the weather conditions over the past year), but was just wondering whether anyone else has noticed this or if their horses had gone off it?

Thanks. :)
 
Definitely don't seem to like this year's crop!! Or this year's hay for that matter. The only thing they will eat is a huge tub of happy hoof! With two horses it is becoming rather expensive!! Horsehage is usually very palatable. Strange; maybe it has something to do with the awful weather we had this year - perhaps it has affected the harvest somehow?
 
Depending on where you live, it is made under licence by different producers so it I presume they could have changed producers or it could be coming from different producers.
 
I bought a few blue bales and a few purple (timothy) bales a few months ago. My horses wouldn't touch it - normally they love it. Took it back to the feed merchant and exchanged it for Gelston Haylage which they ate no problems.

There was a thread on this a few weeks ago - think it's been a really bad year for halyalge suppliers and the quality hasn't been as consistent.
 
I only have one horse on it and yes, I have noticed it is much drier this year, though the stalks look the same thickness. My mare still eats it no problem, but she's always hungry, bless her as is on a permanent diet, so she eats everything she gets. I have run out right now due to the snowy weather and so she's on the low energy big bale haylage I have. She likes it much better, but as she's laminitis prone, I have sent some away for analysis to make sure it's okay for her. I prefer using the Marksway stuff because it's guaranteed to be under 3% sugar.
 
Thanks everyone - I'm glad it's not just my lot! To be honest they are all good doers so I don't think I will take this batch back, but might try one of the other brands next time. I've used the Galston one before and they like it, but I find it doesn't break easily into sections so from a practical point of view I usually use the Marksway. I guess in some respects it's not a bad thing as they eat it more slowly overnight. ;)
 
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