No haylage - ideas for alternatives

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Spanish Eyes

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Things are getting dire here. Went up to my local feed supplier last night and was told they have no local haylage in stock because of the awful weather - farmer hasn't been able to get onto land to cut it yet, and of course even when he does it will still need time to mature. Managed to get a bale of stuff from up-country supplier, but that won't last long.

I have three horses, and all live out 24/7. The paddock is poor grazing anyway, and pretty bare. They have a bucket feed, and I've been giving them the equivalent of a haylage net daily. Their condition is pretty much spot-on at the moment.

Bit concerned really if the weather continues, and can't get more haylage. Any ideas on alternatives to hay/haylage.

Thanks
 
Fast Fibre would be a good addition. You can feed up to 1.5 kg a day I think and that would work out cheaper than hay! Although that probably won't get you the trickle feed you are after...
 
Where are you? We have small bales available as we haven't used as much as we normally do. It's meadow grass haylage
 
I'm worried about this too :-(

I've got 5 horses/ponies including one that's out eventing, one that's in 22 hours a day as at risk of lami, a cob & two young NF ponies. My usual supplier has only got very rich rye grass hay left & not much of that. Obviously not suitable for most of mine.

I've got a 9 acre field of meadow grass that i was hoping to cut for hay or haylage but i just can't see that happening, it will be going to seed soon.

I really need bulk/fibre but very low sugar/calories. Any ideas would be very much appreciated.
 
I'm sorry if I've missed it somewhere but can you not just give them wet hay? My mare has a hay allergy and ideally I would like her on haylage but the other mare that shares the field can't have haylege so we compromise with wet hay. Yes it's a pain in the backside but it works. I pop it into nets to make it easier and dunk/hose it thoroughly.
 
HazyXmas said:
I'm worried about this too :-(

I've got 5 horses/ponies including one that's out eventing, one that's in 22 hours a day as at risk of lami, a cob & two young NF ponies. My usual supplier has only got very rich rye grass hay left & not much of that. Obviously not suitable for most of mine.

I've got a 9 acre field of meadow grass that i was hoping to cut for hay or haylage but i just can't see that happening, it will be going to seed soon.

I really need bulk/fibre but very low sugar/calories. Any ideas would be very much appreciated.
Click to expand...

I also feed Oat Straw Chaff (honeychop brand), it's not too expensive and might help for the short term?
 
Ella19 said:
I also feed Oat Straw Chaff (honeychop brand), it's not too expensive and might help for the short term?
Click to expand...

Thank you Ella, do you know what the sugar content is? I was just considering calling some local farmers to see if anyone had any oat straw that i could mix with the rye grass hay (which i am soaking for 6-8 hours) Does anyone feed straw? Not sure mine would eat it......

I fed fast fibre through the winter & did really like it, might have to go & pick some up but the won't help with 'what to eat through the night' problem.
 
I am bulking out my rather dry haylage with oat straw, and of my ones that are in, 3 eat the straw first!

I have several friends feeding straw now, I was always told oat straw was tastier and better for their digestion, but another friend feeds barley straw with no problems.
 
When i was based in the South East, we ran out of haylage last year,and i had to get small bales sent down from Devon on pallets- the supplier has it all of the time- if you need their no pls PM me.
 
Thanks for the ideas guys.

Sorry, ella19 should have said that we'd switched to haylage cos no-one's got hay around here either.

Kirstyl, I've pm'd you.

Think I'm going to try and get some honeychop. Two are spanish girls, and I believe it's customary to feed straw out there, so its worth a try.
 
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