People who use haylage - help please!!

[Slinkyunicorn]

Am thinking ahead really. Due to the weather in this part of the world it is quite likely that we will not have the best hay crop this year so I am thinking maybe I should start buying some haylage for my boy (mare has lami so will be on hay) to get through this winter. I know it seems like a long way away but I would rather spread the cost out as he is a big boy and eats loads!!

and we have pleny of storage.

So what do I need to know about feeding haylage? quantities to feed etc etc

Thankies

 

[Tnavas]

It is marvelous stuff - In the past I've bought the big round bales as I was feeding 6 horses, rolled into the paddock and the top cut off and left to it - the bale usually laster 10 days.

Using just a standerd sized bale (size of haybale) 1 bale would last one horse abot two to three days.

When you buy it though check the wrapping is good and for any damage, splits, tiny holes etc. as it goes off once air gets to it. Try to store under cover - I have lost some this year to bird claws!! Even covering with a tarpaulin will help. Put down mouse and rat bait too as they love the plastic for nests. Finally fence it off well if you store it in the field - my youngster thought it great fun to break into every bale! He got under the electric fence - little toad.

 

[f_s_]

Haylage works out cheaper for me during the winter. I fed ad lib hay to them all the year before and it cost a fortune, plus the quality, although not bad , was not brilliant.

I just fed haylage ad lib to them this winter past and it was great, in fact I had less wastage. A 3ft round bale lasted me about 6 - 7 days. Hay was approx 18 -20 bales in the same time!!

Only problem is, the big ones love it, so, I don't think hay will go down so well with them again!!!!

 

[scotsmare]

My 4yr old went onto haylage when she moved yards and loves it, yard goes through a bale every 2 days but they are feeding approx 10 horses.

 

[MrsMozart]

Use small hole nets.

There is meant to be a rule about how much haylage should be fed in terms of weight, as compared to what hay one fed. But, I feed it ad lib. Stuff the nets and let 'em at 'em; or as Tnavas says, ad lib in the field in big rounds.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Thankies!!

I'm sure my big grey boy will shove it down however I give it to him

- just don't want him to pork out!!

Not known for being fussy over his grub......

Will have to disguise the hay for my coblet - she will have a face like a smacked arse.......

 

[Ezme]

we just lob an armfull in the box as and when they need it. We have had problems though, every horse bar 1 in the last 10 years has been an extremely good doer so they get fat when they're in. Because of this they only get it when in and don't really put any in the field even when the grass is quite low. And two horses we had it really was like feeding them rocket fuel! Lmao, it became a running joke that if the headcoachman was mean to us we'd feed barney some haylege and half an oat! lol