question about haylage

jackessex

jackessex

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15 April 2008
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hi all,i think i have a prob with my haylage so thought before i go phoning supplier i would see what you lovely people think?:)
ive had one bale that when opened was clearly mouldy (proper mould not yeast)the next 3 that ive opened smell very strange not the kind of yeast/beer sweet smell that it norm smells of more kind of acidic sort of not very nice smell but no mould on bales just dont smell normal,am i right to not feed and go back to supplier?also horse says he doesnt think much of it aswell.thanks in advance.:)
 
Personally I wouldn't feed it, and if tried my boy wouldn't eat it - he's very fussy and if he thinks it smells even a bit strange he won't eat it! Definitely get in touch with the supplier.
HS x
 
Sounds more like silage/wrapped too wet. Haylage should have a moisture content of between 40-60% before wrapping. Silage is anywhere above 60%
 
thanks guys that was what i was thinking,and i forgot to add its bone dry :(
my worry is that ive got another 30 bales from said supplier should i get him to take the whole lot back and swop 4 a different batch??
 
Too low a moisture content and it still isn't haylage. I believe it doesn't store properly if it's too dry but don't know details.
 
I'd ring him first and get him to take the opened bales back; then ask him if he has any better than that if so exchange it for the others you have bought. Certainly don't feed it if its not right. I was going to say if he only has the stuff you have then get him to refund you as its not as advertised :)
 
i am going to ring him tomoz but not sure what response i will get!!!he has a range of different hay and haylage but the lot i have is last yrs late cut and is the only stuff that doesnt set him off with his low grade lami,so worried about changing again :( .The only other haylage he has is this yrs which i worry will trigger the lami as i had some hay from him earlier in the yr which brought on a attack :(
why is nothing ever easy???
 
Sounds like you need a different supplier. Hay would be better than haylage for a chronically laminitic horse but NSC% should be low. You can also soak the hay to remove some of the carbohydrates.

I wouldn't worry too much about the supplier's attitude. You are the paying customer and he is there to serve you, not the other way around.
 
Definitely speak to your supplier. Last year I sent the whole load back (35 bales) as the first one I opened was so mouldy it came off in clouds :eek: and no way was I going to risk my Gees with that. He came, agreed it was crap, took it all away and gave me my money back (phew!).
 
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