Rye Grass Hay?

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Gypley

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So today I picked up some rounds of hay that I found online. They were a bargain at £20 each.
When I arrived I was concerned as the hay was very course and resembled straw. When I asked the seller he told me they were Rye grass. By the time I found out what they were he had already fork lifted them into our van, so I felt awkward telling him they wernt what I was looking for and I wanted meadow hay (My fault, I know I should have opened my mouth)
I know that Ryegrass is fattening, and am planning on soaking it first before feeding it to my good dooer.
But could someone reassure me this is ok to feed? I dont know an awfull lot about Rye grass and am concerned that its courser than our usual soft meadow hay.
Also, how long in advance can you 'pre soak' hay? If I soak both breakfast and dinner nets overnight, would the dinner net still be ok by evening?

Sorry for being a bit thick!
 
Gypley said:
So today I picked up some rounds of hay that I found online. They were a bargain at £20 each.
When I arrived I was concerned as the hay was very course and resembled straw. When I asked the seller he told me they were Rye grass. By the time I found out what they were he had already fork lifted them into our van, so I felt awkward telling him they wernt what I was looking for and I wanted meadow hay (My fault, I know I should have opened my mouth)
I know that Ryegrass is fattening, and am planning on soaking it first before feeding it to my good dooer.
But could someone reassure me this is ok to feed? I dont know an awfull lot about Rye grass and am concerned that its courser than our usual soft meadow hay.
Also, how long in advance can you 'pre soak' hay? If I soak both breakfast and dinner nets overnight, would the dinner net still be ok by evening?

Sorry for being a bit thick!
Click to expand...


It's not something I usually feed but I have done, I think horsehage make ryegrass and that's where I got mine from, so yes it's ok to feed. Dinner nets should be fine, I know people that soak for 24 hrs
 
You are right to be cautious - rye grass forage was the trigger for my girls lami altho she was also overweight.

Soaking will help but given that the ryegrass hay is higher energy and worth more to a farmer than poorer more horsey suitable stuff, I would be ringing round and seeing if you could do a swap for some meadow hay?

If thats not possible then I would soak it for at least 12 hours. If soaking both nets overnight then I would change the water in the morning when you put the morning one it and soak the evening one until evening. Normally I wouldnt say more than 12 hours but in this case I would soak as long as poss as long as the water is changed.
 
We are using ryegrass hay for this first time this year. I think the late cut stalky stuff is meant to be lower energy than the "rocket fuel" stuff they feed to racehorses. I wasn't sure at first but I like it because it's very clean - no dust. I'm feeding ad lib mixed with big bale haylage which is also coarse and dry. We're onto our fourth heston of the hay and so far so good - fatty is losing weight as he should and skinny is maintaining weight with the help of copious conditioning feed and not coughing. I do know someone whose youngster coliced on it - she thought because it was so coarse. Mine haven't had any problems though. £20 is bargaintastic!
 
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