Ryegrass haylage

[Irish-Only]

I know this has been discussed previously, but I am very perplexed. 2 years ago we moved to Somerset, and considering this is a very high horse population area, as someone who has for the last 40 years always fed meadow haylage (and nice meadow hay if we could find it), the predominant horse haylage here is ryegrass, and the suppliers look at me gone out when I ask if they make meadow haylage. Now as someone who believes that horses are herbivores and need a feed that replicates that requirement in their winter feed without me having to buy every herbal supplement going, why is this so difficult? We've just found some lovely meadow hay but had to make a 100 mile round trip to collect it, and interestingly the lovely farmer we bought it from said that none of his customers would entertain ryegrass hay, so it does seem to be a localised problem (for me, anyway). Input welcome from Exmoor local horsey peeps. Am I turning into a grumpy old woman?

 

[poiuytrewq]

No not at all. If so I too am a grumpy old woman!
I wouldn’t touch rye if I can help it.

 

[Jambarissa]

God no, I'd do the same.

I'd guess most just buy 'haylage' without thinking about it.

 

[poiuytrewq]

God no, I'd do the same.

I'd guess most just buy 'haylage' without thinking about it.

I think you’re right. Maybe until you have had a problem it’s just not something that occurs?
Most of my circle is racing and so rye is considered the best.

 

[expanding_horizon]

I don’t think it’s clear cut. Rye hay / Haylage can be high or low sugar.

I know a very laminitic pony under rehab being fed small bale hay that’s rye and guaranteed very low sugar.

 

[criso]

Not that simple.

When someone on my yard was looking for the lowest possible sugar haylage, it was a rye grass one that came out lowest.

I feed a meadow haylage which is the richest most calorific of the choices I have but I have a TB that I'm often trying to get weight on so it suits my needs.

It's nice to get the variety of grasses in meadow but I still need to supplement to address mineral imbalances locally.

 

[sbloom]

Do any of the local makers have an analysis available?

 

[HorseMaid]

We've just cut and baled our own meadow hay on Exmoor, I'm surprised you can't find anyone closer to you that makes it! Unless they do but keep it for their own animals...

 

[Irish-Only]

I don’t think it’s clear cut. Rye hay / Haylage can be high or low sugar.

I know a very laminitic pony under rehab being fed small bale hay that’s rye and guaranteed very low sugar.

I don't need low sugar and definitely don't want a single grass haylage, hence my post.

 

[Irish-Only]

We've just cut and baled our own meadow hay on Exmoor, I'm surprised you can't find anyone closer to you that makes it! Unless they do but keep it for their own animals...

HorseMaid nothing advertised locally, and maybe I should have added that we like to buy heston bales so that probably reduces the chances.

 

[happyhorse978]

I dont touch Rye - my usual hay/haylage supplier who I have top quality meadow grass haylage off every year has not made any this year and is just selling rye haylage which I'm not feeding, so I will have to swap to another supplier

 

[ycbm]

I can't get much but rye but my horses have done really well on it with a good fistful of added herbs. I use hedgerow herbs from D&H

 

[PurBee]

Devon Haylage do a rye/timothy mix haylage thats really properly made, if you’re stuck and dont want a complete mono-diet (understandably) - they deliver pallet loads too.

There’s a few haylage pallet suppliers in the uk that have expanded to be making meadow hay now, rather than just ryegrass haylage. If you google the top ones should come up. Pallet small bale haylage is averaging £6-£10 per small 15-20kg bale. Some suppliers offer mid-size larger 80-100kg bales for £30-60, making it cheaper to feed than 20kg bales.

 

[Goldenstar]

If had a proper competition horse I would feed rye or perhaps single grass Timothy .This is because it’s the safest option the manufacturer will have checked fields for poppies and like and it’s analysed So you know what
you feeding .
I know myself that meadow haylege is very variable in terms of energy and be much lower in fibre verses rye, its sugars can also be off the chart and and high sugar low fibre haylege is not a great choice for lots of horses.
ATM mine get a Timothy fescue mix ( sown that way )the fescue makes the haylege less palatable and there fore my horses eat it slower it’s about the same analysis as the straight Timothy .

Or competition horses you really need to be careful about the lays that the forage comes from it’s very easy to fail a dope test because of plants finding their way into the fields .

 

[expanding_horizon]

Devon Haylage do a rye/timothy mix haylage thats really properly made, if you’re stuck and dont want a complete mono-diet (understandably) - they deliver pallet loads too.

There’s a few haylage pallet suppliers in the uk that have expanded to be making meadow hay now, rather than just ryegrass haylage. If you google the top ones should come up. Pallet small bale haylage is averaging £6-£10 per small 15-20kg bale. Some suppliers offer mid-size larger 80-100kg bales for £30-60, making it cheaper to feed than 20kg bales.

Most meadow hay sold will be a percentage rye as it gets everywhere and outcompetes native grasses. What percentage varies massively. AFAIK unless certified rye free it’s best to assume most meadow hay / Haylage will contain some rye.