SILAGE

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basil91

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Hi there.

I am new to this whole forum and posting thing, so please bare with me. =]

Basically i wish to know all your views on feeding a horse silage as opposed to haylage or hay. I personally wouldn't.

Do any of you have any experience with this? does it cause any problems, such as colic? or death?

Thank you, hope i can find some answers :) x
 
We have a lot of it at home as we are dairy, and I would say it is completely unsuitable to feed horses as forage, both grass silage and maize silage, due to the fermentation.
It contains a lot more moisture than haylage as it is not left to wilt and dry as long, around 70-75% as opposed to 35-40% in haylage. This amount of moisture allows it to ferment under plastic. The presence of micro organisms can cause botulism, also due to the acidity in it, it isn't that great to feed horses anyway.
 
It's fed widely to horses over here but I wouldn't feed it. The risk of toxic elements from bacteria is much higher risk than haylage due to the higher acidity and moisture.

According to the Nutrition course studies have shown little change in faecal ph but imo (and course teaching) the risks are too great. Clamp silage is a definite no no.
 
Silage is not suitable for horses or sheep due to the reasons people have quoted above.

Some people do it and get away with it but it is a high risk strategy.

Haylage and hay are the safe options for horses and sheep (especially hay)
 
Yes Silage made for Dairy cows is inappropriate for horses (as stated above).

However silage made for Beef and sheep animals can be fed to horses.

I live on a beef and lamb farm. We make our own silage, hayledge and hay (well if it doesn't rain!) to feed the cows, sheep and horses. We feed our silage to the cows, sheep and horses.
 
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