stupid question hay/haylage

[Jazzy B]

this is a really stupid question, but have had a lot of contrary opinions (probably have even more now posted on here ), but can you feed hay and haylage at the same time i.e. hay in the field and haylage in stable at night?

 

[BonneMaman]

I don't see why not. However, why would you? I can understand that the spores from hay would be dispersed more readily out in the fresh air but if you are feeding haylage due to a cough I doubt the dry hay outside would help.

 

[Cobi]

Im learning the ropes so please be gentle, haylage is soaked hay right? :S
X

 

[TJ&Ozzie]

Hay- mown, turned over and left to dry until reaching a dry matter of around 85% and then its baled into what ever size you want and not wrapped.

Haylage - mown , partly wilted and baled within a short period of time and baled at a dry matter of around 60%. The bales are then wrapped to prevent any oxygen getting to the haylage and it going mouldy.

I feed haylage during the bulk of winter but move onto hay once the grass starts to grow properly and then onto nothing but grass through the summer.

 

[Cobi]

Thnx tj&ozzie ...x

 

[Jazzy B]

curious as horse shares field with a fat pony who only has hay (my boy has haylage in the winter) our grazing is becoming pretty non-existent so may have to look to hay at some point, therefore was wondering whether my boy would be okay to eat hay during the day and haylage at night?

 

[magichorse]

I've always fed a mixture of soaked hay and haylage with no problems. My horse has asthma soneeds dust controlled feed. If money was not a factor I'd feed just haylage, but I use some soaked hay to make it a bit cheaper

So, no, I've never had a problem feeding both.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

My mare get adlib hay in her stable at night and some Haylage in the field on frosty mornings with no problems. She get haylage in the field as can guarantee she will eat it all, thus have no waste to clear from the field

 

[kinnygirl1]

My boy( a connie native type) has hay in his stable overnight but his fieldmates( 2 TB's) have haylage. We all chuck a bit of our respective forage on the field when they are turned out during the day to supplement our very depleted grazing so ours are all having a bit of both and no problems to report

 

[showjumpingfilly]

Mine have hay during day in field, and haylege at night in stable, but generally have a small hay net as well at night so theyve got extra!

 

[Jazzy B]

thank you everyone - I shall stop panicking, well I won't, I'll just find something else to panic about!!!