Those who give ad-lib hay

I feed ad-lib in the field through the winter , field split in two one horse on each side. i give them a big round bale each, my old tb mare will take 3-4 weeks to eat through hers but my big wb munches through his in about 2 weeks but it really depends on the weather.
 
for 3 horses living out on ad-lib hay last year, they had a small bale between them in the morning, and again in the evening. occasionally they wouldn't have finished it all so i'd hold off until they had hoovered it all up, so they prob went through about 12-13 bales a week between 3. (one 18hander old horse, 2 youngsters 3 coming 4 then, one 16h, one 16.2.)
the stabled ones get about 2 flaps 3 or 4 times a day. so, really, i guess it is about 1/3-1/2 a bale per day, per horse, depending on size, age, fatness, etc etc!
 
16.2 clydesdale and 15.1 traditional - in winter they are in three days a week and the turnout is more of a small nibble than grazing, I use 81/2 - 10 bales a week depending on how hungry they are and how cold it is as they want more food in very cold weather.
 
Using small bales if out foraging on lean pasture during the day, mine will easily eat half a bale each and probably more if they got the opportunity (kind of ad lib, but they are porkers)
 
[ QUOTE ]
5 average sized horses (15h ish) went through a 5ft bale of haylage is 4-5days, depending on the weather.

[/ QUOTE ]

Crikey! May I have your horses to feed please? Did they have grass as well?

2 QH's. 1 arab and a weanling were getting through bales that size in 3 days last winter.
frown.gif
They just picked their spot, stuck their heads in and stayed there.

I usually work it out as a bale per horse per day over 14h, half for anything smaller than that. If I am feeding small bales I just top the feeders up am and pm. Taking into account that from about December to May I have absolutely no grass whatsoever.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
5 average sized horses (15h ish) went through a 5ft bale of haylage is 4-5days, depending on the weather.

[/ QUOTE ]

Crikey! May I have your horses to feed please? Did they have grass as well?

2 QH's. 1 arab and a weanling were getting through bales that size in 3 days last winter.
frown.gif
They just picked their spot, stuck their heads in and stayed there.

I usually work it out as a bale per horse per day over 14h, half for anything smaller than that. If I am feeding small bales I just top the feeders up am and pm. Taking into account that from about December to May I have absolutely no grass whatsoever.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's an awful lot of haylage for four not-very-big horses.
confused.gif
Did you feed in a feeder? Our bales weren't lasting more than 3days if not in a round bale feeder.

We did have grass though. Not much (they only get haylage adlib after it's all gone) but they eat until they're full then go off to play. Only one would stand and gorge himself constantly.
 
Kallibear, yep, in a feeder, that's why I don't feed round bales anymore if I can help it, I thought it was a lot too. I have even actually caught them asleep with their heads supported in the hay!

I do allow them a little extra to compensate for our climate though.
 
Goddy used to get through about 2.5-3 bales a week... I was VERY lucky with him! He wouldnt eat more than 2/3 sections a night, and was out in the day with an occasionaly section thrown out for him. Madam will happily polish off 3 sections in about 40mins, so have a feeling I will be getting through about 4/5 a week
smirk.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top