Winter forage desperation...

Sanversera said:
There has been a great crop of straw this year,dry and golden. Seen many trailers of it. Try a different supplier.
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This depends on location. My regular farmer supplier had no straw this year, he usually gives me 25 round bales as a thank you present. I have a good relationship with a large straw merchant who has reserved me 10 heston bales, he says that his supplies are way down this year and he expects to have no carry over after this winter. He supplies a local power station, who will only burn wheat straw, so hopefully my barley straw is safe.
 
Bobthecob15 said:
Just a heads up if you are trying to buy a pallet of haylage…lots of companies are not taking on new customers due to the shortage!!

I rang round a few today and got the same answer…in the end I’ve got my local feed shop to order a pallet on my behalf under their account because they wouldn’t take me as an individual. Bizarre but true! I can’t store more than one pallet at a time realistically so once I’ve used the first pallet I will try and reorder but assuming they sell out…just have to hope for the best or make lots of trips to my feed store and buy whatever they have 🤪

So I would recommend you start ringing now and see who you can get to supply you…because even the haylage is not guaranteed this year sadly!
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I know everyone is panicking and wants to make sure their own horses are able to be fed, but - said with much understanding of where this is coming from - please could people who don't feed haylage routinely or for necessity think twice before doing this sort of thing, and consider finding other sources of hay instead, for example ringing hay suppliers who will be bringing hay in from other countries please?

There are some horses who, for health reasons, can only have haylage. Depleting the stocks of this when it's not strictly necessary is going to increasingly compromise their welfare as these stocks begin to run out.
 
I think you’ll be fine if you already have a haylage supplier, it’s the ones that don’t that will struggle.

Like the other hay thread says, some hay suppliers are now also refusing to supply new customers with hay, it’s not just haylage that companies are being stringent with. I saw a couple local to me online this weekend saying they are no longer supplying new customers.

I’ve been on full livery for 3 years so haven’t needed a supplier, I’ve now gone DIY so don’t have the connections or relationships with hay or haylage suppliers that so many do…so it is very difficult, nor do I have a barn to store hay bales in. So it’s very difficult!
 
PurpleSpots said:
I know everyone is panicking and wants to make sure their own horses are able to be fed, but - said with much understanding of where this is coming from - please could people who don't feed haylage routinely or for necessity think twice before doing this sort of thing, and consider finding other sources of hay instead, for example ringing hay suppliers who will be bringing hay in from other countries please?

There are some horses who, for health reasons, can only have haylage. Depleting the stocks of this when it's not strictly necessary is going to increasingly compromise their welfare as these stocks begin to run out.
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Not getting enough forage will compromise the welfare of any horse. I imagine people will feed whatever they can get hold of, if it becomes that scarce. I do remember a year when we were feeding sugar beet and chaff by the trug full when there was a shortage, so we have been in this position before.
 
meleeka said:
Not getting enough forage will compromise the welfare of any horse. I imagine people will feed whatever they can get hold of, if it becomes that scarce. I do remember a year when we were feeding sugar beet and chaff by the trug full when there was a shortage, so we have been in this position before.
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Yes I intend to bulk out with similar if needed!
 
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