Hay bale sizes

[Dragonmaster]

I'm trying to work out how much hay to buy in.
Last year we used 8 of the large rectangular bales of haylage. They cost about £29 each.
Does anyone know how much they equal in volume to standard bales of hay?
OH says they are about 10 bales each meaning the 8 big bales of haylage would equal 80 bales of hay.
I would prefer to use hay to using haylage and have found a local supplier who has 1000 bales of last years hay to sell, which should be OK for my good doers.

Alternately, looking at the question from another viewpoint :- 4 horses at grass 24/7 how much hay per day?

Thanks

[kirsten]

I was always told the big bales of hay are equivalent to about 10 to 12 small bales. I imagine haylage is similar(?)
A friend who has a livery yard told me one large bale of haylage lasts six horses a week in winter. I would probably take that as an underestimate.
£29 a big bale of haylage? Lucky you, its £35 - £45 here (East Lothian)!!

[Dragonmaster]

Sept 2, 2010 18:41:59 GMT 1 kirsten said:

£29 a big bale of haylage? Lucky you, its £35 - £45 here (East Lothian)!!

That was last year - I expect it will be more this year.

Thanks Kirsten.

[Hannah]

1 big bale is the same as 10-12 small ones. I suppose how much you need depends on how much you plan on feeding them! Will they have ad-lib? How are they weight-wise at the mo? How much grass will they have? What size and type are they?

[lynn]

I was told that the big round bales are about 10/12 normal size bales and that the large rectangular bales hold more. I am paying £42 for a large rectangal bale this year

[Dragonmaster]

I don't expect to have to start feeding hay till December. There are 2 fields of good grass to go at yet, about 3 acres in total, and they are strip grazed.
They also all get a bucket feed once a day, of sugar beet plus something specific to each individuals needs.
It all depends on whether it snows.
In past winters I've put out hay or haylage once a day and there has always been grass to pick at as well. My 3 are very good doers, 14hh, 14.2 & 15.2 and have never yet lost weight over winter, even without rugs. But now I also have the TB to look after and I will be feeding her twice a day this winter so I can put hay out twice a day as well. I can't guarantee she will get her fair share of fodder put in the field.