Will it do them any harm?

[emma]

I got the farmer to bring my 2 connie fillies some hay today but he's brought haylage. They live out on good grazing for this time of year but do have a barn for shelter. I usually just give them hay to supplement the grass and they both get D&H Mare and Youngstock mix for their vitamins. I don't know anything about haylage as I've always fed hay. The haylage he's brought was not wrapped in plastic and just looks like a normal bale of hay. It's slightly damp and smells like haylage but is more like hay. They have it in their barn to eat adlib. Isn't haylage usually wrapped in plastic? Will it do them any harm?
Thanks
Emma

[melissa]

As far as I know it is wrapped as it goes off quite quickly. Also you don't feed ad lib or as much as you would hay.

I am sure there is someone on here that could tell you more than me but I would def not feed ad lib. Also I think it a little odd that it is not wrapped etc.

[cubic]

You're right, haylage is usually wrapped in plastic within days of cutting. Are you sure it's not silage?

[smonebull]

yes probably silage, or could be normal hay stored next to silage, and the smell has transferred

[sara]

yes it is usually wrapped, but maybe the farmer was nice and took the wrapping off so you didn't have to?

[Azrael]

It is a bit odd that its not wrapped, haylage is usually wrapped and goes off after a while once opened. Its ok to feed adlib to most horses, not such a good plan for fatties or laminitics.

[seahorse]

If its only the one bale he may have delivered it unrapped, our local man does this, to check its not sour before he delivers. (saves him coming back for a bad bale)

[emma]

It definately hasn't been wrapped. I hope it's not silage, he did call it haylage. I'm thinking of taking it out the barn in the morning and just giving them an armful at a time so they don't gorge themselves. It is just very dry for haylage. I'm worried they'll colic or get laminitis

[Cheryl Walmsley]

it's not right that you feed less haylage than hay, you feed more I think. something to do with dry mass being the relevant measurement for nutrition, therefore, even though haylage is usually better, because of the water content, you feed more in weight than you would hay. sherb has always had haylage ad lib and it's never caused any problems. should be fine.

[lolamae]

Hi,

It sounds to me as if what you have is haylage, not silage, silage stinks and is very wet and a darker colour, it is also generally chopped shorter. Haylage will have been dried on the field for a shorter period of time than traditional hay.
Good haylage will be a good colour and smell sweet.
Bad haylage is slimy, mouldy, hot and smelly, return it or throw it out if it like that.

[fin]

If you're converting from hay to haylage tho, you need a good week or so for the horse's gut to adjust. If you've never had laminitis probs and the haylage isn't too high sugar you should be fine even adlib, but the sudden change from hay to haylage may well be asking for problems

[emma]

That's what I'm worried about Finn. Maybe I should try and take the bale out tomorrow and mix it with the hay my lami geldings get. The fillies have had that hay for the last 2 months but it was only little bales and I wanted a big one for them

[fin]

Well, if you can give them something like Yea Sacc or even a probiotic (short term only!) it might help, but TBH I wouldn't risk it if I could help it! But I do have an usually sensitive horse (insulin resistant and generally on the verge of lami). Mixing with the hay is probably a good bet, although haylage goes off after 5-7 days (unless it's v dry and the weather is very cold) so you'll end up wasting lots of it, which is a pain

[emma]

We have just taken the bale of whatever it was back. I'd rather not risk their health. They were fine this morning, waiting for their breakfast as usual. I was so pleased to see them I was worrying all night