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 Why Haylage and not hay?
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Geena
Platinum Member


England

1510 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2007 :  09:26:55 AM  Show Profile Bookmark this topic Add Geena to your friends list Send Geena a Private Message
As some of you may be aware I am having an Anglo-Arab mare on loan with view to buy. In anticipation of her arrival I have got her feed list and bedding. She has to be on straw (no reason given) she has sugar beet, horse and pony mix and Hi-Fi twice a day and haylage. She isn't underweight but on very short dusy grass. The yard where she is going to be kept has long grass and lovely hay. Is there any reason that you would feed haylage over nice meadow hay? I would like to move her to our nice meadow hay, but want to know why people use haylage what benefit is it to feed?
I will have to cut her feed down when she goes on long grass as I don't want her getting to fat or "fizzy".
Any idea's? Whats your preferances hay or haylage?
Sorry to ak so many questions but I want things right for both her and me


Zebedee
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Zan
Platinum Member


Scotland
3213 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2007 :  09:33:49 AM  Show Profile  Visit Zan's Homepage Bookmark this reply Add Zan to your friends list Send Zan a Private Message
If it wasn't for the fact that she has to be on straw I would have assumed she had to be on haylage because of COPD, but then she would have to be on some other form of bedding as well.
I personally won't feed haylage because of the danger of botulism, and because it can be a bit rich for good doers. It isn't advisable for those prone to laminitis either.
I agree about cutting her food down as well.
Why don't you just ask the owner why she has stipulated this?

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paul_exe
Platinum Member


United Kingdom
2022 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2007 :  1:02:29 PM  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add paul_exe to your friends list Send paul_exe a Private Message
Hi Geena
My mare coughs like a trooper on hay, whether it is the best quality hay in the world, steamed, soaked or dry. No coughing what so ever on haylage. Maybe your new horse is the same.
Paul



Get over yourself: You breathe, you fart, what makes you different?

Gloriously Sunny Devon
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Geena
Platinum Member


England
1510 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2007 :  1:04:58 PM  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add Geena to your friends list Send Geena a Private Message
Cheers Paul, that may be why? Hows things down the yard? Sarah hasn't been in contact so I presume that things are going well and she has loads of help from school holiday people.


Zebedee
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halona stud
Bronze Member

United Kingdom
97 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2007 :  1:10:48 PM  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add halona stud to your friends list Send halona stud a Private Message
Hi Geena,
I prefer haylage myself as it has a much higher nutrition content, besides being easier to store and of course like Paul says, horses dont cough on it.
Clare
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Dot
Gold Member

England
669 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2007 :  1:39:33 PM  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add Dot to your friends list Send Dot a Private Message
I feed haylage for two reasons

1) I have no where to store hay.

2) I prefer to feed my horses as naturally as possible and haylage having a higher water content then hay is closer to there natural forage, grass.

Research in NZ recently showed horses given free choice to high water content haylage, normal haylage and hay will always go for the higher water content and will eat more of it.

Although haylage may cost a bit moer you most often find that horses in light work do perfectly well n haylage and a balancer with non other hard feed. So it can work out more cost effective in the long run.

Dot
www.threelowsfarm.com

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Geena
Platinum Member


England
1510 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2007 :  1:48:47 PM  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add Geena to your friends list Send Geena a Private Message
Thanks Dot not thought of it in the respect of haylage and balancer. I'm just worried they are feeding her two meals a day and haylage whether this is a sign that it is hard for her to keep weight on if so am going to find it hard to keep weight on her in the winter She is just about the right weight but has been in very light work / rest due to an injured leg.

Any further thoughts


Zebedee
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rosyw
Platinum Member

England
3756 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2007 :  2:52:16 PM  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add rosyw to your friends list Send rosyw a Private Message
They might have her on haylage as there is so little grass or it could simply be that they prefer to feed haylage. All of mine have haylage as I have an old pony with COPD, on the very rare occasions I have had to feed hay, they have all turned up their noses in disgust
I'd ask why they feed her haylage, but as previously said, can't be COPD as she is on straw.
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