Why Do Horses Eat Haylage?

Why choose Haylage? Haylage is great for horses in regular work, young horses with greater energy and protein requirements for growth and older horses who need an easily digestible source of forage.

Why is haylage good for horses?

The Benefits of Haylage
The biggest benefit of haylage over hay for many owners is that haylage is dust free. The moisture in haylage can absorb any potentially harmful spores that horses can inhale, and they stick to the grass – meaning they’re eaten instead of breathed in.

When should I feed my horse haylage?

It is much more digestible than hay and if your horse is prone to gastric ulcers or colic you will likely opt for feeding haylage over hay. Horse’s that are fussy eaters or poor doers often do much better on haylage.

Does haylage affect horses Behaviour?

But today, horses and ponies are frequently stabled for part or all of the day and fed a limited supply of preserved forage, such as hay or haylage. This ultimately restricts their natural feeding pattern. If this is not adequately addressed, it can increase the risk of disease and/or abnormal behaviours.

Does haylage put weight on horses?

Haylage can provide horses prone to weight gain or laminitis with an excess of energy provided by their forage.

Is haylage richer than hay?

Haylage dry matter has about 10% higher nutritional value than hay so if you are feeding the equivalent in terms of dry matter, you can also cut down on supplementary feed as less will be needed to meet the horses energy requirements.

Can you feed haylage and hay together?

It isn’t advisable for horses who are prone to weight gain or those who suffer from laminitis. Some horses can find haylage too rich for their digestive tract and it can upset them. Some people have found though that mixing hay and haylage to balance in this situation may be the answer!

Can horses colic on haylage?

Problems with horse haylage
Haylage that is very acidic and wet may upset the hindgut of the horse leading to colic or even laminitis.

Can haylage cause laminitis?

One study found a higher insulin response to haylage compared to dry and soaked hay. High circulating levels of insulin in the blood are of concern as it is thought to link to laminitis.

How long can horses go without haylage?

Why should I offer hay or haylage 24 hours a day? Firstly, horses should never be without a fibre source for more than about 2 hours. Their digestive tract is designed to process a trickle of food on an almost constant basis.

How long should you leave haylage before feeding?

To be safe, wait at least 8 weeks after wrapping to begin feeding baleage bales. This time will ensure that the forage is fully ensiled and does not begin to deteriorate or heat when it is fed.

How do you know if your horse is bored?

An unwillingness to work or sluggish, listless behavior is the first sign of boredom, and horses that are habitually bored may repeated circle their stall, paw the ground or bang their heads on wall or beams.

Is haylage better than dry hay?

Properly done, most livestock tend to find haylage more palatable than dry hay. However, when acetic acid levels increase, again due to the contents bring overly wet, feed intake tends to significantly decrease. Nutritional content is also something that can be compromised by improper moisture.

Is haylage higher in protein than hay?

Haylage is, however, higher in protein, and more digestible than hay giving it a higher DE content. As a result, horses generally tend to do better on haylage, so it’s often not ideal for overweight horses and those prone to weight gain, metabolic and laminitic horses, unless it is a high-fibre, lower DE variety.

How long does haylage last once opened?

3-7 days
For this reason, the length of time haylage can be fed once opened, is given as a range of 3-7 days. In warmer climates or during the summer months in the UK our haylage products will last for a minimum of 3 days once opened. In colder climates or during the winter months in the UK, this can easily extend to 7 days.

How is haylage different to hay?

Haylage is grass that’s been cut at an earlier stage of growth than hay. And instead of being left to dry, haylage is wilted. This means it has a much higher moisture content. Because it’s not put through a long drying process, haylage is able to retain more of its nutrients – particularly protein.

Should horses have hay all time?

Because we like to think our horses follow the same schedule that we do, many people think that horses need less hay at night because they’re asleep (and therefore, not eating). However, that’s a myth. Horses need access to forage at all times of the day.

How long will haylage last?

Haylage bags come in various sizes and thicknesses. The lighter bags are 4 mil polyethylene and have a one-year life expectancy, while 5 and 5.5 mil bags will often provide 2 seasons of use if the farmer is willing to patch any holes before re-using.

How can I tell if my horse is deficient in a nutrient?

Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiencies in Horses

• Vision/eye changes – specifically reduced ability to see in dim or low light conditions, increased tearing, changes in clarity of the cornea.
• Immune system – increased sensitivity to pneumonia.
• Impaired reproduction.
• Increased appetite.
• Muscles – progressive weakness.
• Hoof changes.

What happens if you feed a horse too much hay?

But it’s easy to go overboard when feeding them with the wrong hard feeds or hay that is too high in sugar or protein. Overfeeding leads to problems like obesity, laminitis, and colic. Healthy horses need a very simple diet of good pasture or hay.

Can you overfeed hay to a horse?

Underfeeding hay or pasture, and overfeeding grains and concentrates can lead to colic.