Is haylage better than silage?
‘Feed quality indifference’ When asked about a possible difference in feed quality between silage and haylage, Mahon replied: “There is no difference. “If a grass sward was grazed and closed in April, and cut in late-May, haylage can be just as good as silage in terms of feeding quality,” Mahon said.
What is the difference between wrapped hay and haylage?
The fundamental difference between hay and haylage is the way that the grass is conserved. Haylage tends to be cut earlier in the season and is left to wilt for a shorter period of time in the field before being baled and wrapped in several layers of plastic.
What makes good haylage?
Moisture matters! The typical moisture content of a haylage bale is 40-50%. It is important you allow the grass to dry to this level of moisture before baling, as the moisture content of your bales directly affects the quality of the finished haylage.
Is haylage more fattening 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.
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. People cutting down the amount fed to reduce unwanted weight gain risk their horses having insufficient forage, which can lead to an increased risk of stomach ulcers and other digestive problems.
Why can’t horses eat silage?
In silage, plant sugars are converted by lactic acid bacteria into preserving lactic acid. In connection with the feeding of silage, some horse owners also fear problems with botulism. In fact, there have been cases of disease after horses (or cows) have been fed with silage.
Is Mouldy haylage bad for horses?
There are moulds or other growth on the haylage. These coloured moulds can be very dangerous and this should never be fed to horses.
Why is haylage better than hay?
Is haylage cheaper than hay?
Whilst haylage is more expensive to buy than hay it can be better value, as less concentrate food needs to be fed because of its higher energy level.
When should you bale haylage?
Hay is baled when it contains 65-80% dry matter in comparison to haylage at 45-50% dry matter, and the dry matter level when baled can also vary depending on the size and shape of the bales. Once haylage is baled it needs to be wrapped within 4-6 hours to avoid unnecessary degradation.
What kind of tractor do you need to make haylage?
A tractor with a silage wagon (a wagon with three sides built higher than the fourth), a silage truck with similar sides, or a pull-behind wagon (some farmers may call it a “Jiffy wagon”), must be used to gather haylage.
What’s the difference between hay silage and hay bale?
Haylage, then, is actually a higher-moisture, fermented feed of those perennial forages very similar to silage. Haylage is made in a couple main different ways; as chopped hay silage (hence the name “haylage”), or as baled silage (or “baleage”).
What’s the best way to cut hay for haylage?
Cut the crop into swaths or windrows. Any hay mower will work, as long as they will cut in wide swaths. Conditioners may be necessary if you are planning on harvesting it as low-moisture (40 to 60% moisture) haylage, described below.
Who are the largest providers of hay equipment?
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