The traditional picture of the stabled horse contentedly eating from its hay net is steadily disappearing. Many farmers have given up the unequal struggle of trying to produce hay in this country’s unpredictable summers and are turning instead to the production of haylage and silage. And those farmers that do still produce hay tend to make it in big round or square bales rather than the familiar small ones.  In addition, any owners are choosing to buy dust-free bagged forage or haylage instead of hay, firstly to protect their horses’ respiratory systems and also because, correctly made, these forages have a higher nutritional value than average or poor quality hay. Much advice has been given in the past on how to choose hay, but with this shift in buying patterns we now need to look at how to choose between other types of forage, namely bagged forage, small bale haylage, big bale haylage, and silage.

Bagged forage and small bale haylage
Many people think that a branded bagged forage such as HorseHage and small bale haylage are the same, but there are several important differences.

Bagged forage is made from grass leys that are ploughed and reseeded every two to three years, to maintain consistent nutrient and fibre levels and minimise weeds.   Haylages, on the other hand, are normally made from older pasture which the farmer rotates between grazing for his stock and forage production. The grass tends to be perennial and yields a forage which can be variable. It is generally lower in fibre and higher in protein than bagged forage, and can be too rich for horses.

Bagged forage is produced with the optimum moisture content for horses of between 35 and 45 per cent. Through strict quality control throughout the production process, leading producers such as HorseHage guarantee this, together with the fibre and nutrient levels.   When making small bale haylage in a general farming situation this level of control is difficult to maintain.

Bagged forage is wilted on the field and baled just like hay. It is then hydraulically compressed to leave a minimum amount of air in the bag. This ensures the optimum fermentation needed to preserve the grass as a forage suitable for horses, and minimises the growth of bacteria, fungi and moulds. With small bale haylage, where there is more air present due to lack of compression, fermentation is less efficient and may allow the growth of undesirable organisms.

HorseHage bagged forage is supplied in a plastic bag with an inner plastic liner, to reduce the risk of puncturing which causes mould. The compact size of the bag makes the product easy to handle.

Small bale haylage is wrapped in layers of plastic which is more easily damaged, and the larger bale size makes the product more awkward to handle.

Bagged forage and small bale haylage should both be used within five to seven days of opening. With this in mind, and for the reasons given above, bagged forage is undoubtedly the best choice for owners of up to five horses. If buying bags from an unbranded source, make sure the product was originally made in small bags and is not re-bagged big bale haylage, as this can be dangerous.


Big bale haylage
This is made in the same way as small bale haylage, but in large plastic- wrapped round or square bales which can weigh up to half a tonne and need mechanical equipment to handle. Big bale haylage should also be used within five to seven days of opening. For these two reasons it is best suited to larger yards with six or more horses.

With large bales it is even more difficult to control the moisture content, compression and fermentation, and the plastic wrapping is easily damaged which can lead to spoilage. Round bales do not compress fully and so tend to have a soft centre containing too much air. Square bales do partially solve this problem, but again the level of expertise and quality control needed to produce a safe big bale haylage for horses is difficult in a general farming situation.

Silage
Silage is made by cutting grass and taking it off the field immediately while still wet, or wilting it for 24 hours but without turning and drying. The grass is then put into a clamp and compressed by rolling with a tractor. Finally, it is covered with plastic sheeting and
weighed down by rubber tyres. Silage is sometimes also made in round bales.

Typically silage contains 60 to 75 per cent moisture compared, for example, to just 35 to 45 per cent in bagged forage. When over 50 per cent moisture is present, fermentation inside the plastic packaging cannot be relied upon to produce suitable forage for horses. At worst it may allow the proliferation of undesirable micro-organisms, especially the chlostridial bacteria which cause botulism and can be
fatal in horses. Also the acidity, low fibre content and likely high protein levels of silage make it unsuitable for horses.

Summary
In summary, bagged forage is specifically made for horses and is safe to feed; small and big bale haylage may be safe to feed but only if the moisture content is below 50 per cent and the quality control is adequate; and silage is generally not suitable for feeding to horses.

Whichever forage you choose, it is important to know the moisture content, acidity and nutrient content. If buying a branded product  the producers will have done this for you. If buying from a local farmer, it is sensible to have the haylage analysed.  Today’s horse is just as likely to be eating bagged forage or haylage as he is hay.