What is the difference between haylage and hay?

Question

In france we seem to use just one word....please enlighten me!

Answer 1

idk proballynothing

Answer 2

they are very different.

hay

is dried grass which is baled and is less fattening.

haylege

has molasess on them i think and it is fattening and gives a slim horse weight gain. it is not a good idea for ponies/ones that put on weight easily as this makes them very fat!!!

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Answer 3

Haylege is hay that has been left to sweeten or ripen or something.

Hay is freshly cut grass.

Answer 4

Here they are very different things. Hay is dried forage, usually a grass of some kind or alfalfa or clover.  The hay is cut and dried in the sun before it is baled either in small square bales, large square bales or round bales.  Haylage is usually clover or alfalfa and it is not dried but put into a silo or a silage bag while it is still green and fresh.  While in the silo or bag the haylage then ferments.  Haylage is to hay as silage is to corn and sourkraut is to cabbage.

Answer 5

Hay is cut grass which has been left to dry and then bailed, it is quite low in nutrients.

Haylage is cut grass which has been bagged soon after being cut, before it has dried, this means the nutrients in the grass have not had a chance to excape. Haylage is often fed to competition horses and those with respiratory problems, due to the lack of dust which is seen in hay, which can cause breathing problems, and the higher amout of nutrients and energy found in haylage.

I would not advise feeding any old haylage to your horse, as some types not ment for horses can upset the gut, however HorseHage Haylage is brilliant, and i have been using it for years, with no side-effects.

Answer 6

hay is dried grass.

haylage is dried grass which is soaked and its good for horses with breathing problems because the hay spores are left in the water so they dont irritate the horses lungs.

Answer 7

Hay is long grass that is left to dry and then baled.

Haylage is grass or alfalfa that is baled in airtight plastic after cutting, so that it is not permitted to dry. It is then left to ferment slightly. This produces a forage that is slightly higher in protein and much lower in dust. With good haylage, more nutrients are also preserved, but good hay will also contain high nutrient levels.

As with hay, the nutrient content of haylage can vary widely depending on soil, weather etc. To ensure feeding consistent nutrient levels, you must either feed a brand name (such as HorseHage), who monitor their product and provide a nutrient analysis; or you should have your own nutrient analysis carried out on unbranded haylage.

Haylage must not be confused with silage which has been left to ferment for longer and is only suitable for cattle.

If you choose to feed haylage, it is also very important to ensure that the sealed plastic of the bale has not been pierced/torn as this would render the contents unfeedable and must be disposed of. When haylage is exposed to air, mould spores form which are hazardous to horses' health, so a bale must be used within a week of opening.

Haylage is often fed either as a complete or partial hay replacer, particularly for older horses or those with respiratory problems, or where good hay is not readily available.

However as it weighs heavier and is higher in protein, it should be fed in smaller amounts than hay. For this reason it is usually fed in haynets with small holes or 'haylage nets' to increase eating time, and is often fed to improve condition.

As haylage can have higher levels of preserved sugars, it is not usually recommended for laminitics unless the only alternative is poor hay, in which case it is preferable and the sugar levels are usually available on branded bales so they can be monitored.

Haylage is also more expensive than hay and is eaten quicker (beacuse you have to feed less and its sweeter so they wolf it down), so its often preferable to feed good hay if it is available. Most horses with respiratory problems are fed dampened hay instead, especially if they tend to put on weight easily.

Hope this helps!

Answer 8

Hay is dried grass - comes in different varieties meadow hay, timothy hay etc, depending on the grass species used.

Haylage is grass that is cut, allowed to wilt and then baled by being wrapped in plastic and left for about 8-10 weeks to ferment a bit. It has a much higher moisture content than hay as it is baled before it dries out.

Haylage is not the same thing as cattle silage - which must never be fed to horses. Also, you can get haylage made from Alfalfa but this is extremely high in protein and very 'rich'. It should not be fed without veterinary supervision.

The differences in feeding the two are roughly: haylage is moist, higher in protein (usually) and tends to be lower in dust and spores than hay and is a good forage for horses that suffer from respiratory problems. On the other hand, some horses find it too rich and it may give them the runs - ponies in particular seem to suffer from this in my experience. It also tends to be more expensive than hay. Also, you need to feed haylage within 4-5 days after opening the bale otherwise it starts to ferment and cannot be fed. If the plastic wrapping is punctured then the bale will be mouldy.

You are much more likely to be offered hay than haylage - if the bales are unwrapped it will definitely be hay. Give it a good sniff - it should smell sweet and not mouldy, otherwise your horses may not eat it.

Answer 9

Hay is dried grass that has been pressed into bales. Haylage, also called silage, is grass, alfalfa, or oats (or a combination) that has been baled, wrapped in plastic, and allowed to ferment. Silage is more nutritous than regular hay.