http://www.chaffhaye.com/horses
I have a few friends that switched their horses to chaffhaye and they love it. Especially for their hard keepers & older guys. I know it is a bit cheaper than hay due to our drought this year.
So I was considering trying a bag to see what I thought but with all my horses either being young or broodmares, I’m not sure.
Has anyone used chaffhaye & if so how did you like it? Pros vs cons?
we were asked to be a dealer for this stuff years ago
we declined,mainly as it was 40% moisture
you can do the math on how much actual dry matter your horse is getting once
you subtract 40% of the total as water…or if you like 30% which would bring it in line with the moisture of dry hay in a barn.
half the dry matter = twice the intake.
it was not a product we wished to represent for that reason
tamara
we declined,mainly as it was 40% moisture
In regard to this, I would inquire the company about the Digestible energy in their products (MJ/Kg). Hay’s around 10MJ/kg, so if its higher, it means it gives you more per kilo, regardless of the moisture content.
[QUOTE=SCMSL;6647160]
In regard to this, I would inquire the company about the Digestible energy in their products (MJ/Kg). Hay’s around 10MJ/kg, so if its higher, it means it gives you more per kilo, regardless of the moisture content.[/QUOTE]
DE has nothing to do with it
do not forget that a horse requires a percentage of it’s body weight every day in dry matter…thus a horse requires less hay than grass (due to it’s high moisture) in LBS intake
this Chaffe stuff gives you neither and charges you for the privilege.
do not forget that a horse requires a percentage of it’s body weight every day in dry matter…
Yes, but if you can give a higher energy haylage (or silage, or hay) you can complement the rest of the needed dry matter with a lower quality feed. That’s actually what feed companies do when they design a feed.
[QUOTE=SCMSL;6647349]
Yes, but if you can give a higher energy haylage (or silage, or hay) you can complement the rest of the needed dry matter with a lower quality feed. That’s actually what feed companies do when they design a feed.[/QUOTE]
and if you read the advertisements for this product they suggest it as a 100% diet…ergo if you feed the way they suggest,you will have to pay more to feed more and have the same (or less) result.
Tamara
[QUOTE=Tamara in TN;6647356]
and if you read the advertisements for this product they suggest it as a 100% diet…ergo if you feed the way they suggest,you will have to pay more to feed more and have the same (or less) result.
Tamara[/QUOTE]
There is a dealer for this stuff in our area. They claim that 1 bag of Chaffhay, which is, I think 50 pounds, is the equivalent of a 90 pound bale of alfalfa. I thought that was a “recipe” for colic. And that 50 pound bag is $13.75 so, at least in our area, higher than good alfalfa hay
I have been feeding it for 3 years now and am very happy with it. My horses love it, even more so than plain alf hay. Feed it to everyone on the farm, including 2 older broodies who always keep their condition and look great and the young horses.
How much does it cost per bag?
I am bumping this old thread because I have some follow up questions about Chaffhaye, and I hope someone will know.
My easy keepers have been doing well on a (low quality) round bale in a small-mesh net (plus supplements). I am intrigued by Chaffhay, but I can’t think of any way to slow feed it – and having hay out throughout the day is important to me.
I’ve read that it’s not all that tasty, and some horses do nibble at it.
If you use this, do your horses snarf it up like grain or do they nibble at it and make it last?
Does the molasses make it attract flies?
[QUOTE=Cindyg;6783142]
If you use this, do your horses snarf it up like grain or do they nibble at it and make it last?[/QUOTE]
Mine LOVE it and snarf it like grain. I have a couple that will leave their grain to go to the chaff if I put it out at the same time. All 5 of mine prefer the chaff over their normal alicia/timothy bermuda mix hay and even regular alfalfa hay (when I feed it). It did take my older gelding a bit to get used to it - it has a strong, distinct odor - but once he did, he loves it now.
To the other poster who asked… I don’t notice it attracting flies.
I read that the hanging extra-fine haynets were created for the purpose of feeding haylage which is pretty common practice overseas. Shire’s manufactures some of them in different sizes.
[QUOTE=Cindyg;6783142]
I am bumping this old thread because I have some follow up questions about Chaffhaye, and I hope someone will know.
My easy keepers have been doing well on a (low quality) round bale in a small-mesh net (plus supplements). I am intrigued by Chaffhay, but I can’t think of any way to slow feed it – and having hay out throughout the day is important to me.
I’ve read that it’s not all that tasty, and some horses do nibble at it.
If you use this, do your horses snarf it up like grain or do they nibble at it and make it last?[/QUOTE]
Maybe http://www.derbyoriginals.com/product_info.php/cPath/1_43/products_id/943
I thought I read some where these work well
I appreciate all the ideas.
I am all set up for slow feeding round bales, and that is working well. I hate to start all over again, getting new netting and/or feeders. 
But I have become entranced with chaffhaye lately.
I just don’t want them snarfing up their day’s feed in two hours and having 22 hours with nothing to do. And if I’m going to feed Chaffhaye, what’s the point if I still have to put hay out to give them something to chew on the rest of the day?
We are interested in looking into it also. So if the molasses doesn’t make it attract flies, is the sugar content still higher than regular alfalfa? Those were the potential negatives that concerned us but there did seem like there could be some positives.
[QUOTE=Cindyg;6787209]
But I have become entranced with chaffhaye lately.
I just don’t want them snarfing up their day’s feed in two hours and having 22 hours with nothing to do. And if I’m going to feed Chaffhaye, what’s the point if I still have to put hay out to give them something to chew on the rest of the day?[/QUOTE]
Are you hearing that most horses are eating it really quickly or just the occasional one?
[QUOTE=password;6787940]
Are you hearing that most horses are eating it really quickly or just the occasional one?[/QUOTE]
I’m getting both answers.
I do have an answer on the molasses/sugar question. The sugar is required to feed the yeast. The same as if you are making homemade bread: you put in a tiny bit of sugar so that the yeast will do its thing and the bread will rise. It’s not enough sugar to affect the taste or the NSC count. In fact, I would guess that the yeast has “eaten” the sugar before the horse gets it. I read somewhere that it’s like 1 tablespoon of molasses per bale of hay. Not significant.
The company will send you a free sample. Mine is on its way.
Thanks for the info and please keep us posted!
Well, since you’re interested, I am considering getting a porta grazer to use as a slow feeder with the Chaffhaye. Otherwise, I’m afraid they’ll scarf up the day’s feed in one hour.
My only issue with the Porta-Grazer is that only one horse can stick his head in it at a time. Mine are used to sharing a round bale, and one horse is afraid of the other. The round bale gives them an opportunity to spread out. I’m not sure how this feeder will affect the herd dynamics.
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