Compressed Hay bales

[Lynnwood]

I’ve recently started using the 1400lb well actually this trip two of the smaller compressed bales they are supposed to be 650-700lbs each of O/A from Larsen Farms.

Two broodmares both open in a moderate grass field started using the bales to help keep weight on the mares and save the grass S. FL has had a pretty nasty drought.

How long should I expect those bales to last. They were delivered last Wed. placed off the ground butted against each other and they have almost eaten an entire bale. Thats almost 100lbs of hay a day is that normal ?

They are grained once a day and before this were used to being hayed twice a day. Around 20-30lbs so like 6-7flakes a day total per mare.

I’m just shocked at how quickly they are going through it and would love to hear other peoples experiences.

[Lynnwood]

I guess a 2nd question. The hay supplier recommended the straight alfalfa over the O/A. Since they are limited grain horses.

Is there any harm in horses eating just alfalfa and some grass as their sole source of forage ?

[coloredcowhorse]

I feed straight alfalfa since that’s about all that is available at an even remotely doable price (and that only because I buy from the ranchers). I haven’t used the compressed bales but know people who have and they have commented that the horses tend to eat more of it if it is available simply because they are used to eating a certain volume of hay. I don’t know if these bales peel into sections like “normal” bales but I would give them the same wt (the 20-30 lbs/day you mentioned) of hay they are used to getting and wouldn’t free feed the compressed bales. I think horses will eat just to be chewing on things and end up eating a lot more than they need if they have access to such bales.

[Tamara_in_TN]

Larsen makes some remarkable hay and if a horse did not stand and gorge themselves on it,I’d wonder if they were on Death’s Doorstep.Really

Tamara

[QUOTE=hackinaround;5640210]
I’ve recently started using the 1400lb well actually this trip two of the smaller compressed bales they are supposed to be 650-700lbs each of O/A from Larsen Farms.

Two broodmares both open in a moderate grass field started using the bales to help keep weight on the mares and save the grass S. FL has had a pretty nasty drought.

How long should I expect those bales to last. They were delivered last Wed. placed off the ground butted against each other and they have almost eaten an entire bale. Thats almost 100lbs of hay a day is that normal ?

They are grained once a day and before this were used to being hayed twice a day. Around 20-30lbs so like 6-7flakes a day total per mare.

I’m just shocked at how quickly they are going through it and would love to hear other peoples experiences.[/QUOTE]

[ChocoMare]

Do yourself and your wallet a favor: get a Cinch Chix “California Bale” hay net. http://www.cinchchix.com/place-your-order.html

I have one of them and a round-bale net. Those nets are a Godsend!

With the round bale net, we were feeding six horses during the winter from 350-400 pound rounds and they’d last 4 1/2 days with only about 1 percent waste.

With the California Bale net, I can get about 80 pounds of loose hay in it (I have only small squares) and it will last my Percheron 2 days.

Worth every penny. They’re very tough and stand up to abuse. (Note: not recommended for ground feeding if horses have shoes, for obvious reasons)

[Lynnwood]

[QUOTE=Tamara in TN;5640613]
Larsen makes some remarkable hay and if a horse did not stand and gorge themselves on it,I’d wonder if they were on Death’s Doorstep.Really

Tamara[/QUOTE]

Oh no I love the hay and I"m thrilled with it. I was curious what other people’s experiences were. The dealer said that a 1400lb block should last 2 horse 30 days. These two have polished half of in a week :lol:

[Tamara_in_TN]

[QUOTE=hackinaround;5640637]
Oh no I love the hay and I"m thrilled with it. I was curious what other people’s experiences were. The dealer said that a 1400lb block should last 2 horse 30 days. These two have polished half of in a week :lol:[/QUOTE]

if a hay has a really nice RFV (which Larsens would) the horses do not get a “full” feeling as they would with a really slow digesting low RFV hay…so they have no motivation to stop eating it;)

Tamara

[Lynnwood]

[QUOTE=Tamara in TN;5640650]
if a hay has a really nice RFV (which Larsens would) the horses do not get a “full” feeling as they would with a really slow digesting low RFV hay…so they have no motivation to stop eating it;)

Tamara[/QUOTE]

Thats very interesting to know. What would you recommend doing to slow them down a bit. I’m afraid at this rate they are going to go the way of goldfish ! !

[horseshrink]

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Larsen pasture bales. If what you have is the same thing, then I’m jealous.

In the beginning, it is new and like candy. My horses couldn’t seem to get enough and went through a couple of them quickly. The trick is to never run out so it’s never new.

The basis is that they have to “gnaw” more than “chew.” It takes more effort, therefore mine grew tired after while. I seem them eating at times and then finding a tree to spend the afternoon napping.

I love them because there is always food available in the pastures even though I have practically no grass.

I don’t have an answer as to how quickly they go through them as I don’t keep that close track, just buy a new one when the old one is almost done.

BTW: I’m spending the summer in Texas and would do almost anything to get one of these. I have begged Larsens to figure a way to get them to Texas.

[Lynnwood]

:yes: Larsens is what I am using and I’m thrilled with the quality. So are the girls apparently Here is hoping they slow down. Getting them down to SW. FL is pretty picey 290 a 1400lb bale eeek !

[Tamara_in_TN]

[QUOTE=hackinaround;5640689]
Thats very interesting to know. What would you recommend doing to slow them down a bit. I’m afraid at this rate they are going to go the way of goldfish ! ![/QUOTE]

I am personally unfamiliar with any products others here might be however.

Tamara

[Meadow36]

Really the only way to slow them down is to put it in a cinchchix net or flake it off (the Larsen’s bales are cut into big flakes).

Did you take the wire off or leave it on? A local horse broke it’s jaw on the wire not too long ago. One of his teeth got caught up and he pulled.

[nls]

horseshrink is right. We have used them for years. They will slow down after a few weeks and will stay that way unless you run out for more than a day or two.

[Lynnwood]

[QUOTE=Meadow36;5644973]
Really the only way to slow them down is to put it in a cinchchix net or flake it off (the Larsen’s bales are cut into big flakes).

Did you take the wire off or leave it on? A local horse broke it’s jaw on the wire not too long ago. One of his teeth got caught up and he pulled. :([/QUOTE]

we leave the inner wires on and cut any of the outer ones that are not flush with the bale. It gets checked every day.

[lorilu]

Dusting off this OLD thread… I think I am going to start using these bales (and probably from Larsons). For those of you who use them - do you leave it out in the open, or under a run in shed (which I do not have right now…) I have been told it is so tightly baled that rain does not penetrate.

[AKB]

I use the Standlee compressed alfalfa from Tractor Supply. It really works to keep weight on my old guy.

[moving_to_dc]

[QUOTE=lorilu;8370154]
…I have been told it is so tightly baled that rain does not penetrate.[/QUOTE]

Doesn’t matter how tightly baled it is, it is still a FLAT surface made of dry matter. Whatever rain hits it WILL soak down into it.

[lorilu]

These are not the same as the stanlee bales that you feed flake by flake. These are left in the field.

[Lynnwood]

Lorilu we leave ours out on a built platform. Think big pallet so that its not sitting on the ground and absorbing ground moisture. They get rained on all the time (Its FL after all ) and none of ours save one sad half block left in a field we’d rotated out of has ever molded. I believe the safe to get wet factor all depends on how quickly they get eaten and the pasture of mares we use them in are professional eaters lol. They polish off a 1000lb block in 10 -14 days. Ive come out and even after a huge down pore only a few inches into the bale is wet and the piggies polish that off before the next day.

[lorilu]

Thanks Lynnwood! Planning on getting one first week of November… and I see Larson’s has some sort of rack to put it up on…