[dizzy1pig]

is it possible to feed goats on it??
we got 50 bales of it and only 1/2 bale of hay
so if they eat it great if not will cry

[egglady]

someone was telling me the other day that they fed their horses on silage.......so on that basis presumably you could to goats?  you could try them with a wee bit and see...quite rich tho........too much too soon = runny bums tho!!

[ballingall]

What size are the bales? You can feed it- the issue with silage is that once a bale is opened it needs to be used up in just a few days (3-4 days I believe). Most smallholders don't have enough goats to eat that much silage in that length of time. I know some goatkeepers who have their goats on mixed farms along with cattle and sheep, and they feed silage, as there are enough animals using it to use it up quickly.


Beth

[daddymatty82]

with 50 sheep we could not feed 1 ton of silage quick enough and ended up making the sheep ill  by the mistake so if you can feed a bale with in  2-3 days then go for it otherwise i would not risk it imo

[Mel Rice]

I feed a roll o0f hayledge to my horse BUT only once its well below freezing then it seems to keep whilst he makes his way through it!! (We do have weeks on end here where minus four is a hot day!)

[Roxy]

I buy big bales of haylage and feed that to the ponies and the goats too - goats enjoy it, but sometimes if its strong, it tastes in the milk, and its not nice.  This haylage is quite dry, which I prefer - the goats rather that than the wetter stuff.

Silage is made primarily for cows, and is usually baled a lot qucker than haylage, so is wetter and greener, andin my view not suitable for goats or horses.  I would not give my goats silage.

You said it was silage, but if its small bales, then its haylage.  Usually have to use the small bales within 5 days, so if you have a number of goats that would be ok.  You need to be sure the bags have not any holes, as the haylage will be spoilt and unusable.

One thing - do not suddenly change from hay to haylage -  mix it, and introduce gradually if you can - that will mean getting more hay obviously.  Sudden change can cause tummy upsets.  And usually you can reduce the amount of haylage against what you would feed hay, as it fills them up (well it does mine!)

[dizzy1pig]

defo silage... it smells as you wals by and is big bales...
9 goats left so guess i should see about selling silage and buying some hay..
Ouch that will hurt...

[Roxy]

Oh dear ........is there no way you could return them to where you bought them from, and maybe exchange for hay or haylage?  You definitely do not need 50 big bales for 9 goats.  We probably only use 30 big bales through the winter for 10 ponies and 17 goats,

Smaller bales of haylage would be more useable, or even the slightly larger square ones which may be more economical.

Do hope you get sorted.  I would think you could sell the silage easy enough to someone with cows.

[Rosemary]

someone was telling me the other day that they fed their horses on silage.......

They may well do but silage isn't suitable for horses.

[Corrie Dhu]

50 large bales?  My cows eat 2 bales each per month if there is no grass (ie deep snow cover).  You need to use it up in 3 days max, and the problem with silage in most animals is listeriosis, I have no idea if goats get listeriosis but sheep do. 

As long as the bales haven't been punctured in transport you should be able to sell them quite easily.

You won't need anything like 50 large bales of hay for nine goats.

[egglady]

someone was telling me the other day that they fed their horses on silage.......

They may well do but silage isn't suitable for horses.

I wouldnt feed it to my horses either...but was just sharing a conversation...

[dizzy1pig]

Cheers for all replies..
Have not bought the silage it came of our policy park before a wedding.
dont get upset egglady.. some replies at moment bit "direct"
Managed to source some hay...
think at price will be getting mixed wi straw..
And all my cattle went ta ta so no need for silage now.

[Rosemary]

someone was telling me the other day that they fed their horses on silage.......

They may well do but silage isn't suitable for horses.

I wouldnt feed it to my horses either...but was just sharing a conversation...

I know you wouldn't but didn't want anyone looking at this to think it was a sound practice 

[SallyintNorth]

someone was telling me the other day that they fed their horses on silage.......

They may well do but silage isn't suitable for horses.

I wouldnt feed it to my horses either...but was just sharing a conversation...

I know you wouldn't but didn't want anyone looking at this to think it was a sound practice 

Well I'd heard silage was not a good idea for equines but I haven't found any reason anywhere I've looked or asked.  Anyone here know what is the problem with it?

[Corrie Dhu]

I believe silage is too acidic for horses, plus they'd scour on it, and you know what they are like with colic and other ailments.

That said, I too have heard of horses eating it and looking well on it.  I wouldn't like to risk it tho!