[country soul]

I  have for the first time ever made some big round bales of haylage.I have  12 ewes which I'm hoping will enjoy it rather than the small bales of hay I usually feed.What are others experiences re the keeping quality when opened with only a small flock?.I should add it was  quite dry when baled and I will be storing it in barn when opened
regards

[humphreymctush]

Last winter I fed big bale haylage to 2 cows, 2 ponies and 40 sheep. They got through a bale in 4 or 5 days and it seemed to stay fresh.  I dont think you would want to keep it more than a week after unwrapping.

[daddymatty82]

if i am thinking the big silage bale size  round bales then you wont get through all of it without it going off  if small heston sized haylage  bit bigger than the small hestons  and bit smaller than the big bales then you would just  get through it i think depending on the sheep breed and how much grass they got and weather outcome. as our shetlands eat like pigs  but a friends texal X dont eat half as much  compared.

[woollyval]

I make small bale haylage and I don't think they will get through it all quick enough! Mine is on the dry side as thats how I prefer it and how the sheep like it but it can start to heat and/or go musty once opened if not used.
Small bales on the other hand are great and I have spare if anyone wants some.

[Anke]

If you have the space, like an empty polytunnel or similar, spread as much of the big bale out on racks or off the ground in any way and let it dry further, keep shuffling it about to make sure it dries all the way through, it then stays fresh for about a couple of weeks. Last winter we kept our bales going for about a forthnight up to three weeks, BUT that was in temperatures of below -10deg C.

[SallyintNorth]

We work on the basis of 40 lowland sheep or 50 hill sheep to get through a big bale of haylage before it goes off.  I've not heard of handling it as you describe, Anke - I'd love to hear if others have success with similar.

[country soul]

thanks for the  advice guys,it will be a bit of an experiment. I'm intending to feed this haylage when the sheep are housed ,I lamb my hampshires mid feb,so they will be off grass at the time.Hopefully they will munch through a good bit of it while it stays fresh.I have some small bales of hay as back up.