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  Discussion on Anyone have experience with Chaff Hay?
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Member:
lilo

Posted on Thursday, Jun 9, 2011 - 7:51 pm:

Hi all,

I asked this question in an old discussion but have not heard any response.

A neighbor is getting several tons of Chaffhaye because her older horse is having trouble chewing stemmy hay and she has heard good reports about it.

Per the website it has many advantages and has a better nutrient profile than traditional hay. I am considering it for my older mare (25, insulin resistant).

https://www.chaffhaye.com/

I remember Dr. O's comment about a slight chance of botulism, and that one pays for the water content (it is bailed immediately after cutting and chopping, as I understand it - therefore has a high moisture content).

If you have any experience, good or bad, I would love to hear about it.

Thanks,
Lilo
Member:
mrose

Posted on Friday, Jun 10, 2011 - 2:12 am:

Hi LILO. While on a trip to CA I saw some chaff hay in a San Diego feed store and brought a couple of bags home to try on Beaulima. This was about 6 mos before she died, when she was loosing weight and was a very picky eater. I had hoped the chaff would be something she would like. From what I had read it sounded like it would be easily digestible and good for her. When I opened the bags they smelled kind of sour and looked a little "off" to me. I had never seen this type of feed before so was unsure what to expect, so offered a little to Beau to get her opinion. She would barely sniff it. I wound up feeding it to the cows. If this bag was typical, I wouldn't feed it. Is chaff hay like silage for cows? If so, I had always believed it shouldn't be fed to horses. At any rate, Neither Beaulima nor I was impressed.
Member:
lilo

Posted on Friday, Jun 10, 2011 - 9:52 am:

Sara - thanks for responding. Yes, chaff hay is a fermented product, and the horses have to get used to it. Once you open a bag, it needs to be used up in a certain amount of time (3 to 7 days, I believe). My neighbor tried it on her horses, and it took them some time to get used to it.

Some of the advantages touted are that it is easily digestible, and, although a small amount of molasses is added to start the fermentation process, it is low in sugar. There are different brands out there, and I have seen discussions where it is used to mix the medications in for a horse that does not get grain (I think these were folks from the UK). Some of the chaff hay products come with different flavors, such as peppermint.

If I give it a try, I will report back. In the mean time, I hope to hear from others that have used it. Our local Large Animal Clinic is apparently recommending it.

Lilo
Member:
tdiana

Posted on Friday, Jun 10, 2011 - 4:44 pm:

I have friends in Germany who are feeding this type of hay during the winter months. The horses are all doing very well on it especially the older ones with dental issues.

It is very popular over there and is sometimes even rolled up in round bales. A machine "molds" a plastic bag/cover around it. Then the farmers let it sit for a while until it is ready for feeding.

Diana
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