Haylage ?

[Spicy.Meg]

Can I give my guinea pigs haylage instead of hay ?

 

[Guineapigfeet]

No, due to the water content and the fact it’s been wrapped, it has a tendency to slightly ferment once it’s open to the air. I think it smells horrid when I have to give it to the horses!

 

[acapae]

No, due to the water content and the fact it’s been wrapped, it has a tendency to slightly ferment once it’s open to the air. I think it smells horrid when I have to give it to the horses!

I think you're confusing fermentation and bacteria/ mould It ferments when sealed inside the wrapping - it smells weird when opened because it's already fermented (all fermented food smells weird!). However once opened the fermented moist material is a super welcoming home to bacteria and fungus so it can start to go off because of this. The dry matter of haylage is usually between 60 and 80% i.e. a water content of between 20 and 40% - those with a higher water content are more appealing to bacteria and spores, so need to be completely used up quicker. So whatever your views on the other things like water content and fermented foods (and I have no idea if piggy guts can digest fermented food), unless you have access to tiny amounts of super freshly opened haylage you're risking feeding a fairly high bacterial and fungal load and so putting their overall health at risk.

 

[flowerfairy]

Hay or better still grass. Not haylage.

 

[Guineapigfeet]

I think you're confusing fermentation and bacteria/ mould It ferments when sealed inside the wrapping - it smells weird when opened because it's already fermented (all fermented food smells weird!). However once opened the fermented moist material is a super welcoming home to bacteria and fungus so it can start to go off because of this. The dry matter of haylage is usually between 60 and 80% i.e. a water content of between 20 and 40% - those with a higher water content are more appealing to bacteria and spores, so need to be completely used up quicker. So whatever your views on the other things like water content and fermented foods (and I have no idea if piggy guts can digest fermented food), unless you have access to tiny amounts of super freshly opened haylage you're risking feeding a fairly high bacterial and fungal load and so putting their overall health at risk.

Very likely! I never fed haylage to my horse and think it smells horrid when ever I put it out for the ponies at work. I just remembered the farmer complaining that he couldn’t use the haylage that the ponies ripped open unles it was re-sealed completely within a matter of hours

 

[acapae]

Very likely! I never fed haylage to my horse and think it smells horrid when ever I put it out for the ponies at work. I just remembered the farmer complaining that he couldn’t use the haylage that the ponies ripped open unles it was re-sealed completely within a matter of hours

Haha that makes sense. I'm not a massive fan of the stuff either xD And yeah, when it's been ripped there's a real risk of botulism bacteria getting in there, which is..... bad!

 

[Guineapigfeet]

Haha that makes sense. I'm not a massive fan of the stuff either xD And yeah, when it's been ripped there's a real risk of botulism bacteria getting in there, which is..... bad!

Aah, that’s why! Thank you!