On Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 6:04 PM, Renee Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > .> We only give them exactly 9 leafs of hay for 9 horses and safe the > extras leafs from the bales. Most of our bales of hay some have 12 to 14 > leafs of hay in a bale of hay. <
I have always heard that round bales are more prone to have things (like dead critters) in them and are packed tighter than square bales. This combination can lead to the organism that causes botulism. Just a few months back there was an article in either the USIHC magazine or Tolt News about someone that lost a horse to botulism and it was traced back to her Round bale hay - in the article she said she later found out that it isn't a good idea to use round bales for horses. At one barn I boarded at they tried round bales for awhile - had severl colics - quit the round bales and the colic stopped. The round bales were from the same farm as the square bales they switched to. At another farm I was at they fed round bales but they pulled the hay from the bales - filled a big muck bucket and then put that amount out to the horses (very work intensive but cheaper) They kept the hay covered. They never had a problem but that way they were carefully going through the hay and culling anything that didn't look right. Another farm used round bales that they baled themselves - they would store them in their hay loft (it was huge) Roll them out across the floor and pull chunks from it to feed the horses in their stalls. Personally, I wouldn't use round bales because they are work intensive to do it right and there is more concern about botulism but as you can tell, there are folks that do it and have had success with it. I think Karen had a good idea about calling your Ag Ext agent and your vet for recommendations Laree in NC Doppa & Mura Simon, Sadie and Sam (the "S" gang) "Yet when all the books have been read and reread, it boils down to the horse, his human companion, and what goes on between them." - William Farley
