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View Full Version : Cattle Silage .... Laminitis?

CrazyMare
25th Apr 2007, 04:31 PM
Just wondering if Cattle silage could bring on a bout of laminitis? my cob lives in a field with cattle, the farmers that own the field had a sick cow and so were dumping huge piles of silage in front of her and my boy was having a right old gorge on it! I said to the farmer that I would be fencing him off in a pen if that (even though he had his grazing muzzle on,he still eats a fair old bit!)
was ok as didn't want him to get laminitis or colic, but he just laughed and said that he couldn't get lami from eating silage and actually sounded quite amused that was stuffing his face with it all?:eek: :confused: I know it could cause colic so was firm and insisted that I penned him off any way but what sort of damage could this of done to his health if allowed to eat it all day?
keeping in mind that he is a very good doer and is prone to lami.
eventerbabe
26th Apr 2007, 07:22 AM
you CAN trigger off laminitis feeding haylage. it's acidic so upsets the gut balance. i think silage is equally as bad. You can feed part silage (say 1/3rd silage and 2/3rd hay) but i think you are wise to pen your cob away from this stuff.
Bebe
26th Apr 2007, 07:34 AM
Definitely a possibility, but you're also running the risk of botulism by allowing your horse access to silage. It's not generally recommended as an equine feed for these reasons.
Nayds
26th Apr 2007, 07:45 AM
DO NOT FEED YOUR HORSES SILAGE IF CAN KILL THEM!!!!! :eek:

I have done an Advanced Diploma of Horse Management and they drilled this into us like you would not believe. Possibly because we are currently suffering a drought and horse owners are trying to find new cheaper feeds due to such incredibly high horse feed prices.

You can feed it to horses in very very small amounts. But not enough to be a sufficient source of nutrition.

PLEASE be very very careful!!!

Nayds
puzzles
26th Apr 2007, 10:38 AM
as faras i know silage is not good for horses; rotting, sugary food full of even more bacteria isn't good for any horse!i wouldn't be surprised personally, if a horse got laminitis from it.
have you talked to your vet about it?

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