Roughly 2% of bodyweight a day.
An average 500kg horse needs around 10kg of forage daily — more in winter when grass is short, less when summer pasture is plentiful. Split it across the day rather than dumping it all at once: little and often is gentler on the gut and slows down a fast eater.
- Sensitive lungs? Switch to haylage, or steam the hay.
- Easy keeper? Use a small-hole haynet to slow intake.
- Metabolic issues? Ask us about a low-sugar batch — we can have a sample tested.
- Always introduce new forage gradually over 7–10 days.
Maintenance through to higher demand.
Daily intakes vary widely — weight, breed, body condition, weather, whether they’re in milk or growing — but as a starting figure: dry cows need around 12–14kg of good hay a day, ewes around 1.5–2kg.
- Round bales work well in feeders — less waste than rolling out.
- Haylage can carry more nutrition for animals in higher demand.
- Always have clean water available alongside any forage.
- Watch the body condition, not the calendar.
Alpacas, goats, pigs, donkeys.
Most small-livestock species do well on a base of meadow hay. Donkeys especially — rich, sugary haylage is generally too much for them and a coarser, lower-energy meadow hay suits them better.
For alpacas and goats, look for leafy bales without too many stalks. We can usually pick a batch that fits the bill if you tell us what you’re feeding.
Rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens.
Rabbits and guinea pigs need unlimited hay — it’s 80% of their diet, not a treat. Look for soft, leafy, sweet-smelling bales. A small bale will keep one or two rabbits going for several months if stored well.
Chickens love hay as bedding and as a foraging substrate, especially in winter when grass is sparse.
Looking after the bales once they’re on your yard.
- Off the ground. Stack on pallets or boards — concrete sweats and damp wicks up.
- Under cover. A barn, an open shed, or a well-tarped stack — whatever keeps the rain off.
- Air around it. Don’t pack stacks tight against walls; give them room to breathe.
- Wrapped haylage: off the ground, in shade where possible. Tape any punctures the same day or feed those bales out within the week.
- Check the smell. Sweet meadow good. Sharp, mouldy or vinegary — ring us. We’ll always look at it.
Not sure what to feed?
Tell us about your animals — we’ll help you pick the right product.