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- #11
Yes. Well, more published research than ag extensions for the effects of feeding it.
Here is the first that came up this morning searching: "haylage" for chickens
It is a Swedish study comparing pellets vs 15% of the pellets replaced by haylage vs 15% of the pellets replaced by corn silage. All studied on two types of meaties: fast growing and slow growing (rangers). Corn silage was comparable to pellets in feed intake, body weight, organ size and condition, and health parameters (sticky dropping, foot pad health, and such). Haylage was comparable in health parameters and organ size and condition but had lower feed intake and body weight by a little less than ten percent.
This "... Limiting protein intake for organic broilers in the finishing stages can be an acceptable feeding strategy if the broilers have access to vegetation with a high nutritional value. Reducing protein levels for slow-growing breeds to 15% resulted in a lower FCE but a lower cost of production. Key to this is range management and alternative forages, such as baled haylages,"
Here is another comparison of types of silage as "foraging materials" where laying hens ate silage as about 30-50% of their diet. I think as free choice but they didn't say so directly. Minor effects on digestibility were seen. One type (pea-barley) had lower egg production (208 eggs vs 219 eggs). All types resulted in "improved animal welfare" which seems to mean less pecking of each other and improved quality of plumage."
There is more evidence for corn silage but I have a lawn. I don't have a corn field.
I haven't looked into testing my results. If I decide to feed it, as more than a treat, then I probably will at least look into testing it.
Here is the first that came up this morning searching: "haylage" for chickens
It is a Swedish study comparing pellets vs 15% of the pellets replaced by haylage vs 15% of the pellets replaced by corn silage. All studied on two types of meaties: fast growing and slow growing (rangers). Corn silage was comparable to pellets in feed intake, body weight, organ size and condition, and health parameters (sticky dropping, foot pad health, and such). Haylage was comparable in health parameters and organ size and condition but had lower feed intake and body weight by a little less than ten percent.
This "... Limiting protein intake for organic broilers in the finishing stages can be an acceptable feeding strategy if the broilers have access to vegetation with a high nutritional value. Reducing protein levels for slow-growing breeds to 15% resulted in a lower FCE but a lower cost of production. Key to this is range management and alternative forages, such as baled haylages,"
Here is another comparison of types of silage as "foraging materials" where laying hens ate silage as about 30-50% of their diet. I think as free choice but they didn't say so directly. Minor effects on digestibility were seen. One type (pea-barley) had lower egg production (208 eggs vs 219 eggs). All types resulted in "improved animal welfare" which seems to mean less pecking of each other and improved quality of plumage."
There is more evidence for corn silage but I have a lawn. I don't have a corn field.
I haven't looked into testing my results. If I decide to feed it, as more than a treat, then I probably will at least look into testing it.