Frequently Asked Questions

What is Winter Grass?

Winter Grass is the brand name for Island Meadows’ haylage product. Winter Grass is an ensiled form of Timothy hay that is cut earlier than hay, turned until the correct dry matter is achieved and then sealed in plastic. A natural fermentation process takes place, which preserves the grass and its nutrients and results in a dust free forage that is low in mould spores and highly palatable to horses.


Is Winter Grass Safe for my Horse?

Winter Grass is packaged and sealed from oxygen in small portable 20kg (45lb) bags, which enables proper natural fermentation to preserve the product in a safe form. As long as the bag is not ripped or punctured, Winter Grass will provide a superior feed product over traditionally dried hay.


What are the Benefits of Winter Grass over Dried Hay?

• Helps ensure respiratory health by eliminating dust and mould from the feed
• Better nutrient uptake over dried hay
• Excellent palatability, little waste compared to dried hay
• Lasts for a year or more in the bag
• Easy to handle and pack for travel without the mess of dried hay
• Highly compacted for travel and therefore takes less space

How Much Should I Feed?

The amount to feed will depend on the size of your animal but generally you will feed slightly more Winter Grass than dried hay. Because our haylage has more moisture (around 40%) it has less dry matter and will require more to be fed. A bag of Winter Grass will typically provide enough feed for 2-3 days for an average horse.


Do I need to Feed Anything Else with Winter Grass?

Winter Grass is a complete diet similar to dried hay and can be fed as the sole feed source for you horse, Your horse may require additional sources of nutrients depending on its activity level or other special needs and can be supplemented according to the recommendations of your nutritionist or vet.


Do I have to acclimatize my Horse When Switching Over to Winter Grass?

Whether switching diets permanently or temporarily for travel, it is recommended to mix with existing feed in progressively larger amounts for a week prior to replacing diet entirely with Winter Grass. The same would apply when switching back other rations.


What is the Shelf Life of Winter Grass?

If the bag remains intact (no punctures or rips) the hay should maintain its premium state for a year or more after packaging.


What Happens to Winter Grass if the Bag is Punctured?

If the bag is punctured, it should be used immediately after this has occurred. If a hole is encountered in the bag and it is not known when this happened, it should be discarded and not be fed to your animal.


What are the White Spots on the Top of the Hay?

Hay is live plant and has naturally occurring yeast and mould on its surface. Sometimes, very slight amounts of mould appear on the top of hay in the bag. It appears at white flecks on the surface of the hay. The presence of these flecks will not harm your horse or effect the quality of the product. If the bag has been compromised and oxygen has infiltrated the product, large white masses of mould (similar to cob webs) will be seen and the product should be discarded.