A grasping unit is required to prevent damage to the integrity of the bags. There is danger of botulism. Horses should be vaccinated for botulism prior to using round bale silage or bagged silage. See note on Botulism following for further details. Anytime the bag or plastic is pierced, oxygen will enter and spoilage will occur.
Horses are the most sensitive of the domesticated animals to botulism.
Botulism is a disease that occurs when toxins produced by the bacterium, Clostridium botulinum, enter the horse's body causing weakness which may progress to paralysis. The botulism bacterium is commonly present in soil and in decaying animal carcasses. It occurs less often in decaying plant material. Silage and especially haylage can be contaminated with the botulism bacterium during the raking and baling process. The higher moisture levels of haylage and round bale silage prior to the acidic level dropping below pH 5 is ideal for the growth of this bacterium.