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James E. Meeker, D.V.M |
Gail M. Waldman, D.V.M |
Lisa N. Baucom, D.V.M |
Hay Quality and Horse NutritionHorses are herbivores by design and foragers by nature. They have evolved to utilize grasses and other forage plants as their primary source of nutrition. Horses are most content when they can nibble almost constantly. Although it's not always possible to let our domesticated friends graze to their hearts' content, one way to satisfy their urge to chew and provide essential nutrients is to feed high quality hay.HAY BASICSHay generally falls into one of two categories: grasses or legumes. Horse hay is often a mixture of the two. What is readily available and most cost effective generally depends on the part of the country in which you live.Hay's nutritive value and palatability (ie. how much your horse enjoys eating it) will depend on a number of factors, such as:
LEGUME HAYAlfalfa and clover are examples of legumes. Alfalfa is more commonly fed as hay than is clover, although clover may be a component of a mixed hay.Legumes tend to be higher in protein, energy, calcium and vitamin A than grass hays. This concentrated source of energy and protein may be an advantage when fed as part of the ration for young, growing horses, lactating mares, and performance athletes. However, not all horses need the rich levels of nutrients present in premium alfalfa. By buying a lower quality hay (such as an early cutting or one harvested in a late stage of plant maturity), or by selecting an alfalfa-grass mix hay, you can get alfalfa's dietary benefits without supplying excess nutrients that may predispose young horses to problems such as developmental bone disease and epiphysitis. When feeding alfalfa, there is also a need to include a palatable, high phosphorous mineral supplement as part of the ration. Doing so will bring the calcium / phosphorous ratio into a better balance for the horse. This is especially important when feeding young, growing horses. High phosphorous supplements are commercially available just for this reason. Due to alfalfa's high mineral content, your horse will likely drink more water when being fed this legume. In turn, your horse's stall will be wetter and require more care to keep it clean, dry and ammonia-free. GRASS HAYSAlthough grass hay is generally lower in protein and energy, and higher in fiber than legume hay, this is, in part, what makes it a good choice for many adult horses. It can satisfy the horse's appetite and provide necessary roughage without excess calories and protein.A good quality grass hay may meet most of the adult horse's basic nutritional needs. Mature horses require 10% -12% CP (crude protein) in their diets. Many native or prairie grass hays contain just 6-8 percent. A fortified grain concentrate can be used to supplement the ration, increasing its energy, protein, vitamin and mineral content.
MEETING NUTRITIONAL NEEDSA horse's protein and energy requirements will depend on age, stage of development, metabolism and workload. Choosing hay and incorporating it into the ration should be done with the individual's needs in mind. EVALUATING HAYMost people buy hay based on how it looks, smells and feels. These are "qualitative" factors, and they are important. When appraising hay, keep in mind the following points:
QUANTITAVIVE LABORATORY ANALYSISNo matter how good hay might look, only through chemical analysis can its actual nutrient value be determined. To test the hay, core samples are taken from a number of bales within a stack and combined.
The forage lab might also recommend testing for other vitamins and minerals. This is a good idea, especially if you live in an area with known deficiencies or toxicities. FEED WHAT YOU NEEDRemember, horses at different ages and stages of growth, development and activity have different dietary requirements. Consult your veterinarian or a qualified equine nutritionist when formulating your horse's ration. He or she can help you put together a balanced diet that utilizes hay, grain and supplements in a safe, nutritious and cost-effective way.This brochure was developed by the American
Association of Equine Practitioners through a grant from the following Educational
Partners:
Bayer Corporation, Agriculture Division, Animal Health, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201 Purina Mills, Inc., Horse Business Group 1401 S. Hanley, St. Louis MO 63144 Return to Previous Page |
Hay
alone may not meet the total dietary requirements of young, growing horses or
those used for high levels of performance. However, high quality hay may supply
ample nutrition for less active adult horses. A mature horse will eat 2 to 2.5%
of its body weight a day. For optimum health, nutritionists recommend that at
least half of this should be roughage such as hay. For a 1000 pound horse, that
means at least 10 pounds of hay each day.