Weeds:

Weeds can infiltrate any stand of hay if fields are not managed properly. A weedy, unkempt hayfield will be just as likely to produce weedy hay in the beginning of the season as in the end unless weed control is implemented between cuttings.

“While an occasional weed is not reason enough to discard an entire bale of hay, a proliferation of weeds offers nothing in the way of nutrition,” said Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutrition advisor for Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

Waste is a consideration as well, as horses are more likely to sift through and refuse weed-ridden hay. Most importantly, not all weeds are harmless, so choosing weed-free hay is as much about safety as economics and nutrition.

Maturity:

Because of the unpredictable weather in spring, hay growers must sometimes postpone the harvest of first-cut hay. During this delay plants might become overly mature.

According to Whitehouse, mature hay is perfectly acceptable, even preferable, for some horses—easy keepers, certain metabolic horses, and the ilk—so keep this in mind when evaluating first-cutting hay.

Harvesting woes:

Weather can impact hay quality. Excess moisture in the hay at the time of baling might provide an environment ripe for mold growth. If moldy hay is fed to horses, it can cause gastrointestinal and respiratory problems severe enough to bring about grave illness.

Is it wise to summarily dismiss first-cutting hay?

“The answer to this question lies primarily in the horses that will eat the hay. If a thorough examination of multiple bales reveals good-quality hay with few weeds and no dust or mold, then there is likely a place for it in a feeding program,” said Whitehouse. First-cutting hays can be superior to later cuttings depending on the various factors involved in harvesting.

Nutritional value can be assessed through inexpensive chemical analysis, which will provide an equine nutritionist with the basic information necessary to create a nutritionally balanced diet for any horse.

Article Sources: Kentucky Equine Research

Any sampling of dry forages that involves grabbing a handful of material usually results in a subsample that is poorer in quality than the actual nutrient content. This is particularly true with alfalfa (lucerne) hay because grab sampling typically results in mostly stems, with the finer and more fragile leaves shaking off. Leaves contain most of the nutrients, being higher in both protein and digestibility than the stems. Any procedure that results in leaf loss will have a negative impact on the analysis. The opposite also holds true. Sampling that results in concentrating the leaves will make the sample look better than the forage actually is.

Proper Hay Sampling:

The only way to obtain a proper hay sample is by using a bale probe or corer. This is typically a metal tube from 38 to 48 cm (15 to 18 in) long and sharpened at one end. The type of probe depends. It is either hand-operated or may be coupled to an electric drill. Feed stores and agricultural extension offices may have corers that can be borrowed.

Probe bales properly. The center of the small, square end is the right spot. The probe takes a representative cross section as it spins and cuts its way through the bale. The resulting core sample will proportionately reflect the leaf and stem material in the bale. Typically, obtaining and combining core samples from 10 to 20 bales will form a worthy composite sample.

In managing an obese horse, the owner faces a dilemma. If the horse is lame or out of shape, it’s hard to add enough exercise to make a difference. Cutting grain from the diet is fairly simple, and a drylot or grazing muzzle can help with restricting pasture intake. However, horses that spend hours with an empty stomach are prime candidates for gastric ulcers. As a result, they need to have something to nibble on a fairly constant basis. Finding a low-carbohydrate hay may not be easy.

Straw:

Some horse owners wonder if straw—the slippery, shiny stems of wheat, oats, and other cereal plants—might be the answer. After all, straw is usually used for bedding so it can’t be worth much in the way of nutrition, right?

Unfortunately, some straw, particularly if it contains many of the grain seed heads, can be as high in nonstructural carbohydrates as good-quality grass hay or even alfalfa hay. Though it contains a lot of lignin, the indigestible fiber that causes its shiny appearance, straw may also contain an appreciable amount of digestible starch and carbohydrates. The only way to know these levels is to have the straw analyzed for nutritional value. Above all, as any type of hay should be tested before feeding it to obese horses. It’s not enough to get a base level from one shipment of hay or straw, either. The next truckload you order will probably be from a different cutting or region. Therefore, it will have different nutritional values.

Impaction:

Even if it’s possible to find a low-carbohydrate straw, there’s another potential problem with feeding this form of roughage. Because of its high proportion of indigestible fiber, straw is more likely than hay to cause impaction, a condition in which ingested material stops moving through the digestive tract and forms a blockage. This is particularly common in winter. Horses may not drink enough water to keep the intestinal tissues lubricated and elastic. Impaction colic is more of a risk for horses on a diet of straw or any other type of tough, stemmy forage. Chopping the straw into short pieces before feeding it may help to avoid this problem. Especially for horses whose teeth are not in perfect condition for chewing.

Because it may provide a significant level of calories while presenting a hazard for choke or impaction, straw isn’t a great forage choice for most horses. It’s probably safer to find and feed a low-carbohydrate hay, soaking it before feeding to remove some water-soluble carbohydrates. Testing hay is relatively inexpensive and can support health in horses and peace of mind in their owners.

Article Sources: Kentucky Equine Research

Generally speaking, it is true that horses will usually avoid ingesting harmful plants or other toxins when offered high-quality forage options. But as highlighted in an article* by veterinarians from the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Oklahoma State University, horses can—and often do—consume plants they shouldn’t.

As reviewed in this article, horses were offered Bermuda grass hay that was later found to contain large quantities of mature caley pea (Lathyrus hirsutus). In that case, 22 out of 25 young horses developed signs of intoxication. Signs included incoordination, lethargy, and changes in gait.

“There are a great many toxins that can sneak into bales of legumes and grasses, which highlights the importance of routinely inspecting your horse’s hay for more than just dust and mold,” relays Bryan M. Waldridge, D.V.M., head veterinarian for Kentucky Equine Research.

In addition to classic examples of endophyte-infested tall fescue and blister beetles in alfalfa, owners should familiarize themselves with other toxins in their area. Pastures and paddocks also need to be monitored for toxic plants. For example, trees (e.g., maple, black walnut) and ornamentals (e.g., oleander, foxglove, tulips, daylilies, hydrangea, morning glory, iris, daffodil, etc.).

For information on toxic plants in your area, seek the assistance of an equine extension specialist or plant pathologist. Plant descriptions and photos are available online.

The presence of seed heads, stem coarseness, and a low leaf-to-stem ratio determine hay maturity. An abundance of leaves generally indicates higher nutrient levels in the hay. However, it is also important that leaves remain intact and do not fall from the stems too easily.

Palatability and the performance of horses being fed the hay somewhat judge quality. However, the ultimate test of quality is laboratory analysis. Kentucky Equine Research (KER) uses the forage laboratory at Dairy One Laboratories in New York for hay testing. International locations accept samples for analysis.

Hay to Feed:

As to what is the best type of hay to feed, there is no simple answer as it depends on what type of horse you have and what nutrients need to be supplied by forage. What is best for a foal or racehorse won’t suit a roly-poly pony, for example. Select hay according to the needs of the particular class of horses such as foals, pregnant mares, competition horses, horses recovering from illness, and so on.

Legume Hays:

Hays like lucerne (alfalfa) and clover have higher levels of energy, protein, and calcium than plain grass hays. Horses with higher requirements for protein and calcium such as growing or breeding horses would benefit from lucerne in their diets, as well as some hard-working performance horses. Endurance horses need diets without excessive protein or calcium, so high energy grass hay such as Teff are ideal. Obese horses usually need low-energy hay, so mature grass hays are best. Any horses with metabolic problems or digestive issues would also benefit from hays that contain lower levels of sugars, and grass hays are ideal for these situations.

Baled Hay:

Hay baled at a high moisture level or hay that has gotten wet in storage may be moldy. Moldy hay will smell musty. It will look damp and dull in color. It may even have patches of white or brown mold that makes the hay clump together. Generally, moldy hay is less palatable for horses. Therefore, reduced intake is the first issue. Mold contains mycotoxins that can cause a number of illnesses including colic in horses. Moldy hay is also dustier than normal hay. This dust contains fungal spores. Horses can inhale. This can irritate the respiratory tract. The irritation can lead to diseases such as heaves or recurrent airway obstruction because the dust causes inflammation in the lungs, increasing respiratory effort and reducing exercise tolerance.

Do you have question about Determining Hay Quality for Horses? Contact us at J & J Hay Farms by clicking here!

Article Sources: Kentucky Equine Research

Feeding Preserved Forage to Horses: If you had the chance to feed your horse better for optimal health, behavior, and performance, what would you do? A recent article addresses the fact that many horses are fed based on historical trends rather than modern conditions.

Equine diets were significantly altered with domestication, according to the authors of the article*. Horses were once recruited as beasts of burden. They were far too busy to graze fresh pasture for the majority of the day. Instead, owners fed oats, barley, beans, and root vegetables to provide sufficient energy for work. Offering preserved forage such as hay was more difficult in those days due to the challenges associated with the distribution and transport of bulky forages in addition to concerns regarding the quality of forage.

Now, many horses continue to receive preserved forages—including hay, haylage, and silage—rather than having access to fresh pasture. Even with the dramatically reduced workload compared to past times, some horses are still fed too many energy-dense feedstuffs (concentrates) and insufficient preserved forage or fresh pasture, despite the availability of quality forage that can often negate the need for excess concentrates.

Recommendations were made in reference to feeding preserved forage based on a comprehensive review of the literature and information garnered during conferences and nutrition workshops.

Recommendations:

• Perform nutrient analysis to appreciate the value of the forage and estimate the energy content. This is especially true for thin, overweight, and laminitic horses, or those with metabolic conditions.
• Routinely inspect the hay to ensure no hygiene issues exist (e.g., growth of molds that can negatively impact horse health). Dispose of poor-quality forage.
• Any substantial changes in forage quality in terms of energy, protein, and water-soluble carbohydrate content requires a two- to three-week acclimation period.
• Offer fresh or preserved forage with stem length greater than one inch (2.5 cm) ad libitum throughout the day.
• Horses should be consuming feed (hay or concentrate) for a minimum of 8-10 hours/day, with a maximum of 4-5 hours without food.
• If a horse requires more energy, use less mature forages.
• Consider introducing small amounts of chaff into the diet, if less energy is required (maximum of 30% of the dry matter ration).

“Note that these recommendations apply to healthy horses with an ideal body weight and no underlying medical condition. Although these suggestions are useful generalizations, every horse is unique and must be fed individually. Tailor your horse’s diet to meet his needs. For example, consider consulting with one of the nutrition advisors at Kentucky Equine Research,” advised Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist for KER.

Offer a well-formulated vitamin and mineral supplement. Especially for horses on diets composed entirely of forage.

Do you have question about Feeding Preserved Forage to Horses? Contact us at J & J Hay Farms by clicking here!

Article Sources:

Kentucky Equine Research

Harris, P.A., A.D Ellis, M.J. Fradinho, et al. Feeding conserved forage to horses: Recent advances and recommendations. Animal 11:958-967.