Why is Feeding Frequency Important in Horse Management? According to historical accounts, when horses were used daily for transportation, work, and war, their caretakers would feed their charges no fewer than four times a day.

To maintain reliable performance day in and day out, caretakers knew that horses must eat frequently to sustain energy levels. Modern sport horses have entirely different demands placed on them. The work is not only less strenuous, but horses spend much less time actually engaging in the activity.

Feeding frequency affects various physiological parameters, particularly gastric and intestinal function, as well as behavior. But are these changes important to the health and welfare of the horse?

Forage Fraction

When it comes to the forage fraction of the diet, there is no question that horses should have forage available for as many hours as possible in a day. Allow access to adequate pasture. In addition, feeding hay several times throughout the day, or by offering hay free choice. Horses are offered free-choice hay. They will consume more than those offered limited amounts.  As horses consume more hay, they drink more water, so clean water should always be available when hay is offered.

Horses eat hay and concentrates at different speeds. Research has shown that it takes up to four times longer to consume the same weight of forage as it does concentrates.

In pasture situations, horses usually graze 12 to 20 hours a day. Fresh grass has an abundance of moisture (70-89% water). Therefore, more fresh forage must be eaten to achieve the same amount of dry matter intake as hay, which has much less moisture (10-15% water).

Stalled horses spend six to eight hours consuming hay when fed concentrate at more than 20% of the diet. When fed free-choice hay without concentrate, horses spent 12 to 16 hours eating hay. Specially designed feeders that slow intake of hay are useful for extending the hours that horses in stalls or drylots spend eating hay, mimicking approximately the time spent grazing. These feeders are especially useful for horses with low energy requirements like easy keepers.

Hay Availability

Is hay availability more important during the day or night? In a study on eating behavior conducted at the  University of Kentucky, horses spent more than 25% of daylight hours eating hay. Less than 15% of their nighttime hours were spent sleeping (more than 50%) between 12 a.m. and 7 a.m.

In the same study, the researchers found that frequency of feeding affected the amount of hay the horses ate.  When horses were fed eight concentrate meals per day with free-choice hay. They consumed more hay than when only fed two concentrate meals per day. If you need your horse to consume more forage, feed the concentrate in smaller, more frequent meals.

Concentrate Meals

When feeding concentrates, increasing the frequency and decreasing the quantity per meal have beneficial effects. One advantage stems from the moderation of the glycemic response to a meal, the consequences of which are currently a much-discussed topic.  Researchers at The Ohio State University fed the same quantity of a concentrate in one, two, or three meals over a 24-hour period.

Marked effects on the glycemic response to the feeding schedule were noted. The single meal produced a much higher glycemic response and consequential insulin release than the others. Interestingly enough, researchers also found that horses had a higher glycemic response to a meal in the morning. Even if horses were fed multiple meals throughout the day.  Therefore, in horses where glycemic response needs to be controlled, the smallest meal of the day should be in the morning.

The same researchers found an influence on glycemic response from the order in which the hay and grain were fed.  When hay was fed 15 minutes before the concentrate, the horses fed once per day had higher glycemic responses than when fed the concentrate 15 minutes before the hay.  This same consequence was not seen when the horses were fed two or three times per day.  Also, when concentrate was fed before the hay, horses engaged in wood-chewing more frequently.

Stereotypic Behaviors

Concentrate feeding correlated with cribbing and stereotypic behaviors.  Researchers at Auburn University have studied cribbing extensively.  They found time spent cribbing decreased with free-choice feeding of concentrate. Feed dividend into hourly meals actually increased over that of horses fed two meals a day.

Stereotypic behaviors like wood-chewing and cribbing are thought to be responses to boredom. They can also indicate of inflammation or abnormal acidity in the stomach.  Chronic cribbers have lower gastric pH than their noncribbing peers.

Antacids have a positive effect on reducing the amount of cribbing. Concentrates induce cribbing, so with cribbers it may be beneficial if fewer meals are offered in a day.  While providing adequate long-stem forage reduces occurrence, it may not eliminate the problem completely.

Number of Meals in a Day

Aside from the problems associated with elevated glycemic response, another problem with large concentrate meals centers around gastrointestinal capacity. Large meals can overwhelm the digestive capability of the small intestine. The result of which is too much grain in the hindgut to be fermented by the microbial population.

In general, when the total quantity of the concentrate is greater than 1 lb (0.5 kg) concentrate per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight (equivalent to 0.5% body weight), the concentrate should be divided into more than one meal.

Processing techniques have evolved over the last few decades that have improved digestibility of grains. Because of this, the maximum amount of concentrate recommended per feeding is more likely to be 0.65 lb (0.3 kg) per 100 kg body weight for feeds with 30-40% starch.

Meal size recommendations would be even lower for concentrates with starch contents higher than 40% or straight grains. Feeding meals with starch amounts greater than 1.1 g/kg body weight have been associated with an increased risk for the development of gastric ulcers.

Development of gastric ulcers is perhaps the worst consequence of infrequent feedings in a day.  Gastric pH as low as 2 were found for horses without access to feed for 12 hours. While the development of gastric lesions were imminent.

A drop in gastric pH often happens after feeding grain or concentrate meals. However, in a study comparing two meals per day with feeding every 90 minutes, there were no statistical differences in the pH drop from feeding.  In contrast, horses on 24-hour pasture access or fed free-choice hay were found to have more normal gastric pH of 4 to 6. As a result, once again, highlighting the advantages of constant access to forage.

Increased Feeding Frequency

Increased feeding frequency is crucial in horses with certain diseases like hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP or HPP).  Horses diagnosed with HYPP are unable to handle excessive amounts of potassium; so the smaller the meal, the less potassium absorbed at one time.

In addition to offering feed and forages with low levels of potassium, if the horse receives multiple, small meals it helps to keep from overwhelming the body at one time with potassium. This allows better controlling symptoms of the disorder.

Finding the right feeding frequency to control physiological, digestive, and behavioral issues depends on the amount of feed required to maintain the horse in good body condition.  Constant access to forage, whether it is hay or pasture, is integral to a well-rounded feeding program.  Limiting concentrate meal size controls spikes in glycemic response and avoids overpowering digestive capacities. Taken behavioral issues into consideration.

Frequent smaller meals recommended. More calories necessitate higher concentrate intake. Especially if a high starch feed is used.  Perhaps not every modern-day horse needs four meals a day like their hard-working predecessors. However, careful consideration of the factors that determine the need for more frequent meals will go a long way in optimizing the horse’s diet.

In conclusion, J & J Hay can help to answer horse-health and hay related questions.

Article Source: Kentucky Equine Research

Monitor Autumn Grazing to Prevent Laminitis in Horses: Horses are at increased risk for laminitis when grass begins to grow in the spring, providing abundant forage that is high in moisture and carbohydrates but low in fiber. Autumn is also a high-risk time for grazing horses for a somewhat different reason.

Pasture growth doesn’t look menacing to metabolic-challenged horses, with its browning color signaling the beginning of dormancy. However, this seasonal change triggers plants to produce and store carbohydrates. Waning daylight hours, cool night temperatures, overgrazing, mowing, or several dry days followed by rainfall. These examples can all lead to increased carbohydrate intake as horses graze. This overabundance of nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) disrupts the chemistry of the horse’s digestive tract. Consequently leading to the release of endotoxins that can result in the onset of laminitis.

A second contributing factor is the rise in adrenocorticotropic hormone, or ACTH. This occurs in all horses as days get shorter and air temperatures drop. This natural change in hormone level may not be a problem for horses with normal metabolism. However, for those with a condition like Cushing’s disease or equine metabolic syndrome, higher ACTH levels can trigger increased insulin production. This rise translates into more risk for laminitis in susceptible equines.

Steps for Maintaining Health Throughout Fall Months

Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., senior equine nutritionist at Kentucky Equine Research, suggests several steps to keep horses healthy throughout the fall months.

She recommends that horse owners should eliminate or limit fall grazing for insulin-resistant horses or those that have shown signs of laminitis in previous years. Offer low-NSC hay to provide fiber, soaking the hay if necessary to remove some of the water-soluble sugars. Has the grass reached full dormancy and the lower stems are no longer green? It’s probably safe to allow horses back into the pasture. At least until forage growth picks up in the spring.

Additionally, use a buffer such as EquiShure. It primes the hindgut for changes in diet that could lower the pH of the cecum and colon. By stabilizing the pH of the hindgut, there is a decrease in the risk of hindgut acidosis and associated disorders such as colic and laminitis.

J & J Hay can help to answer horse-health and hay related questions.

Source: Kentucky Equine Research

Stereotypic behaviors such as weaving, cribbing, and stall-walking occur commonly in high-performance horses as well as many companion horses. In addition to being unsightly, potentially damaging to the barn, and raising welfare concerns, stereotypic behaviors also result in important health issues. For example, dental disorders, temporohyoid joint damage, poor performance, weight loss, and colic.

Cribbing:

“Cribbing is the most troublesome of these compulsive behaviors. It involves grasping a fixed object with the incisor teeth. In addition to aspirating air with an audible grunt.” Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research explained.

The exact reason horses crib remains unknown. Some suggest that cribbing horses have unmet dietary or management needs. Others believe that altered biological functions are the culprits, such as decreased antioxidant levels or increased oxidative stress.

Trace elements such as selenium, zinc, manganese, and copper protect the body from oxidative stress. One research group* recently explored the hypothesis that oxidation status may contribute to cribbing. Researchers collected blood samples from horses during or immediately after an episode of cribbing. As well as when cribbers were resting to test this theory. Control horses with no known history of cribbing were also tested. The scientists then analyzed the samples for various markers of oxidation.

“The most important finding in this study was that serum selenium concentration was significantly lower in cribbing horses than in controls. The lowest levels measured while horses were actually cribbing,” Crandell said.

Based on these data, the researchers concluded “that alterations in serum selenium, an important component of the antioxidant system, may play a role in the pathophysiology of cribbing behavior in horses. Adding further evidence to the theory that cribbing may be related to increased oxidative stress and alterations in essential trace elements.”

“Management also plays an important part in minimizing stereotypic behaviors. Strategies such as providing environmental enrichment tools, offering free-choice hay or prolonged grazing, and allowing direct visual contact or prolonged turnout time in groups are thought to improve the welfare of affected horses,” Crandell mentioned.

J & J Hay can help to answer horse-health and hay related questions.

Source: Kentucky Equine Research

Preserving Horse Health in the Face of Low-Quality Forage: Horse owners often don’t have control over the hay given to their horses. Because of this, they regularly offer a concentrate or ration balancer. This provides the requisite nutrients low or missing in the forage. However, well-formulated products can fill this dietary void. Yet, researchers wondered if additional fortification would increase digestion and bolster muscle accretion over the topline.

In the 56-day study, stock-type horses were offered a base diet of low-quality hay. They supplemented with first a pelleted concentrate balanced to National Research Council requirements. Second, the same pellet that had been fortified with additional amino acids. In addition, chelated trace minerals, and fermentation metabolite additives. (Which are prebiotics that support the fermentative flora of the hindgut.)

“The goal of offering concentrates was to provide a layer of nutritional protection to maintain or improve the health and performance of mature horses in the face of poor-quality hay,” Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a Kentucky Equine Research nutritionist advised.

The Study:

At the end of the two-month study, all horses had similar estimates of body fat. Regardless of the concentrate offered to them. The primary difference between the diets involved greater muscle development along the topline of those horses fed supplemental amino acids.

“These results suggest that horses may benefit from extra amino acid. (The building blocks of protein.) To compensate for lack of quality protein in the nutrient-poor hay,” Crandell summarized.

Kentucky Equine Research works with a global network of feed manufacturers dedicated to producing high-quality feeds. These manufacturers offer a full range of fully fortified concentrate feeds to meet the needs of horses and ponies during any stage of life.

“A ration balancer contains protein, macrominerals, microminerals, and vitamins, an ideal combination for balancing out the protein and other nutrients that may be missing in a lower quality hay without adding a lot of calories,” Crandell said.

Ration balancers can be fed as the sole concentrate for horses that have no problem maintaining weight on a forage-only diet. Combine with a straight grain (such as oats) as well. In addition to a fortified concentrate fed below the recommended rate.

“Offer ration balancers at a rate of 1-2 lb (0.45-0.9 kg) per day. It’s a much higher volume than only 1-4 oz (25-110 g) per day of a regular vitamin and mineral supplement. A true ration balancer will contain protein. Which is required if horses only have access to protein-deficient, low-quality forage,” explained Crandell.

When Evaluating Hay:

When evaluating hay, do not confuse low-quality hay with moldy or extremely dusty hay. Never offer them to horses. Low-quality hay will have negligible protein. As well as high indigestible fiber, and marginal vitamin content, yet still be clean and free of weeds, excessive dust, and other undesirable material. Poor-quality hay, on the other hand, as these same attributes. They can also be contaminated with mold or mycotoxins.

J & J Hay can help to answer horse-health and hay related questions.

Source: Kentucky Equine Research

Forage for Endurance Horses: Forage is perhaps the single most important ingredient in an endurance horse’s diet. It a major source of energy and essential nutrients. It is also the presence of fiber in the digestive tract provides bulk to keep the tract functioning properly, keeps blood flowing to the tract even during exercise, stimulates thirst, and holds water and electrolytes in a reservoir.

Without the marvelous milieu of innumerable microbes populating the cecum and colon of the horse, forage would be indigestible. These microbes are not only responsible for breaking down the fiber in the forage but the end products of their fiber digestion are VFAs. They are sources of energy for the horse.

Energy:

The reason why the endurance horse is able to keep going for hours upon end has to do with the ability of these microbes to keep making VFAs. They’re absorbed. Next, it’s distributed either to the liver (for conversion to glucose) or directly to the muscle cells to be used for aerobic energy formation. This, combined with the breaking down of glycogen stores in the muscle cells and the triglycerides from muscle and adipose tissue, makes for steady energy generation in the endurance horse.

This type of energy generation is efficient for aerobic metabolism. It is not sufficient to fuel a horse that is going at high speeds in an anaerobic state for very long. Adequate forage intake and a healthy microbial population are essential for proper fiber digestion. As well as fuel production, and the successful performance of the endurance horse.

Most of the endurance horses in the United States have the advantage of 24-hour turnout on pasture. Even when forage is sparse, it has several advantages for the horse. First, free-choice access to nibble all day long is healthiest for horses. It is what their digestive tracts were designed to do. Greatly reducing the risk of nutritional disorders like colic and ulcers.

Second, the ability to move about freely is better for the joints. Particularly if horses are starting to get arthritic, and for the muscle tissue, reducing risk of muscle cramping or tying-up.

Third, grazing with the head down to the ground, milling around looking for tasty morsels, is relaxing to a horse. It’stherapeutic and soothing. Green grass is more nutritious than hay because some nutrients are lost during the drying and storing of hay. Fresh grass is higher in the fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A (as carotenes) and vitamin E; has more sugars and digestible fiber; and because of its high water content, aids in keeping the horse hydrated.

Grass Quality:

Most of the pastures in the United States produce quality grass. It is more difficult in tropical countries where the grasses contain antifactors that jeopardize quality (such as oxalates, bitter taste, mycotoxins, etc.). For those horses, getting fresh grass may mean it comes in the form of green chop fed to them in a stall or small paddock.

In temperate regions of Australia, much of the pasture base contains tropical species. Including kikuyu, which can contain high levels of oxalates. Impacting on calcium absorption in the horse and often a supplement is required to avoid a deficiency of calcium in the diet. Alfalfa (lucerne) is a great source of calcium. Often used to counteract the effects of high oxalate pastures in these areas.

In many parts of the world, keeping an endurance horse out on pasture is not an option. In those cases, forage will primarily be in the form of hay. For others, hay may be fed in addition to the pasture, especially in dry or winter seasons. There have been lengthy discussions on the right type of hay to feed an endurance horse, but what it all boils down to is getting the best hay that is accessible. This will vary between regions and from country to country. In general, daily use of legume hays like alfalfa (lucerne), clover, peanut, and pea is less desirable than grass hays. Because of their high protein and calcium content.

Grass Types:

However, legume hays are very desirable. Especially on the day of the race for the same reasons as well as for their palatability. In the United States, grass hay seems to be the hay most commonly fed to endurance horses. A small percentage of riders feed some alfalfa. Feeding only legume hay to an endurance horse increases the risk of having metabolic problems. For example, thumps during a race because of the effect of chronic high calcium intake on parathyroid hormone mobilization. Feeding alfalfa, especially in California, increases the risk of developing enteroliths, stones that form in the intestinal tract.

Some endurance riders have no choice of what to feed because of the lack of availability of grass forages. They live with the risk. Many riders in traditionally alfalfa areas are paying significantly higher prices than those in grass-growing regions just to be able to get grass hay for their horses. Feeding mostly grass hay with some legume is still a very reasonable diet for an endurance horse. Especially if the horse has no access to pasture. By feeding less legume hay, owners remove the risk of high-calcium complications because the total amount of calcium ends up significantly less.

Common Practices:

A common practice around the world is to include some type of chaff in the horse’s daily diet. Chaff is forage. Usually, cut into fine (1-3 cm) pieces.  Made from alfalfa, grass hay, or straw. Chaff commonly has a bit of molasses and/or oil sprayed on it to increase palatability and decrease dustiness. Chaff can also be fed at vet checks as an easy-to-chew source of fiber.

It is common to mix the concentrate meal with some type of chaff. This serves two purposes: to get more fiber into the horse and to slow down the intake of the meal, which in turn will moderate the glycemic response. When chaff is not available, hay pellets (alfalfa or grass) serve the same purpose. Mixing with the grain or concentrate can improve intake. As well as slow grain consumption, and reduce the risk of choking on the hay pellets. Hay pellets can be fed whole. Also, softened in water and mixed with beet pulp or wheat bran.

The feed industry has contributed a couple of food byproducts that have become fibrous staples in the endurance horse’s diet. The most common of these are beet pulp and soy hulls. Sometimes called “super fibers.” They are higher in digestible fiber than hay and can supply a significant amount of calories by microbial fermentation. Soaked beet pulp is commonly fed alone or mixed with the concentrate portion of the diet. Beet pulp is also used in commercial horse feeds. In order to increase the fiber content. Soy hulls are usually found in high-fiber commercial horse feeds. They’re rarely used as a standalone ingredient in the diet.

Super fibers are very useful in getting more fiber into the diet when hay and/or grass is not adequate or giving the digestive tract a different type of fiber that may be broken down at a different speed than forage fibers. A combination of fiber types is important in developing a healthy microbial population that can contribute significantly to consistent energy generation.

J & J Hay can help to answer more hay related questions.

Article source: Kentucky Equine Research

Nutrients in Horse Forage: Questions Answered: Owners must rely on preserved forage for feeding horses during certain times of the year. When stored, hay loses some of its nutrient content, leaving horses in need of both energy and nutritional supplements.

Let’s find out what Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research, has to say about feeding horses low-quality hay and straw when fresh hay and pastures are unavailable.

How are nutrients in hay lost during storage?

Nutrients are lost. It happens in different ways. Oxidation diminishes vitamins. Exposure to air and light after harvesting causes gradual deterioration of the vitamins, like vitamin A (in the form of carotenes) and vitamin E. Proteins lost. This process happens through denaturation. This happens during the baling process. Other protein losses can occur if the hay is excessively moist or if heating occurs within the bale. Heating can cause “caramelization” of proteins in the hay, further decreasing the total amount of available protein.

What vitamins and minerals are most commonly depleted from forage during storage?

The fat-soluble vitamins A and E are the most susceptible to loss during storage. Measurements have shown a loss of 75% of the carotenes (precursors to vitamin A) within 24 hours of cutting in the field and then a gradual loss of about 10% per month of the remaining carotenes. Hay stored for more than two years is essentially devoid of vitamin A. Vitamin E losses follow a similar pattern. On the other hand, since minerals are inorganic by nature, they are reasonably stable over time in conserved forage.

How does energy content differ between poor-quality hay and pasture or freshly baled hay?

The amount of energy in hay depends on the amount of sugar, digestible fiber (cellulose and hemicellulose), and indigestible fiber (e.g., lignin). Good-quality hay or fresh grass will be higher in sugars than poorer quality hay that was probably harvested at a later maturity. Mature hay has a lower amount of sugar. Sugars were of use. In this case, for plant growth prior to harvesting. In sum, the more mature the plant at time of harvest, the lower the sugar and digestible fiber, the fractions that provide energy to horses, and the higher the indigestible components will be.

How does one assess forage quality to determine how much more energy a horse needs when fed poorer quality hay?

In some cases, simply looking at the hay can be an indication of its energy content. Hay that is mostly green and leafy with few stems or seed heads will generally be more digestible and therefore provide more energy than one that is stemmy with few leaves. The latter type of forage is mostly “gut fill” and provides “chew-time” for the horse.

When looking at mid-quality hays, it is not always easy to discern which are richest in energy. The most reliable way to know the caloric density of a hay is to have it analyzed.

The ultimate test of hay quality is consumption. If a horse eats the offered hay and maintains weight, then the energy content of the hay is sufficient. In contrast, if a horse loses weight, then supplementation of a concentrate feed for energy is important.

When can straw be offered to horses?

Feeding straw to horses is a centuries-old practice that continues today in some countries. Straws chopped. Sometimes, it’s chaffed. For ease of use. Sometimes mixed. For example, with molasses, oil, or a combination of both to control dust. For horses that are tremendously efficient in using calories derived from hay, feeding some straw in addition to hay may be an option. Straw can satisfy a horse’s need to chew without providing excess calories.

Straw is also an option if hay is not available, but feeding straw as the sole source of forage can be risky as the chance of colic may increase with the percentage of straw in the diet. Only straw offered? Then a good-quality concentrate feed is highly recommended. For example, to provide calories as well as the protein, vitamins, and minerals that will be severely lacking in the straw. Make effort to find suitable hay. Subsequently, for the energy requirement of the horse being fed.

Is straw palatable? If not, how can owners increase palatability to entice horses to eat straw when other forage options are unavailable?

Many horses do find clean, brightly-colored straw palatable. Oat, wheat, and barley straws are the most common types fed to horses. As many horse owners can attest, if a horse is hungry enough or has a need to chew, it will learn to eat straw. As mentioned before, chaff, commonly used in Europe, is often chopped straw mixed with molasses. Subsequently, to improve palatability. In Australia, however, chaff is usually made from chopped hay.

What supplements should owners offer when poorer quality hay and straw make up the bulk of a horse’s diet?

Straw lacks all nutrients except indigestible fiber, so it is important to supply a source of essential nutrients. For the easy keeper, this could mean simply a low-intake ration balancer. Horses with higher energy demands may benefit from a concentrate feed that provides more calories along with the protein, vitamins, and minerals.

J & J Hay can help to answer more hay related questions.

Source: Kentucky Equine Research

Soaking horse hay safely should be as easy as washing your hair, right? Lather, rinse, repeat. But, alas, no.

Like many horse-keeping chores, soaking hay requires equal measures of finesse and know-how. Done improperly, soaking can result in complete nutrient washout. This leaves horses at risk for excessive weight loss and nutrient deficiencies, including insufficient crude protein and amino acids.

“Previous studies show that soaking hay removes water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), which is desirable for horses with metabolic syndrome or overweight horses on calorie-restricted diets,” said Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research.

In addition to WSC, other nutrients, such as these essential minerals: phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, and iron, are leached from the hay when it is soaked.

Observations:

One recent study found that, in addition to trace minerals, crude protein and amino acid levels also diminish rapidly after just 15 minutes of soaking.* The researchers soaked hay for variable periods of time, ranging from 15 minutes to 12 hours, followed by a 20-minute draining period. Important observations included:

• As expected, soaking hay decreased WSC and other important nutrients, such as water-soluble minerals;
• Metabolizable energy decreased by 5-15%. This indicates the forage will not provide as much energy as expected, potentially resulting in weight loss;
• Crude protein and amino acids decreased by up to 17% and 35%, respectively; and
• Nutrient and energy losses were appreciable after 15 minutes of soaking. Longer soaking durations did not enhance the washout effect.

“To compensate for energy losses, owners should offer up to 15% more calories in the ration, as long as weight loss is not one of the desired effects. Additional forage would not, however, compensate for the 35% amino acid loss. If a horse owner was to add 35% more forage to account for amino acid losses, then the horse’s ration would be too rich in energy. Therefore contributing to weight gain, if the horse could even eat that much” explained Crandell.

Instead of compensating for amino acid losses by offering more soaked forage, Crandell recommends supplementing with a high-quality ration balancer that contains a full complement of amino acids. A ration balancer would also make up for any vitamin or mineral shortfalls caused by soaking.

Many horses benefit from hay soaking, including those with metabolic syndrome, chronic laminitis, and asthma. Soaking hay without an understanding of nutrient losses may result in caloric and nutrient deficiencies. According to this study, these losses occur quickly. After only 15 minutes of soaking, suggesting that soaking hay longer is unnecessary.

J & J Hay is here to help you find and maintain the most quality hay!

Source: Kentucky Equine Research

Don’t flake out: feed horse hay by weight, not by flake! Whoever invented modern hay-baling equipment garners far too little praise from horse owners. In other words, the concept of dividing unwieldy bales into flakes, or biscuits, qualifies as sheer genius.

Despite off-the-chart convenience, conscientious horse owners maintain a niggling uneasiness about feeding hay by the flake. What is it that bothers them?

Feeding aficionados probably hit on the problem quickly. It is another case of feeding by volume, not by weight, akin to feeding a scoop of this feed or a dipper of that feed, rather than a specific quantity based on weight.

Measuring:

“To maintain body condition, horses typically consume about 1.5-2% of their body weight on a dry matter basis each day in concentrates and forage, with the forage component accounting for 1-1.5% of body weight for most horses,” said Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., nutrition advisor at Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

Example: a large pony weighs 800 lb (365 kg) and could be expected to consume 12-16 lb (5.5-7 kg) of feed per day, with 8-12 lb (3.6-5 kg) of that forage.

With those calculations in mind, how many flakes of timothy hay would the pony require daily? Two or three? Five or six? Half a bale? Furthermore, can a reasonable calculation be made with only this information?

The missing factor in this feeding puzzle is an estimation of how much each flake weighs. As anyone that’s unloaded wagons of hay can attest, weight of hay varies, sometimes a lot!

Some hay is fluffy and light, and weighs little; other hay is densely packed. For instance, it weighs more than expected. So, it’s best to find a portable scale of some kind—a fishing scale is an easy-to-find solution—and measure several flakes from different bales, carefully noting each weight. An average of the weights provides a representative estimate that can be used to determine consumption.

Assuming the orchardgrass/timothy hay in our scenario weighs 3 lb (1.4 kg) per flake, it is easy to calculate how much the pony requires daily: three to four flakes.

This provides a sound basis for forage consumption. However, factors may change this allotment. For example, time on pasture, amount of work, or desired body condition changes.

In conclusion, J & J Hay can answer questions about appropriate hay-based diets and how to feed horse hay by weight, not by flake.

Source: Kentucky Equine Research

Beware of beetles in Alfalfa Hay for horses! Most horse owners make a visual scan of the hay they feed their horses. Always be on the lookout for mold, wafting dust, unusual plants, and even unidentifiable debris. If feeding alfalfa (lucerne), horse owners should be aware of another potential danger: blister beetles.

Blister beetles produce a chemical called cantharidin, a toxin they use as a defense mechanism against predators.

“Horses have an intense reaction to cantharidin, often causing harsh blistering when it comes in contact with sensitive tissues such as those of the gastrointestinal tract, including the mouth,” explained Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research (KER). “Based on observations by veterinarians, the intensity of the reaction depends on the amount of cantharidin in every mouthful—the more swallowed, the more severe the reaction.”

Signs associated with cantharidin toxicity, or blister beetle poisoning, include irritation of the oral cavity, including the tongue and mucous membranes, colic, and frequent urination. Cantharidin overload can cause death.

Responsible hay producers, like J&J Hay Farms, understand the dangers of blister beetles and implement procedures to avoid problems.

Prevention:

Firstly, inspecting alfalfa fields for swarms before harvesting. Secondly, timing harvest intervals to steer clear of blooming stages of the plant. Flowers attract beetles.. Lastly, avoiding crushing of hay during harvesting. It pulverizes beetles and releases cantharidin, a stable toxin that stays active even after beetles die.

Often, alfalfa hay is transported long distances. In the case of the United States, sometimes coast to coast. Blister beetles might not be indigenous to the part of the country where horse owners live. However, the hay may nevertheless be contaminated.

“The onus of hay quality ultimately lies with the horse owner, so taking the time to examine hay prior to feeding is prudent,” Whitehouse said. Horse owners may be unable to dodge trouble during the purchase of hay, no matter how selective they are, as beetles like to swarm and often cannot be seen on the outside of bales. This makes inspection prior to feeding essential.

In conclusion, beware of beetles in Alfalfa Hay for horses!

Source: Kentucky Equine Research