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

Need guidance figuring out how much when buying hay for horses? Fun with math! Sharpen your pencil, and grab a notepad. What is this, retro math? Let me rephrase: grab your cellphone, hit the utilities icon, employ the calculator function.

Here’s the puzzle: if you own two horses, both about 1,100 lb (500 kg) and both eating about 1.5% of their body weight of hay each day, how much hay will you need for 200 days of winter?

Go!

Based on these figures, you’d need about 6,600 lb (3,000 kg) of hay to get from one end of winter to the other. If the average square bale from your supplier weighs 50 lb (22 kg), that works out to a minimum of 132 bales.

Tips for Hay Buyers

Provided a horse owner has access to enough hay storage space, it is sometimes more economical to purchase an entire winter supply of hay at one time. Hay producers will often sell hay less expensively when large orders are placed.

Not enough room in the loft? Some hay producers will allow you to keep the hay stored on their property. Normally so long as it is already purchased. These arrangements allow horse owners to pick up hay as needed.

If you’re shipping hay from a faraway region, considering gathering a group of horse owners and splitting one large shipment into manageable quantities. This spreads transportation costs over multiple horse owners, making it more affordable.

Scout hay sales! Scan classified ads in local newspapers and agricultural publications, and peruse bulletin boards at tack shops for hay suppliers. Baled hay purchased at feed stores is usually more expensive than hay found elsewhere.

Err on the side of surplus. Not all bales in the original lot might be usable, so it’s always advantageous to have more hay than necessary. As long as older hay is stored in optimal conditions, it can be used without detriment to your horses.

Are you feeding your horse an all-hay diet? The nutrient content of fresh and preserved forages differs somewhat, so if you are feeding an all-hay diet, your horse will require vitamin and mineral supplementation for optimal health. You may choose a balancer pellet, usually available from your feed store!

The five most common forage forms are pasture, hay, cubes, pellets, and haylage. Although, long gone are the days of wide-open pastureland for domesticated horses and ponies. Forage remains the primary constituent of most well-balanced equine diets, but nowadays it can be proffered in a multitude of forms, from traditional long-stemmed hay to symmetrical cubes.

Pasture:

Pasture is an incredibly underutilized source of forage. Volitional grazing is by far the most natural way for horses to ingest forage. Horsemen often lose sight of the fact that well-tended summer pastures with minimal stocking rates (number of horses per acre) supply adequate nutrition. This is the case for most classes of horses.

Proof of this lies in wild herds, for these multi-aged horses sustain themselves year after year on all-forage diets. Astute weed and insect control, fertilization, seeding, optimal grazing time (when plants are immature and most nutritious), and population control are essential considerations in using pastures efficiently. Conversely, poorly maintained pastures can offer little or no nutrition to horses and are often ideal environments for internal parasite propagation.

Hay:

Hay is the most common feedstuff harvested for horses. Ascertaining moisture content is critical during haymaking. Too much moisture may lead to mold formation and excessive heat production (possibly causing spontaneous combustion), and too little moisture may increase leaf disintegration, particularly in legumes. Leaves contain more nutrients than any other plant part and preservation of leaf integrity is critical. Hay is typically stored in small square bales (45 to 100 pounds) or large round bales (500 to 2000 pounds). Small bales are usually stored in covered sheds or buildings to prevent weather damage.

Large round bales are typically kept outside. Some round bales are wrapped in plastic or sprayed with tallow in an effort to shield the forage against inclement weather, allowing the hay to retain more vital nutrients. Hay subjected to adverse weather is far less nutritious than well-preserved, dry hay.

Cubes and Pellets:

Doling out hay cubes and pellets is an acceptable way of supplying forage to horses. Despite their nontraditional form, cubes and pellets provide adequate fiber to horses, allowing the gastrointestinal tract to function uninhibitedly. Hay to be made into cubes or pellets is sun-cured and ground before being mixed with a binder and forced into a cube or pellet die. Hay intended for pellets is subjected to more intensive grinding than hay intended for cubes.

In comparing cubes and pellets to baled hay, advantages. Like other processed feeds, cubes and pellets must have guaranteed levels of protein, fat, and fiber printed on the bag or feed tag. Therefore, the level of nutrition remains consistent. This is not the case with baled hay, as forage quality can differ from field to field, or even from one area to another within the same field. In addition, cubes and pellets are easier to measure, feed, and store than baled hay. Minimal dust in cubes and pellets makes them ideal for horses with respiratory problems.

On the downside, however, purity of cubes and pellets can be difficult to decipher. Weeds are readily visible in loose hay but impossible to pinpoint in cubes and pellets. Purchasing processed forages from a reputable dealer is the best way to avoid quality issues. Horses may consume cubes and pellets more rapidly than long-stemmed hay. This leaves more downtime to involve themselves in boredom-induced vices such as wood chewing. A small amount of long-stemmed forage, perhaps one-half to one pound daily, should be offered to horses on completely cubed or pelleted forage diets.

Haylage:

A high-moisture forage stored in airtight containers and allowed to ferment is called Haylage or silage. Cattlemen and other stockmen have used ensiled forage as a staple in livestock rations for decades, but this preservation technique is relatively new to the horse industry. Elevated retention of protein, carbohydrates, and key minerals are primary benefits of haylage over sun-cured hay.

Haylage also has a high moisture content, which makes the feed appropriate for horses with compromised breathing. One potential hazard in feeding haylage is the risk of botulism. When inappropriately stored, proliferation of Clostridium botulinum may occur in haylage. Horses that consume haylage teeming with these bacteria may become severely ill or die. Therefore, any horse being fed haylage should be vaccinated against botulism.

Advances in feed processing have given horsemen choices in feeding forages. Regardless of how it is fed, horsemen should remember that forage is a critical element in the diet of horses and in the health of the gastrointestinal tract.

Source: Kentucky Equine Research