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Forage Choices for Aged Horses with Dental Problems

Saturday, February 15th, 2025

Forage Choices for Aged Horses with Dental ProblemsWhat are good forage choices for aged horses with dental problems? Armed with a battery of six molars on each quadrant of the skull, horses with sound dentition process forages efficiently. Also called cheek teeth, the molars pulverize forages, increasing the surface area of the forage particles. Thus, allowing the most nutrients to be extracted from them as they flow through the gastrointestinal tract. When horses age, dental diseases crop up more frequently. As horses creep toward and into their 20s, molars begin to wobble in their sockets and eventually fall out. Special consideration must be given to meeting forage requirements when this happens.

Forage

In healthy horses with normal dentition, forage can be offered in numerous ways. For example, as pasture, traditional long-stem hay, chaff, hay cubes, hay pellets, and haylage. For aged horses with mild dental disease, a leafy high-quality hay or immature pasture grasses of moderate length can be offered. When more advanced dental disease sets in, such as the loss of molars, horses will begin to quid when offered these same forages. Quidding is a behavior in which long-stemmed forages are not chewed and swallowed normally but rolled into a ball and then dropped from the mouth.

“No harm lies in allowing aged horses to quid as long as they do not try to swallow the boluses of forage. Through trial and error, most horses figure out how to quid safely,” explained Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research. “Quidding may relieve boredom in horses that are likely not as active as they once were, and provides horses with valuable ‘chew time.’”

Quidding Benefits

Crandell mentioned another benefit to quidding. “With quidding, the forage bolus is coated with saliva or oftentimes moistened as horses drink. When moisture is added, a ‘hay tea’ is made within the mouth. Horses may be able to leach some nutrients from the forage.”

Quidding provides few, if any, actual calories to the horse. Appropriate forages must be sourced and prepared in a way that the horse derives most benefit.

Hay cubes, soaked. According to Crandell, this is probably the most common alternative forage offered to horses with poor teeth. When traditional hay is unsuitable, owners figure cubes may be the best substitute. If horses cannot chew the hay cubes adequately, however, there is little value in the cubes as horses cannot digest them well. Crandell, who has managed many old horses, breaks apart the cubes after soaking them. Some of her horses with poor teeth have refused full-sized cubes that would be difficult to chew, even when soaked.

Hay pellets, soaked.

For horses that hold their weight well, owners should look for pellets made from grasses, like timothy, Bermudagrass, or teff. Alfalfa pellets would be appropriate for horses that have a harder time maintaining body condition, as they contain more calories. “Pellets should soak long enough to fall apart completely,” Crandell explained. “I soak alfalfa pellets until they become a soft mush, usually one or two hours. The heaviness of the mush is dependent upon the amount of water used to soak them. If there isn’t enough water, the centers of the pellets will remain hard and be problematic for some horses.”

Beet pulp, soaked.

As a super fiber, beet pulp contains more calories than equal amounts of hay. “I prefer to combine beet pulp with hay pellets because hay is a more nutritionally balanced fiber source than beet pulp,” Crandell explained. Beet pulp can be purchased as shreds (molassed or unmolassed), pellets, or micronized flakes. For aged horses, shreds and pellets should be soaked, about an hour if using cold water and at least a half hour if using hot water. Micronized beet pulp soaks up water quickly and is often ready to feed in 10-15 minutes.

Chaff or chopped forage, soaked.

Depending on the country of origin, chaff can range from 1-3 cm in length. The shorter chaff may be somewhat easier to chew, but it won’t improve the digestibility.

Commercial senior feeds, soaked.

While many senior feeds are marketed as complete feeds, Crandell recommends adding additional fiber to the products. Add-ins may include beet pulp or hay pellets.

Soaking forages makes them easier to chew for horses with dental problems. Because soaking increases the volume of some of these forage products and creates larger meals, several small meals a day may be necessary to mimic natural feeding patterns.

Aged horses fed diets composed exclusively of forage should be fed a balancer pellet, which provides protein, vitamins, and minerals often deficient in forage-only diets. If alfalfa makes up a large part of the diet, a balancer pellet may not be necessary, but a high-quality vitamin and mineral supplement will be.

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Hay Selection for Horses

Monday, February 10th, 2025

Long-Stem vs. Short-Stem Forages Hay Selection for HorsesAside from pasture, hay is the predominant forage consumed by horses. So, its value in equine diets is unquestionable. During certain times of year, hay may be the only forage available to horses. Therefore the selection of well-preserved hay harvested at the appropriate stage of maturity is critical.

When evaluating hay selection for horses,  it’s important to understand that hay can be classified into three general types: legume, grass, and mixed. Mixed hay is usually defined as a blend of grass and legume plants, though some hay producers and horse owners may define it as a combination of several grasses. Like most horse owners, Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., has opened hundreds of bales of hay during her lifetime of owning and caring for horses. While most horse owners are mindful of the hay they offer their horses, Crandell is perhaps more vigilant than most. As a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research (KER), she understands the importance of good-quality hay.

Legume Hay

When evaluating legume hays, Crandell first establishes the type of hay. Although the most popular legume used among horse owners is alfalfa, other legumes such as red or crimson clover, lespedeza, birdsfoot trefoil, and peanut hay are often fed, and these provide horses with high-quality nutrients.

Evaluating:

Evaluating hay requires a thorough visual appraisal. Because the outside of a bale can be misleading, especially if it was situated on the edge of a stack with exposure to the sun or other elements, appraisal necessitates breaking open several bales. Small bales can be opened easily, but the same cannot be said for larger round bales. Pure legumes are rarely roundbaled, but if faced with tightly wound round bales that cannot be opened, an instrument designed to remove core samples from the inside of hay bales, called a hay probe, can be used. Probes are used to collect hay samples for chemical analysis and nutrient determination. Hay collected in the probe should be assessed just as carefully as that in entire bales.

Crandell next evaluates the color of the hay. “It might be bright green, brownish-green, or pale green, or it might not be green at all; perhaps it is yellow. Color is not the end-all, be-all in determining hay quality, but it can be a clue to how it was made. If it is bright green, then I know the hay was likely cut at an appropriate time, that it was probably not rained on after cutting, and that it dried quickly and was baled in a timely manner. When baled under optimal conditions, the most nutrients are preserved.”

It is not unusual to run into bales that have both green and brown plant material, according to Crandell. If the leaves are brown, the hay is likely to have less nutritional value, as leaves deliver the most nutrients. If, on the other hand, the occasional stem is brown but the leaves are green and well-anchored to the stem, then the hay is probably still nutritious.

“Yellow, brown, or otherwise faded hay indicates that it was made at a mature stage, laid in the field longer to dry, or possibly rained on after being cut in the field, all of which would indicate lost nutrients through leaching by the sun or rain,” said Crandell.

Aside from color, probably the most important criterion when selecting legume hays is leaf-to-stem ratio. A profusion of leaves and few stems indicates that the hay was made at the desired maturity and that few leaves came loose during baling. The opposite is often true with legumes, and these hays sometimes have an abundance of stems and few leaves. This usually means that the leaves came off during baling or when the hay was lying in the field.

“I also look at stem coarseness, as this tells me the stage of maturity of the plants when they were harvested. The stem contains few nutrients and a great deal of indigestible fiber. Aside from marginal nutrition, if the stems are too mature, horses do not particularly like to eat them,” added Crandell.

The presence of mold, unusual growths on leaves, insects, and suspicious plants is noted. With alfalfa, Crandell recommends a thorough scan of multiple bales for blister beetles. Because these lethal insects often swarm, it is possible for only a few bales to be infected.

“I might shake a couple of handfuls to see how much dust flies off. Almost all hay has some dust, but if a large cloud erupts, it’s probably best to pass but imperatively so if you have a horse with a respiratory ailment aggravated by dust. I almost always try to smell the hay to see if it is fresh, stale, or moldy. If the hay was baled wet, it might have a distinct smell that results from caramelization of proteins,” remarked Crandell.

Other Legumes

While alfalfa is the most well-known legume hay, clover hays are appropriate for horses, even if they are not as popular with horse owners as alfalfa. One reason horse owners often avoid clover is its propensity for mold. Getting clover to dry quickly in the field is challenging for growers, and premature baling of damp hay is the primary reason clover hay is sometimes moldy.

From a nutritional standpoint, clovers and alfalfa are very similar. Higher in calcium and protein, and more calorie-dense than grass hays. Red clover is the most common clover hay because it grows taller than white clover and thus provides more yield per acre. Crimson clover is another tall-growing type. But, it tends to be higher in indigestible fiber than red clover. Palatability is usually not an issue. However, as horses are inclined to love the taste of clover and eat it well.

Certain horse owners associate clover with excessive salivation. They mistakenly believe that it is the clover plant that causes horses to slobber. But, the causative agent is actually a mycotoxin produced by a fungus that grows on clover. Known as slaframine poisoning, excessive salivation is not life-threatening.

Grass Hays

Popular grass hays can be divided into two basic groups, cool-season and warm-season. In general, cool-season grasses are more palatable to horses. But, warm-season grasses are accepted by horses, especially by those accustomed to them. The most common cool-season grasses in the United States are timothy, orchardgrass, ryegrass, fescue, redtop, reed canary grass. Occasionally bluegrass in the East; and wheatgrass, blue grama, bluestem, and meadow in the Midwest and West. Warm-season grasses include Bermuda grass (referred to as coastal), bromegrass, and most recently teff.

Categories

A special category of grasses are cereal hays. These hays are made from leaves, stems, and grains of oat, barley, and wheat plants. A good quality cereal hay is harvested when the grain is immature (soft dough stage) and the leaves and stems are still green, and therefore higher in digestible nutrients. If the cereal hay is harvested after the grain is removed, it is no longer considered hay but straw. Oat hay is the most common cereal hay fed in the United States, and if harvested at the right time, it is quite palatable to horses.

For some horse owners, the gold standard among grass hays is timothy due largely to its extreme palatability. Though Crandell agrees that timothy is appetizing to most horses, she also believes “the most palatable hay to a horse is the type he is accustomed to.” Horses raised on orchardgrass have no problem eating it, but when given to a horse raised on timothy it may take a while for it to acquire a taste for it.

Fescue

Fescue has gained much attention over the last couple decades for its sometimes detrimental effects on pregnant mares when it is infected with an endophyte fungus. As a pasture grass, horses seem to consume more of it in the fall after a frost has hit and the sugar content has risen. As hay, it would be harvested in the spring and summer. Palatability might not be an issue for certain horses

Crandell uses the same process of evaluating grass hays as she does for legumes. To determine the type of grass, seed heads are the most telling. Though blade characteristics are also useful. “Fescue blades roll up lengthwise when dried. While orchardgrass blades dry open, so it is very easy to distinguish these two plants. Reed canary grass is distinctive because it has a broader blade than most hays. Yet it is uncommon enough for few horse owners to be able to identify it,” said Crandell.

Distinguishing

Distinguishing hay types is important, if only from the standpoint of purchasing the appropriate hay. “Many orchardgrass hays are sold as timothy because the average horse owner does not know the difference in the seed heads. On the east coast of the United States, I would say a mix of grasses in a hay is more common than any pure single-species hay like you find on the opposite coast,” remarked Crandell. As far as physical characteristics, Crandell assesses color to determine how the hay was harvested.

The color is somewhat dependent on the type of hay. Timothy hay is usually lighter in color than orchardgrass unless the orchardgrass is harvested at a very mature stage. An overall brownish tinge could mean the hay was baled too wet and went through a caramelizing stage. Warm-season hays are typically not as attractive as the cool-season types, as they are often more golden in color. Cereal hays should be light green in color; a yellow, straw-like color would indicate that the hay was harvested too late and will be of lower nutritional value.

She then estimates plant maturity. “Maturity is judged by the number and age of the seed heads, ratio of leaves and stalks, color, and texture. I grab a handful or two to get an idea of the hay’s texture. Early-maturity hays are softer to the touch than late-maturity ones.” As with legumes, Crandell checks for dust and unusual odor indicative of mold.

Mixed Hays

The term mixed hay can be an ambiguous one, which makes clarification essential. Mixed grass hays usually include a medley of grasses. Some grown specifically for hay intended for horses and others not. While common grass/legume mixes include timothy/alfalfa, orchardgrass/ alfalfa, and orchardgrass/clover. “I have seen lovely bales of the classic timothy/alfalfa mix. Specifically, the orchardgrass/red clover mix is especially useful for picky eaters. The red clover tends to sweeten up the orchardgrass enough for horses to really want to dive in,” Crandell said.

Mixing grasses with a legume has two notable benefits. The first involves improvement of the land. Legumes add nitrogen to the soil, so growing legumes with grasses can cut down on fertilizer needs and growing costs. The other advantage involves palatability, as adding a legume to a grass can increase sweetness and consumption. Introduction of a legume also improves the quality by increasing energy, protein, and calcium.

Some horse owners prefer grass/legume mixes over pure legume. A mixture more or less averages the content of certain key nutrients to make it appropriate for different classes of horses. A practical advantage occurs as well. When grasses and legumes are grown together it is more difficult for horses to pick out the tasty portions, as they could if fed a flake of legume and a flake of grass.

Understanding the ins and outs of hay selection is an important aspect of horse ownership. The true test of hay quality rests with the horses, though, and if they offer up their approval by consuming it readily, selection was a success.

Micro-Max is a low-intake concentrated source of vitamins and minerals for mature horses. Micro-Max is ideal for horses that maintain body weight on diets composed entirely of forage or forage and small amounts of concentrate. Learn more.

Source: Kentucky Equine Research Staff

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Old Horses, Cold Weather, and Forage Intake

Tuesday, February 4th, 2025

Old Horses, Cold Weather, and Forage Intake: Fresh grasses provide old horses with much of the nutrition they require to maintain health. As pasture quality wanes in the autumn, owners of old horses often begin to worry about providing sufficient forage. This is true especially if dental problems make hay-chewing difficult. Horses with missing or diseased teeth frequently chew grass more easily than hay. Consider these three strategies to increase fiber intake as fresh pasture becomes scarce.

Use pelleted or cubed forages:

Horses that cannot get nutrients from hay because of poor dentition often do well on hay pellets or cubes. Alfalfa (lucerne) hay makes up these products. However, pellets and cubes made from grass hays, such as timothy, are available.

“Horses generally find hay pellets and cubes palatable,” noted Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutrition advisor with Kentucky Equine Research (KER). Dampen these products. Soften them prior to feeding. “Pellets and cubes can be soaked using different amounts of water to suit an individual horse’s preference, as some horses can be finicky about the wetness of a feed.” Cubes might have to be broken apart and moistened thoroughly in order for horses to get the most out of them.

Consider the use of chopped forage:

Several companies offer alfalfa and timothy hay in chopped form, with individual pieces of forage only a few inches long. Chopped forage is easier for horses to chew and swallow. “These products are sometimes coated lightly with a vegetable oil. For example, canola oil. It reduces dust. The canola oil is an additional source of calories, for horses with weight-maintenance issues” explained Whitehouse.

Find a well-fortified complete feed:

A “complete” feed contains rich energy and fiber sources. These are designed to be fed either without hay or with very little hay (1-2 lb; 0.45-0.9 kg). Complete feeds are pelleted or textured. Fiber sources include beet pulp, alfalfa meal, and soy hulls. The hindgut readily ferments the,. Complete feeds, when offered without long-stem forage, are meant to be fed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, which will usually be 1-2% of the horse’s body weight, said Whitehouse.

Many horse owners are not familiar or comfortable with feeding this much bagged product. Owners may be hesitant. However, they should remember the deficit must be filled with another source of energy. For example, in this case the complete feed. Split complete feed into three or four meals per day.

Dental Dysfunction/Quidding:

Dental dysfunction in older horses is usually progressive, occurring slowly over time. In addition to annual or semi-annual dental examinations, paying careful attention to chewing habits and body condition will often provide clues as to when alternative forage sources are necessary. Quidding is a telltale sign of dental problems, and occurs when a horse takes a bite of forage, wets it with saliva, rolls it within the mouth, and then spits it back out.

When a horse begins to show signs of quidding, it is best to move on to chopped or cubed hay, both of which have intermediate fiber length. When chewing these becomes more difficult for the horse, pelleted forage, which has the shortest fiber length is the next choice.

Add vegetable oil to any or all of these forage sources. “Choose an oil with a favorable fatty acid profile such as canola or soybean oil. Alternatively,  added stabilized rice bran to the ration,” suggested Whitehouse.

Do you have question about Old Horses, Cold Weather, and Forage Intake? Contact us at J & J Hay Farms by clicking here!

Article brought to you by KER.

 

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Check Broodmare Hay for Fescue

Monday, January 20th, 2025

Broodmare eating HayCheck Broodmare Hay for Fescue: Fescue…what’s not to love? Landowners throughout North America and in other parts of the world such as New Zealand and Australia enjoy its numerous benefits. The perennial’s hardiness allows it to thrive despite heavy hoof traffic, intense grazing, and adverse growing conditions.

Are you asking yourself about that slight problem of endophyte contamination? Slight, it’s not; in fact, it has been estimated that 75% of all fescue is infected with the specific endophyte Acremonium coenophialum.

Endophyte Contamination:

An endophyte is a fungus that grows inside another plant without detriment to the host plant. In some instances, the fungus actually provides benefit to the host plant. Such is the case with Acremonium coenophialum. The fungus produces alkaloids, and these alkaloids protect the plant against certain natural insults such as insects and nematodes. Because of their increased durability, the plants become more tolerant to marginal soils and suboptimal growing conditions.

Most mare owners know the dangers of grazing late-pregnant mares on endophyte-infected tall fescue. The grass causes legions of problems, collectively called fescue toxicosis, in broodmares. Issues include prolonged gestation (as long as 13 to 14 months), foaling difficulties, thickened placentas (including “red bag” emergencies), and a decrease or complete absence of milk upon delivery. The ill effects of tall fescue consumption can continue beyond foaling frustrations, as affected mares may be hard to get back in foal, leaving breeders with a smaller foal crop the following year.

Removing mares from endophyte-infected tall fescue 90 days before foaling has been an effective management technique, and newer varieties of tall fescue are endophyte-free, giving breeders peace of mind. These newer varieties, however, do not possess the resiliency of their forebears. Not only are they more susceptible to adverse conditions, these varieties seem to be more difficult to maintain.

While horsemen are usually most concerned with guaranteeing that pastures contain no fescue or endophyte free fescue, the problem-causing fungus can get into a mare’s diet unintentionally. This is likely to happen in one of two ways, as hay or as bedding.

Providing the Right Hay:

Providing hay is often a staple of broodmare management in winter months. Pasture plants are dormant. Baled Hay usually meets forage requirements. High-quality grass hay is usually a suitable choice for broodmares, as it satisfies nutrient requirements without the extra calories and cost of alfalfa hay.

Grass hay is rarely pure, however. The exception is popular forage types such as timothy or orchardgrass. They have a higher level of purity. Grass hay is “mixed.” Mixed grass hay may include fescue. Especially if it is purchased from an unknown buyer. Endophyte might infect that fescue. While fescue is easy to identify in pastures and hayfields, it tends to blend with other grasses as it dries. Like other grasses such as bluegrass and orchardgrass, tall fescue leaves roll into a tight cylinder during the curing process, making a positive identification problematic. Commercial tests are available to detect the fungus in living plants. However, there is no such test for the presence of the endophyte in hay.

Fescue is rarely raised exclusively as hay intended for horses. Even when it is, it is usually harvested at a late stage of maturity when palatability and nutrient value are low. Because of palatability issues, horses often waste it, preferring to lie in it than eat it.

Therefore, when purchasing hay for pregnant mares, be sure it is free of fescue. If fescue is discovered, double-check that the plants were harvested from an endophyte-free stand. The hay should be fed to other horses or livestock if this cannot be ascertained definitively. Endophyte-infected fescue causes few side effects in non-pregnant mares.

Horse Bedding:

Some forage that is unsuitable for consumption by horses ends up being used as bedding. This is a common practice on large farms where many horses are given fresh bedding each night or when straw is in short supply.

Fescue is sometimes chosen as such a bedding. (As a result of its poor nutritional quality.)

In some circumstances, mares may consume the bedding, putting themselves at risk for fescue toxicosis. Horses will generally gravitate toward high-quality forage. However, it is not unusual for some to chomp through a fair amount of bedding. In fact, more than a few horses cannot be bedded on straw because of their penchant for consuming this seemingly bland-tasting forage. As a precaution, an experienced agronomist or other specialist should inspect discarded or inferior forage before it is used to bed down the stalls of mares in late gestation.

Further, used bedding that has been stripped from stalls should not be strewn on fields grazed by mares. Seed may fall from the dried plants and germinate in the field. As a result, contaminating the fields and giving cause for complete renovation of pasture areas, if they’re to be used for grazing mares. In summary, remember these key points when fine-tuning a management program for broodmares.

Key Points:

• Scrutinize hay for fescue just as carefully as you would analyze pasture. This is especially true for farms that purchase hay from multiple suppliers. The endophyte that causes fescue toxicosis is just as detrimental in hay as it is in fresh forage.

• Choose bedding wisely. Baled pasture clippings may be an economical bedding choice. However, be sure no fescue plants are intermixed with the other grasses. Even though fescue is not a particularly enticing forage for horses, some mares might stray from their heaps of high-quality hay to add variety to their diets.

• Do not spread soiled bedding that includes fescue waste on pastures that may one day be grazed by mares. The plants may contain seeds that could germinate and grow.

For more Tips to Check Broodmare Hay for Fescue, visit us at J&J Hay Farms!

Article Source: Kentucky Equine Research

 

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Cold-Weather Horse Diets

Friday, January 10th, 2025

Cold-Weather Horse Diets - a white horse is eating hayCold-Weather Horse Diets: Those cold winter months of mud, slush, and frozen ground…owners dread them. The horses? For the most part, they don’t seem to care. In fact, many seem to be energized by the crisp air and chilly breezes.

Very young, very old, or ailing horses may need specific changes in stable routine. However, healthy horses with an intact coat can usually tolerate winter weather with few problems. Especially if owners pay attention to basic feeding and management principles.

Water

If it’s not the most important winter consideration, water is at least near the top of the list. Even when the horse is not working and sweating, water consumption is necessary to prevent impaction of ingested material in the intestinal tract. Horses naturally tend to drink somewhat less water when the temperature drops. As a result, make every effort to ensure sufficient intake. Owners can start with these management steps:

Provide a constant supply of clean water that is not too cold. Experts disagree on the exact “favorite” water temperature. Horses will drink water that is quite cold. They tend to ingest a larger amount when water is warmed to around 45 or 50 degrees F (4 to 15 degrees C). Water that is hot to the touch is not suitable.

Make sure water sources aren’t frozen. For example, by using insulated buckets, installing an electric heater, or frequently providing warmed water. NOTE: being shocked will back horses off a water tank, even if they are extremely thirsty.

If you have a heated water tank that horses are not using, check and check again (use an extremely sensitive voltmeter, or schedule a visit from an electrician) to be certain there is no “stray” voltage. Some horses will react to voltage that is too slight for humans to detect, while other horses (and most cattle) don’t seem to be bothered.

Add water to feed. Give occasional bran mashes. Sprinkle salt on feed to stimulate a thirst response. These are all useful techniques. However, these measures by themselves may not ensure adequate water intake. Also, don’t count on horses eating snow to stay hydrated. Melting snow in the mouth and stomach uses so much energy that it’s difficult for the horse to maintain a safe body temperature.

Hay

Fermentation of fiber in the horse’s hindgut is the major heat source that keeps horses comfortable through the colder months. Therefore, a steady supply of hay is crucial. While many horses continue to graze some pasture, hay usually provides the majority of winter forage.

Type and amount of hay will vary depending on a horse’s size, metabolism, and workload. At a minimum, start with the basic guideline of feeding enough hay to equal about 1.5 % to 2% of the horse’s body weight (around 15 to 20 pounds (6.8 to 9 kilograms) a day for a horse weighing 1000 pounds (453 kilograms)), and increase as needed when the temperature drops.

Types of Horses

Easy keepers and horses doing minimal work get along well on medium-quality grass hay (can contain a few weeds, may have been cut when a little more mature than optimum).

Horses with average metabolisms will do better on good-quality grass hay (mostly free of weeds, made from grass that was not over-mature at cutting).

Heavily exercised horses or those with special needs (older horses, thin horses, horses recovering from illness) may need a grass-legume mix or even a straight alfalfa hay.

As a general rule, shivering horses that regularly clean up every scrap of hay probably need to have their hay ration increased. Horses that simply enjoy eating will also consume every flake in sight. Increasing their ration is not a good idea.

You can tell the difference by using a weight tape every few weeks through the winter to track changes, uncovering the situation of heavy-coated horses that appear fat when they are actually losing weight. Likewise, horses that leave some hay untouched may seem to have been overfed. It is also possible they are leaving weeds, rough plants, or flakes containing mold. Inspect the rejected material. Purchase better-quality hay if necessary.

Stalled horses have plenty of time to pick through their hay, munching a few mouthfuls now and then as the hours pass.

Pastured horses that eat hay in a group setting need to be monitored. Be sure that low-status animals have adequate access to hay. Very timid horses may need to be fed hay separately or in smaller groups. Spacing hay piles widely in the field and offering several extra piles can minimize this problem.

Concentrates

Winter diets usually include concentrates for two reasons: nutrients and energy. Hay and dormant grasses don’t have the same nutritional value as fresh pasture. Overcome this lack by feeding a fortified sweet feed or pelleted product.

Concentrates also pack a lot more energy than grass or hay. Horses that are eating plenty of good-quality hay and are still not maintaining their weight may need additional calories in cold, windy, damp weather.

As with hay selection, the type of concentrate depends on the individual horse, and most feed dealers offer a variety of choices to meet the needs of young, mature, old, working, or breeding horses. Feeds containing beet pulp or soy hulls, so-called super fibers, include highly digestible fiber along with more traditional sources of energy. Corn oil, rice bran, and other fat products boost the caloric density of a horse’s ration.

Overweight horses that need vitamins and minerals in a low-calorie package can be given a supplement that provides only these nutrients. Remember to feed no more than about five pounds of pellets or sweet feed at one time. Break larger feedings into several small meals spaced throughout the day.

Beyond the basics

Water, hay, concentrated feed…a winter diet containing these elements is a good starting point. Good managers, however, ensure the comfort of the horses in their care by attending to a few more details.

  • Horses should have access to shelter from extreme weather. This can be a barn, run-in shed, windbreak, or even a grove of trees. As with access to hay, low-status horses may be blocked from shelter by more aggressive animals. Alternative grouping may be necessary.
  • Owners should be sure horses have proper dental care and periodic dewormings so that feed can be properly digested and utilized.
  • Daily inspection of horses in winter months should include a light grooming, an all-over check for injuries, and an inspection for skin problems.
  • Water consumption and manure consistency should be monitored (very dry manure is a sign that the horse may be becoming dehydrated).

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

Article Source: Kentucky Equine Research

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Managing Horses on Declining Pasture

Sunday, January 5th, 2025

Managing Horses on Declining PastureManaging Horses on Declining Pasture: As the growing season winds down or as drought sets in, horse owners must provide horses with an appropriate alternative forage to fulfill fiber requirements. In most cases, this involves the use of hay.  Although other products such as haylage or hay cubes are appropriate and sometimes fed.

The question that looms large for most owners is when to offer alternative forage. The pasture reveals a couple of important clues, namely growth rate and plant health.

Pasture Tips:

Owners will know when pasture growth slows as there will be less need for routine mowing and maintenance. Depending on stocking rate—that is, the number of horses on any given acreage—pasture might withstand a slowdown in growth rate and continued grazing. So long as more land is allotted per horse. A large, seven-acre paddock that comfortably sustained five horses in peak growing season might support three as pasture growth declines.

“Observation of grazing behavior might be a tipoff, too. If horses spend more time grazing, they are likely finding less to eat. In periods of lush growth, you might catch horses resting more often. It is easier for them to satisfy their appetites and their need to graze,” said Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

Plant health is a more obvious indicator. As autumn segues into winter or as rainfall decreases, pasture grasses often turn brown and unpalatable. During this time growth is almost assuredly arrested. Horses will snack on these remnants, but more nutritious forage should be offered.

Supplementation:

“Owners ought to offer hay as soon as they feel horses are not consuming sufficient pasture to meet daily forage requirement, which is about 1.5-2% of body weight daily,” advised Crandell.

For a 15.2-hand, 1,100-lb (500-kg) horse, that would be 16.5-22 lb (7.5-10 kg) of hay each day. Keep in mind, though, that this amount will likely satisfy the horse’s complete forage requirement.

“If the horse is still nibbling away at pasture much of the day, it might need only a portion of this. If the horse leaves hay in favor of pasture, then too much hay is probably being fed at the time. Gauge requirement through consumption,” recommended Crandell.

To maintain weight, many horses, in combination with their forage, will be consuming a well-fortified concentrate feed that supplies all of the protein, vitamins, and minerals required for their well-being. Those that do not should be fed a vitamin and mineral supplement. For example, Micro-Max, developed by Kentucky Equine Research and available in the U.S. and other regions. Micro-Max supplies minerals that have been chelated or proteinated, which increases their digestibility and allows horses to derive maximum benefit from them. Horse owners in Australia should look for Gold Pellet, Nutrequin, or Perform.

One vitamin that is particularly deficient in diets composed of preserved forages such as hay is vitamin E, an important antioxidant in the horse’s immune arsenal. The most effective source of supplemental vitamin E is d-alpha-tocopherol or natural vitamin E. Nano-E is a natural-source vitamin E supplement. It possesses a unique delivery action, nanodispersion. Consequently, this allows the vitamin to hit target tissues more quickly than other vitamin E supplements. Nano-E is available worldwide.

Don’t know where to begin with supplementation?

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

Source: Kentucky Equine Research

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Keep an Eye on Calcium Balance

Friday, July 26th, 2024

Keep an Eye on Calcium BalanceKeep an Eye on Calcium Balance: It is common knowledge that calcium is an essential mineral for strong and healthy bones and teeth in horses. Its importance in the nutrition of late-pregnant mares, weanlings, and growing horses. Especially young racehorses. Most horse people are aware of the increased requirements for calcium in these types of horses.

Most people also know that you need the correct calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of 2:1 for good health and balanced nutrition. Generally, if questioned, the average horse person couldn’t explain why this ratio is important. Furthermore, it is not enough to make sure that calcium and phosphorus levels are correct in the diet if availability of these minerals is compromised.

There are naturally occurring chemicals that may be available to the horse in everyday feeding regimes that can bind calcium and phosphorus and prevent them from being absorbed by the horse.

calcium and phosphorus:

 

It is not possible to discuss calcium balance in the body without mentioning the relationship between calcium and phosphorus. In the horse’s bones, the ratio of calcium to phosphorus is 2:1. Bone acts as a reservoir for calcium and phosphorus that can be tapped when dietary intake falls short of requirements. Calcium is also used in the body in a soluble form (as Ca++ ions) for nerve and muscle function. Therefore the body maintains rigid and controlled levels of calcium in the blood (2.9 to 3.9 mmol/liter) for these processes. A mechanism known as homeostasis. On the other hand, blood levels of phosphorus can fluctuate throughout the day and in response to exercise with no adverse effects.

This article will explain some of the danger spots to look for when you are considering the calcium availability of your horses’ diet. It will outline some of the dangers of calcium deficiency. In addition, how you can manipulate your management program to deal with problems associated with calcium being tied up in the diet by chemicals which make it less available to the horse.

Calcium Deficiency

In days of old when man still relied heavily on the horse for transport, for working the fields, and as a beast of burden, it was not uncommon to reward one’s trusty steed with a warm bran mash at the end of the day. The practice is still upheld by many experienced horsemen today.

Wheat-milling processes were less efficient in those days. Meaning that bran had slightly more nutritive value than the bran of today. As a feedstuff it still posed a problem with regard to calcium and phosphorus ratios. In those days, the disease colloquially known as “big head” was associated with workhorses and was something of a mystery. Big head was eventually linked to nutrition. In particular to dietary calcium balance, and hence became known as bran disease.

These names were given to the syndrome associated with calcium deficiency (nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism) because of the fibrous growths responsible for swelling the facial bones of affected horses to unnatural proportions. These days it is generally only seen occasionally and in cases of extreme calcium deficiency caused by dietary deficiencies or in the presence of calcium-binding agents in the diet.

Wheat Bran:

Wheat bran is detrimental to calcium balance in two ways. First, 90% of the phosphorus in wheat bran exists as calcium phytate. binding both calcium and phosphorus and preventing their absorption into the horse’s bloodstream. The phytic acid involved in forming this compound can also bind to other dietary nutrients. Reducing their ability to be absorbed into the blood. These nutrients include copper, zinc, and manganese.

Secondly, wheat bran has ten times as much phosphorus as calcium. The combination of excessive dietary phosphorus and little available dietary calcium causes calcium to be leached from the bones to maintain and balance blood levels of calcium ions.

Wheat bran, however, is not the only culprit, and there are other foodstuffs available to horses that limit the amount of calcium that can be absorbed from the diet. Many grains are also high in phosphorus and low in calcium, and the majority contain some level of phytic acid. In addition, many introduced species of tropical and subtropical grasses exist in some pastures used for horse grazing or haymaking. Some of these grasses contain high levels of oxalic acid. Oxalic acid binds calcium by forming crystals of calcium oxalate in the grass stem and leaf in much the same way as phosphorus (phytic acid) forms phytates and prevents calcium absorption.

About Oxalic Acid:

Oxalic acid forms compounds with many elements to produce oxalates, some soluble and some insoluble. Levels of oxalates vary between plants, but in plants where calcium is present, oxalic acid forms an insoluble compound of calcium oxalate which reduces the amount of available calcium in the plant. Horses are completely unable to digest any of the calcium associated with calcium oxalate crystals. Some oxalate-containing plants also contain plenty of calcium, meaning that they are safe to feed despite their oxalate content. For a grass of this nature to be safe for feeding to horses without the risk of causing calcium deficiency, it must have a calcium to oxalate ratio of at least 0.5:1. Calcium deficiency caused by consumption of tropical grasses high in oxalates is also known as chronic oxalate poisoning.

Oxalate poisoning can be acute when grasses or weeds contain high concentrations of soluble oxalates that are absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream, binding calcium in the blood and rapidly reducing blood calcium levels. In this case, calcium oxalate crystals are formed in the kidney tubules and interfere with kidney function.

Oxalic Effects:

Affected horses may have muscle tremors and a staggering gait. They may appear lethargic and stop eating. Twitching of the muscles of the face may be seen, and death may occur if signs go unnoticed. Plants containing more than 2% soluble oxalate have the potential to cause acute oxalate poisoning, but horses usually have to be very hungry before considering these essentially unpalatable grasses and weeds as a food source.

Interestingly, many horsemen report increased incidence of calcium deficiency and cases of big head within a few weeks of rainfall. It may be that rainfall triggers new growth that the horses find more palatable. In addition, the increased moisture increases the oxalate content of tropical grasses. Whatever the reason, reports suggest that increased cases of big head after rainfall are seen within a matter of two to three weeks. Further research in this area could help horse owners to develop new pasture and grazing management prevention practices.

Clinical Signs of Calcium Deficiency

The clinical signs of chronic and extreme calcium deficiency are less frequently seen today than in the past.  Yet it can still be a significant problem for horse owners. Iit is important to be aware of the signs. The disease can develop within two months of putting horses out on high-oxalate pastures. However, it more often takes six to eight months before symptoms are noticed.

A low blood calcium level (known clinically as hypocalcaemia) stimulates the release of parathyroid hormone from the parathyroid gland. This hormone is responsible for triggering the release of calcium from bones, particularly from the large bones of the head and limbs.

This calcium is released into the blood to bring calcium levels back to within normal ranges for optimal nerve, heart, and muscle function. If the horse has a high requirement for calcium, as in pregnant and lactating mares, growing horses, and heavily sweating performance horses, these effects will occur more readily and to a greater extent that in horses at maintenance levels of requirement.

Big Head:

As the bones become demineralized, they become weak and fragile. As a result, the horse may become lame and start to drop weight even though his feeding regimen has not altered. He will probably have a dull, depressed countenance and may appear to have swollen lower jawbones and/or loose teeth. The horse will appear stiff and have a shortened gait when trotted. The stiffness increasing as the horse is exercised. As the condition progresses, both upper and lower jaws and sometimes other facial bones become swollen (hence the name). Badly affected horses may suffer fractures and break down.

On postmortem examination, the swellings are comprised mostly of fibrous tissue with small sparse fragments of bone. The surfaces of the joints appear pitted and rough. The parathyroid glands of the throat and lower neck are visibly enlarged and distended. If the condition goes unnoticed and untreated, it is likely that the horse will suffer fatal or irreparable fractures and will need to be destroyed.

Treatments for Horses with Big Head

Examination by a veterinarian is needed to determine the severity of the disease. Perhaps involving radiographs and blood and urine tests. These may need to be repeated throughout treatment to examine the efficacy of the treatment program. The swellings of the facial bones may never completely disappear in severely affected horses. However, it is possible to get a horse back to full health after an episode of big head with time and correct attention to calcium-to-phosphorus ratios.

It can take up to 12 months for remineralization of bone to occur. Horses must be maintained at rest for this period of recovery. Suggested treatments include 2 kg (4.4 lb) of rock phosphate mixed with 3 kg (6.6 lb) of molasses or 2 kg (4.4 lb) of a combination of 1/3 ground limestone and 2/3 dicalcium phosphate (DCP) mixed with 3 kg (6.6 lb) molasses.

These supplements need feeding weekly. Either over a couple of days or split into daily feeds for a period of at least 6 months. Commercially available supplements can also be used and fed daily in smaller quantities than the above mixtures to provide the same benefit.

The Prime Suspects!

A few prime suspects should be investigated if a case of calcium deficiency has been diagnosed. The risk is greatest when these grass types make up all or almost all of the pasture available to the horse. These grasses should be identified and removed from the diet as soon as possible before causing any further damage.

  • Kikuyu grass has a calcium-to-oxalate ratio of 0.23:1. Grows very rapidly in summer and becomes rank and unpalatable relatively quickly.
  • Buffel grass has a calcium-to-oxalate ration of 0.22:1. Has a tufted appearance, often forming dense tussocks. A number of varieties vary from 0.2-1.5 m tall. Leaves vary in color from yellowish to bluish-green, are thin and narrow, and taper to a long point.
  • Pangola grass has a calcium-to-oxalate ratio of 0.37:1.
  • Green panic grass has a calcium-to-oxalate ratio of 0.32:1. Very green, lush growth, highly palatable, used in pastures and in hay.
  • Para grass has a calcium-to-oxalate ratio of 0.29:1. A coarse vigorous trailing grass, grows well in wet and flooded soils. Grows up to 1 m (39 inches) tall. More often used in hay as opposed to pasture.
  • Setaria grass has a calcium-to-oxalate ratio of 0.15:1. Grows up to 3 m (10 feet) tall with erect stems and leaves 15-30 cm long and 0.3-1.7 cm wide. Seedheads are spike-shaped and cylindrical.
  • Pigweed is a fleshy, low-to-the-ground weed with yellow flowers in the summer. Rarely consumed by horses but can cause acute oxalate poisoning if horses are hungry enough to eat large quantities. Oxalate concentrations range between 4.5 and 9.4% of the dried plant.

Prevention

To prevent calcium deficiency caused by grazing of subtropical grasses, look for and avoid these grasses in potential horse pastures. If pastures containing the subtropical grasses mentioned above must be used, avoid grazing them for longer than one month. If established pastures contain a large proportion of subtropical grass, calcium-to-phosphorus ratios of dietary intake should exceed 2:1. They may need to be as high as 3:1 to counterbalance the oxalate effect.

It is also useful to encourage the growth of leguminous plans such as lucerne (alfalfa). It is high in calcium. Lucerne gives the horses an oxalate-free alternative forage. If your pasture contains grasses such as kikuyu, it is wise to avoid using fertilizers with high phosphorus levels. For example, a poultry manure and superphosphate.

It may also be necessary to make available a calcium and phosphorus supplement. If so, using half the amount of the supplements mentioned in the treatment section weekly should prevent problems . Alternatively, feeding 20 kg (44 lb) of good-quality lucerne hay per horse per week ensures adequate calcium intake. It guards against oxalate poisoning.

Conclusion

Extreme calcium deficiencies are seen less today than in the past. However, the introduction of foreign subtropical grasses has meant that horse owners have another danger spot to look out for when investigating potential horse pastures.

It is important for horse owners to know that wheat bran is not the only culprit when it comes to big head or bran disease. It is a good idea to thoroughly check the species of grass in pastures to be used for horses. Take measures to prevent extended periods of grazing on unsafe pastures. If hazardous pastures make up the only grazing available, then supplements should be used to ensure adequate calcium intake to balance the effects of oxalic acid.

Questions about how to Keep an Eye on Calcium Balance?

Contact us at J & J Hay Farms by clicking here!

Article by KER.

 

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Why Can’t I Get My Horse Fat?

Monday, July 15th, 2024

Why Can’t I Get My Horse Fat?Why Can’t I Get My Horse Fat? Do you know of a hard keeper that has gained or maintained weight consistently on a feeding program until one day he just doesn’t? The needle hovers near a body condition of 5, lulling you into a sense of accomplishment. Then it begins to shift left, ever so slowly. As time goes on, your hard work melts away. The metabolic middle ground known as moderate body condition seems more distant than ever. The ribs peek out from his barrel; the vertebral chain juts above his topline musculature; and the neck no longer carries even a single globule of fat.

You panic and rush to buy a weight-gain supplement. Before hitting up your favorite supplement retailer, consider your horse’s diet, health, and lifestyle.  According to Chelsea Kaelin, a nutrition advisor who has been with Kentucky Equine Research for over a decade, horse owners should review these five important areas before implementing a new weight-gain plan.

Realistically assess forage quality and quantity:

If you’ve been around horses long enough, you know what a high-quality stand of pasture looks like.For example, an abundance of nutritious plants with few weeds, usually the product of a sound maintenance program that includes mowing, fertilization, reseeding, and weed control. Depending on locale, pasture may be available year-round. For many horse owners, though, pasture is a seasonal benefit. They must rely on hay to provide forage at different times of the year.

Appropriate hay for horses comes in many packages: it might be grass, legume, or mixed; it could be soft and pillowy or stemmy and scratchy; perhaps bright green or dull yellow; it could be free of weeds or full of unidentifiable plants. A reliable source of nutritional information for all forages—pasture and hay—is laboratory testing, which is inexpensive and readily available through several mail-in services.

The amount of forage depends on other ration components. A general guideline for an underweight horse may include free-access to pasture during the growing season (assuming the horse has no metabolic conditions) or free-choice access to hay when pasture is unavailable. When pasture is not available and free-choice hay is not possible, start with 1.5-2% of body weight of hay or hay products (pellets, cubes, chopped). If he cleans up this, you may consider offering more.

“When feeding to achieve weight gain, be sure to offer hay your horse will eat willingly,” Kaelin recommended. “Although you may provide free-choice round-baled hay during turnout, it is important to know if your horse is actually eating it so you can make the necessary adjustments to make sure his forage requirements are met.”

Consider all aspects of the chosen concentrate:

When faced with a hard keeper, choosing a high-energy concentrate is often appropriate. How that energy is delivered depends on the product, though. In traditional formulas, starch provides the most energy because these feeds typically contain significant quantities of cereal grains, such as oats, corn, and barley. Grains usually contain about 50% more energy than good-quality hay. This makes them ideal feedstuffs for horses with elevated energy requirements.

More modern formulas may contain some starch as well as alternative energy sources, namely fat and fiber. Fat is usually included in the form of vegetable oil or stabilized rice bran, whereas fiber is typically incorporated through the use of beet pulp, soy hulls and alfalfa meal. Be sure you are feeding the appropriate concentrate for your hard keeper.

“In deciding how much of a concentrate to feed, consult the manufacturer’s recommendation. It will be included on the feed bag or on an attached tag,” Kaelin explained. In order for horses to receive the fortification guaranteed on the label, they must consume at least the minimum recommended by the manufacturer. It is usually about 6 lb (2.7 kg) for most feeds. When considering what is necessary for a hard keeper, the owner is likely going to feed at the top range of the recommendation.

In general, concentrate meal size should not exceed 5 lb (2.3 kg) at each feeding, Kaelin said, so multiple meals each day may be necessary. Horses fed over 10 lb (4.5 kg) of concentrate daily would likely benefit from three or four small meals a day.

Targeted supplementation to support the digestive tract:

  When careful attention is given to meal size, horses usually have no trouble digesting concentrates. Large concentrate meals that meet or exceed the 5 lb (2.3 kg) limit may predispose horses to gastric ulcers and hindgut acidosis. Pairing this increased risk with the stress of training or travel can create a perfect scenario for digestive disturbances. In these instances, targeted supplementation can prevent disturbances which, in turn, allows the digestive tract to work optimally.

While free-choice access to forage can significantly reduce the likelihood of ulceration in many horses, it is not the case for all horses. When faced with a hard keeper, consider an endoscopic examination to determine definitively if the horse has gastric ulcers.

“Identifying where the ulcers are located (glandular or squamous portion) will help your vet determine the most effective treatment plan,” Kaelin explained. “A course of omeprazole can clear the ulcers, but digestive support does not end when omeprazole treatment ends. Continue preventive care with a research-proven digestive supplement designed to deter the recurrence of gastric ulcers.”

Once the foregut has been addressed, consider the hindgut. When the small intestine becomes overwhelmed, it funnels incompletely digested feed into the hindgut. This can upset the pH of the hindgut and interfere with the work of the resident microbes. To keep pH steady, a hindgut buffer, such as EquiShure, should be fed.

Evaluate other management and environmental factors:

Outside influences may hinder weight gain. One common problem involves group feeding. In a herd situation, horses usually construct a well-defined social hierarchy that dictates which horses consume the choicest meals. When a hard keeper is placed in a group of horses and does not tease out as dominant in the pecking order, he may be chased away from feeders by multiple horses, adding to any stress he is already enduring. Giving a hard keeper a safe place to eat will allow him to relax.

Adverse weather can also be problematic for hard keepers. In the summer, flying insects may annoy to the point of running; in the winter, cold temperatures and precipitation can divert calories from weight gain to body heat. A watchful eye on behavior during weather extremes can help hard keepers. Relieve horses from the torment of flies by stalling and using other effective pest-control strategies. Keep them warm by blanketing and providing plenty of good-quality forage.

Gather a team of healthcare professionals:

Modern horses benefit from an unprecedented font of knowledge available to their owners. Advances in feeds and nutritional supplements, preventive dentistry, lameness detection and resolution, alternative therapies, and core vaccinations provide multilayered healthcare options to owners.

When it comes to a hard keeper, three core professionals include a veterinarian, dental specialist, and nutritionist. As mentioned previously, a vet will likely investigate digestive issues but may also look for pain elsewhere. Even low-level chronic pain can keep some horses from gaining weight. A dentist will correct any dental problems and then maintain teeth on a semiannual or annual schedule. A nutritionist will carefully review the ration and devise a weight-gain strategy as well as lay out a realistic timeline for increases in body condition. (Bummer alert: it doesn’t happen as quickly as most people wish!)

“In most instances, hard keepers will come around if owners pay careful attention to their nutrition and health needs,” Kaelin concluded.

Resources:

In conclusion, do you have questions like Why Can’t I Get My Horse Fat?? Contact us at J & J Hay Farms by clicking here!

Article Sources: Kentucky Equine Research

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Pasture Adequacy: Are Your Fields Doing Their Job?

Friday, July 12th, 2024

Pasture Adequacy: Are Your Fields Doing Their Job?Pasture Adequacy: Are Your Fields Doing Their Job? As herbivores, horses require large volumes of forages for optimal well-being. Just how much forage do horses require, though?

To calculate accurately how forage contributes to the overall feeding program of horses, know forage intake as well as composition. Determine hay intake simply by recording the total weight of hay offered minus any hay wasted or refused. This record does not take into account the differences in composition between hay that is eaten and not eaten. However it is accurate enough to do an adequate field evaluation.

Pasture intake is significantly more difficult to estimate. This measure varies depending on the season, species, and quality of pasture grazed, and the total amount of time horses are allowed to graze. Horses will generally eat about 1-1.4 lb (0.45-0.64 kg) of pasture grasses and legumes per hour on a dry matter basis if they have enough pasture available. With all-day access to good-quality pasture, a horse grazing 17 hours each day can consume up to 25 lb (11 kg) of forage. It’s more than enough to satisfy forage requirement.

Make distinctions between absolute minimum, recommended minimum, typical, and maximal forage intake.

Absolute minimum forage requirement is 1% of body weight (10 lb or 4.5 kg dry forage for a 1000-lb or 450-kg horse).

Recommended minimum forage intake requirement is 1.5% of body weight.

Typical forage intake is 1.8 to 2.2% of body weight.

Maximal forage intake for most horses is 3 to 3.5% of body weight, though lactating mares and other horses with extreme energy needs might consume as much as 5% of body weight daily.

Does My Pasture Offer My Horse Enough to Eat?

Pastures offer horses the most natural of feedstuffs, a variety of plants to derive nutrients. Well-maintained pasture provides the most economical of all feedstuffs, but it must be of sufficient quality to nourish a given horse appropriately. Take a peek into the lives of these five horses and determine if the pasture suits its occupant. When you’re through, think about your own situation, and decide if you’re using your pastures to their utmost.

Overweight pony

Description of horse: A 14-hand, 750-lb (340-kg) overweight Welsh pony gelding.

Scenario: The only exercise he indulges in is whatever it takes to grab the next bite of grass or saunter to the water trough. He is on a five-acre lot with one small pony. Year-round the pasture is maintained meticulously. How much forage is this pony likely consuming each day? Using the aforementioned estimates, he is likely eating at least 17 lb, which is approximately 2.2% of his body weight. Considering his current body condition, he is probably taking in too many calories.

Risk: Many ponies are predisposed to laminitis. A debilitating condition that could render the pony useless as a riding or driving partner. Laminitis is life-threatening in many instances. If the pony manages to sidestep laminitis, the constant state of obesity is likely setting him up for metabolic conditions later in life.

Action: Reduce the forage intake by confining the pony to a stall or drylot for part of the day or by using a grazing muzzle. He should be fed no concentrates at all. In fact, a low-calorie vitamin and mineral supplement is a wise addition to his diet. Placing the water source as far away as possible from the most desired grazing areas is one strategy for getting him to move more. Forced exercise such as riding, driving, longeing, or hand-walking will help him lose weight. It will stave off the development of metabolic issues.

Off-the-track Thoroughbred

Description of horse:

A 16.2-hand Thoroughbred gelding that was recently retired from the racetrack. His ribs are clearly visible. His withers are peaked and camel-like. The hip bones jut out prominently.

Scenario:

He has been introduced into a herd of five other horses, all of which run on about four acres of pasture. The late-summer pasture has suffered from a lack of rainfall. The pasture grass is not completely dormant, thanks to the occasional rain shower, but growth is slow, and there are obvious lawns and roughs (areas in which horses graze consistently and areas in which horse refuse to graze; this pasture profile is a sign of infrequent mowing or spotty pasture management).

Risk:

The primary risk for this horse is insufficient forage, as the stocking rate for this pasture is high, with less than one acre per horse. A more realistic stocking rate is one to two acres per horse. This recommendation varies depending on numerous factors such as pasture care and weather. There might be much for this horse to nibble on throughout the day. However the quality of the grass at his disposal is mediocre. Therefore, he is probably not satisfying his forage requirements on pasture alone.

Action:

Separate this horse from the herd when fed. This ensures that he receives all of the feed intended for him. In addition it allows the horse to eat peacefully without anxiety caused by horses that might be more dominant than him. A diet of concentrate and good-quality hay is in order. The concentrate should provide energy from a variety of sources such as starch, fat, and fermentable fiber. Feed him as much hay as he will eat when he is separated from the other horses. A large horse such as this will take months to gain sufficient weight to cover his bony protuberances, so patience is paramount.

Lactating mare

Description of horse:

A 15-hand, 1000-lb (450-kg) Paint mare in moderate body condition with a two-month-old colt at her side.

Scenario:

This pair shares a 10-acre field with two other mares and their month-old foals. The pasture is adequate. It has not been seeded or fertilized in several years. Adequate rainfall has ensured that there is plenty of forage. The manager keeps the pasture mowed so that it is never more than a foot and a half tall. Mares are fed the lowest recommended daily amount of a concentrate specifically formulated for broodmares once each day in shallow rubber pans spread about 50 feet apart. Mares show mild antagonism toward each other during feeding time, and this Paint mare is the meekest and most submissive in the group.

Risk:

There seems to be very little risk of this mare not consuming adequate forage under these conditions, despite consuming at least 30-35 lb (14 to 16 kg) of forage daily and perhaps more. The stocking rate is adequate for this field and its inhabitants at just over three acres for each mare/foal pair. There may be concern if the pasture was in some way stressed, such as during a drought. As it stands, these broodmares and foals are likely receiving adequate nutrition from their current diets, including sufficient forage.

Action:

Keep a close eye on the condition of the mare. Peak milk production occurs two to three months following birth, so this mare is probably nearing her maximal milk output. Lactation is extremely hard on a mare from an energy-output perspective. If her weight begins to drop off, consider increasing her concentrate intake. This will likely mean that she will have to be fed two meals a day. No single meal should be more than 5 lb (2.2 kg).

Aged, sedentary gelding

Description of horse:

A 26-year-old Morgan gelding with several missing teeth (a couple incisors and a few molars). His body condition seems to be slipping over the past several months despite carte blanche access to pasture.

Scenario:

He whiles away the hours with another pensioner on mediocre pasture. Though the three-acre field is weedy, there seems to be sufficient grass for the pair of geldings. In addition to all-day grazing, he is fed a few pounds of oats once each day.

Risks:

The pasture quality is probably adequate for these two horses. This gelding might have issues nipping sufficient grass because of the lost incisors. The severity of this situation will depend on which incisors are missing. Similarly, he might not be able to properly grind the oats. Especially if certain molars have fallen out or if there are other dental anomalies.

Action:

Examine the gelding’s teeth using a veterinarian. The state of his teeth will dictate the course of action. This warrants a change in dietary management likely. Offer him early-maturity, soft hay that is easy for him to grasp with his lips and chew with his remaining cheek teeth if the incisors are found to be incompatible with efficient grazing. An example would be leafy alfalfa (lucerne).

He may leave some of the stems in favor of the tender leaves. However the leaves contain the most nutrients. Revisit the concentrate portion of the diet as well. Without a reliably strong dental surface on which to chew textured concentrates, it might be wise to switch to a pelleted senior feed or concoct a wet mash. If alfalfa is also too difficult for the horse to chew, hay cubes or hay pellets may be fed as a mash with a concentrate designed for senior horses.

Low-level athlete

Description of horse:

A 12-year-old Andalusian gelding. He rides four or five times weekly. This is as a lower-level dressage horse. He is overweight but not grossly so.

Grazing scenario:

He spends about two-thirds of his time in a two-acre lot that he shares with a similar-sized gelding. The pasture offers little in the way of lush grass. However there is plenty to snack on when he is out. He is given just enough textured feed to mix in a pelleted vitamin and mineral supplement when stalled. In addition, a few flakes of mid-quality grass hay.

Risks:

Few risks are readily apparent. The horse is overweight. Take appropriate measures keep excessive weight off of him (very little concentrate, and middle-of-the-road hay and pasture). Still supply him with macro- and microminerals. The near-daily exercise will help ward off potential metabolic problems if he is genetically prone to them. As a member of a notoriously easy-keeping breed, he might be.

Action:

In his present management situation, no alterations are necessary. If a drastic change is made in his day-to-day life, such as cessation of exercise or assignment to a flourishing pasture with lush grass, re-evaluation of his nutritional management would most definitely be in order.

Resources:

In conclusion, do you have questions about Pasture Adequacy: Are Your Fields Doing Their Job? Contact us at J & J Hay Farms by clicking here!

Article Sources: Kentucky Equine Research

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Feedstuffs for Horses: All About Beet Pulp

Friday, June 14th, 2024

Feedstuffs for Horses: All About Beet Pulp - in the photo a woman feeds her horse in a stall.Feedstuffs for Horses: All About Beet Pulp.  Fifty years ago, many knowledgeable horsemen would find it difficult to identify beet pulp or its potential value as a feedstuff for horses. Though its usefulness is now cemented among horse owners, beet pulp can still cause some confusion. Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research, answers eight questions about beet pulp and its role in equine nutrition.

In what types of feeds was beet pulp first used?

Sugar beet pulp first found a use in commercial horse feeds in the racehorse products as a low-dust feedstuff. It was mixed with lots of molasses and felt moist. This proved beneficial for the respiratory tract and was thought to be somehow beneficial in preventing bleeding. However, this notion was quickly abandoned.

Beet pulp was also integrated into senior feeds because of the need for a high-fiber feedstuff that could be ground and incorporated into a pellet. The new generation of high-fiber, low-starch feeds that emerged in the late 1990s was an obvious end-use for such an excellent fiber source. Now, beet pulp is prevalent in feeds designed for all classes of horses.

What are the differences between beet pulp and cereal grains as energy sources?

Horses derive the majority of the energy (calories) in cereal grains from the enzymatic digestion of starch that is absorbed in the bloodstream in the form of glucose. On the other hand, horses derive the majority of the energy in beet pulp from the microbial fermentation of the fiber content. It is absorbed as volatile fatty acids, also known as short-chain fatty acids.

What are the advantages of feeding beet pulp as part of a diet?

Compared to other fiber sources like hay, beet pulp has much more digestible fiber. For example, the digestible fiber in hay is around 40%. Meanwhile beet pulp has closer to 80% digestible fiber. The more digestible the fiber, the more calories that feedstuff provides the horse.

Further, beet pulp mixes well into a textured feed and can be pelleted easily. Plus, soaking beet pulp is a way to get more water into the horse.

How does beet pulp stack up to hay as a source of fiber?

The type of fiber found in beet pulp, considered “rapidly fermentable fiber,” is much more readily fermented by the microbes in the hindgut than the fiber in hay or typical forage sources. Hay consists mostly of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Lignin is completely indigestible. On the other hand, cellulose and hemicellulose vary in digestibility depending on the maturity of the plant.

Beet pulp provides energy, but does it add appreciable amounts of other nutrients?

Beet pulp has higher amounts of calcium than grains, about the level found in typical commercial concentrates. In addition, beet pulp is comparatively high in iron.

Should beet pulp be fed soaked or unsoaked when fed by itself or as part of home-mixed concentrate?

If feeding beet pulp shreds, they can be fed dry, especially if mixed with other feedstuffs. Free-choice water availability is important if feeding dry beet pulp. Pelleted beet pulp, however, should not be fed dry because it may increase the likelihood of choke. Horses prefer to consume beet pulp shreds soaked rather than dry shreds, probably because it softens their texture. My preference is to feed beet pulp soaked.

Further, one of the advantages of feeding soaked beet pulp is that it is a way to sneak a bit of water into the diet. This is especially useful in the winter when water consumption may be down. The Europeans have come up with a method of micronizing and then flaking the pulp so that it soaks quickly, in less than 10 minutes.

Are there any special uses for beet pulp?

Soaked beet pulp is a useful vehicle for holding larger amounts of oil, which is often recommended as a way to get more calories in the horse.

It was thought for a while that soaked beet pulp could help to push sand out of the digestive tract, but research found it ineffective in prevention of sand colic.

Is beet pulp use in the U.S. different than in other areas of the world?

Beet pulp has worked its way into quite a number of commercial feeds in the U.S. Many horse owners feed soaked beet pulp in addition their regular feed.

As the history of beet pulp would suggest, its use is more longstanding in areas such as England, Northern Europe, and Russia, where much sugar beet is cultivated. Because of the climate needed for sugar beet cultivation, South America had very limited sugar beet production. Likewise, this is the case in Australia and Africa. However, cultivation is expanding to newer areas. A variety can be grown in the warmer climates as a winter crop, instead of a summer crop as it is in more temperate climates. Where beet pulp is not grown, it may be imported and therefore rather expensive.

Would you like more information about Feedstuffs for Horses and Beet Pulp? Contact us at J & J Farms by clicking here!

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