Grazing Behavior in Horses: Monitoring Full-Day Consumption. Research suggests horses graze about 16-18 hours a day if given unrestricted access to pasture. Studies on grazing behavior frequently rely on short periods of observation and data collection. Next, data is extrapolated. Lastly, conclusions are drawn for a complete 24-hour dataset.

“Grazing activity varies over the course of the day, and observational studies on nocturnal grazing are clearly limited,” pointed out Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a Kentucky Equine Research nutrition advisor.

Understanding Grazing:

Knowing when and how often horses graze will improve understanding of the “biological, environmental, and nutritive factors driving grazing behavior in horses.”^* In addition, the information could also be used to optimize nutrition and decrease management-related conditions such as gastric ulcers.

To facilitate data collection and ultimately improve understanding of grazing and chewing behaviors in horses, a continuous automated monitoring system called EquiWatch System (EWS), was developed. This remote, automated monitoring unit collects data on feeding and grazing behavior for 24 uninterrupted hours through the use of sensors fixed onto the noseband of the halter. To validate the EWS, the unit was used in horses with unrestricted pasture access and horses offered free-choice hay.

Horses with unrestricted pasture access spent more time eating than horses fed hay (14.8 vs 12.0 hr/d), and horses on pasture had a higher chew rate per minute than when fed hay (84 vs 69 chews/min). Data from the EWS and visual observations for grazing time and total bites were compared. They were similar.

Is your horse plagued with gastric ulcers despite a diet rich in good-quality forage? Even horses with full access to pasture can have gastric ulcers. If ulcers are suspected, consider endoscopy. This will reveal definitively if ulcers are present. If so, a veterinarian will usually prescribe a course of omeprazole. Omeprazole will clear the ulcers. Lastly, at the tail end of omeprazole therapy, a digestive supplement designed to keep new ulcers from forming should be started.

Resources:

In conclusion, do you have a specific question about Grazing Behavior in Horses? Contact J & J Hay Farms today at 770-887-0440!

Article Source: Kentucky Equine Research

*Weinert, J.R., J. Werner, and C.A. Williams. 2020. Validation and implementation of an automated chew sensor-based remote monitoring device as tool for equine grazing research. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 88:102971.

 

When Your Horse Refuses Hay: An Owner’s Checklist. Several issues may be at play when a horse backs off its hay. The first consideration is whether the issue lies with the horse or with the hay. To help identify the root concern, think about these questions:

• When did the horse start refusing hay?
• Is it a new batch of hay?
• Are other horses eating the same hay?
• Is the horse drinking water?
• Is the horse eating its feed?
• Is the horse exhibiting any other unusual behavior?

Let’s address the first three questions. If hay refusal comes on fairly suddenly, especially if it coincides with a new batch of hay, then it is likely that the hay itself is the issue. Especially if other horses are showing the same behavior.

Horse Sensitivities

Horses may refuse to eat hay that is old, moldy, coarse, stemmy, or full of weeds, so check to make sure that your hay is “clean”—that is, free of mold, dust, weeds, trash, and other impurities. Horses are sensitive to odors and can easily detect off-putting scents that humans cannot and sometimes this is enough to cause refusal. More sensitive horses back off forage intake simply when a change is made to a different type of hay, as some grasses are more palatable than others.

One additional consideration involves access to pasture. Hay intake often corresponds to pasture conditions. For example, some horses may reduce their hay intake when pasture grass is readily available and high quality, but will return to hay when pastures dry out due to drought or season.

If other horses are eating the hay as usual or if no change of hay has been made, the final three questions in the list become more relevant.

The question of water is an important one. Clean, fresh water should always be available. Without sufficient water, a horse will quit eating. Check to make sure your horse’s water source has not been compromised in function or hygiene, such as a broken automatic waterer, a leak in a water tank, or contamination from manure or a decomposing bird or animal.

Health Issues

Once you’ve verified the hygiene of the hay and water source, other causes of hay refusal should be investigated. Common causes of inappetence in horses include dental issues, such as painful chewing due to uneven wear, split or broken teeth, missing teeth, and infection of the teeth, gums, or other oral tissue. Sometimes it could be as simple as the horse eating hay containing foxtail seed heads, which can lodge in the gums and cause pain and infection if not found and removed.

Moreover, dental condition often depends on age, as teeth deteriorate as horses hit their late teens and twenties. When this happens, it can result in a gradual or sudden decline in hay intake. Regular dental care for horses throughout their lives can help address dental issues in a timely manner and ensure that horses are able to comfortably consume hay for as long as possible. When horses reach the point where they no longer can chew hay, there are several alternative forages and fiber sources appropriate to help maintain weight.

Other health issues that can affect a horse’s appetite for hay include colic, ulcers, and choke. In addition, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, and generalized infection or disease. In any case, a call to the veterinarian is most likely in order. Determine if there is a significant health condition. As well as the best options to help a horse regain its health and appetite.

Resources:

In conclusion, do you have a specific question about what to do When Your Horse Refuses Hay? Contact J & J Hay Farms today at 770-887-0440!

Article Source: Kentucky Equine Research

Cost-Conscious Feeding of Horses: A periodic review of your horse’s diet ensures that you’re providing the best nutrition in the most cost-effective way.

According to Clarissa Brown-Douglas, Ph.D., a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research, the first step in creating a high-quality, cost-conscious diet is to clearly define the scenario and the goals. Do you manage a herd of broodmares? Ride competitively; is the horse exercised lightly or intensely? Do you care for a single retired pony?

Diet Evaluation:

Once the feeding goals are clearly understood, a nutritionist should perform a thorough diet evaluation. Carefully collecting information about forages and concentrates, and how much of each is fed to the horse. Moreover, the nutritionist should inventory the supplements that are fed, making note of why each is added to the diet. Other pertinent information may include turnout time, pasture quality, and palatability preferences.

In addition to determining nutritional adequacy of diets, ration evaluations reveal any shortages or overages of specific nutrients. “Eliminating nutritional double-ups is the simplest way to shave off some expense,” said Brown-Douglas.

Optimizing forage intake is another source of potential cost savings. “Pasture can provide a lot of nutrition, sometimes year-round. Maximizing time on pasture is one way to reduce the use of other forages, such as hay or bagged forage products such as cubes, pellets, or chaff, all of which tend to be expensive,” she explained.

Sourcing Hay:

While it may be impractical to eliminate hay from a diet, sourcing local hay often reduces forage costs. Further savings may be achieved if a local grower can be identified and hay can be picked up from the field, as this reduces handling required by the grower. Transportation outlays can add considerably to the cost of hay.

When evaluating feed expenses, the nutritionist will often verify that horses are receiving the most appropriate forage for their age and lifestyle. While premium-quality hay engages the human senses favorably—imagine how beautifully cured alfalfa looks, smells, feels—few horses require it for optimal health. Mid-quality grass hay works well for many horses. For those prone to obesity, even this may be too rich, so owners should be on the lookout for mature hay that is free of dust, mold, and weeds.

“Be conscious of not wasting hay,” Brown-Douglas warned. “Some horses are clever at using hay as bedding, and this isn’t economical. To avoid this, get out the scale, and feed 1.25% to 2% of the horse’s optimal body weight per day in a haynet or feeder.”

Once forage costs have been streamlined, the concentrate portion of the diet can be addressed. Many horses, especially growing horses, performance horses, breeding stallions, and broodmares at certain stages of production, require a concentrated form of calories. This is best accomplished through the provision of a well-formulated, fortified concentrate from a reputable manufacturer. Sometimes a savings can be had by feeding a ration balancer. For example, a feed that rounds out the protein, vitamin, and mineral requirements of a diet, at a lower intake.

Supplement Evaluation:

Finally, careful evaluation of all supplements should be performed. Oversupplying certain nutrients frequently occurs unintentionally when multiple supplements are fed to horses. For some horses that require similar needs, an all-in-one supplement might be appropriate and provide cost savings. These supplements might include high-quality ingredients that address hoof, coat, joint, and antioxidant needs.

To keep feeding costs in perspective, Brown-Douglas encourages horse owners to look at the cost of feeding a horse per day. This opposed to relying on individual product prices. Certainly, she explained, some bagged feeds can be expensive. That price is relative to how long the product will last. “Take a well-formulated ration balancer, for instance. If a 50-lb (23-kg) bag costs $25 and your horse eats 1 lb (0.45 kg) a day, then that single bag will last well over a month.”

Working with a nutritionist has many advantages. Nutritionists are certainly advocates for horses. After all, the goal is to ensure optimal nutrition. However, routine diet evaluations also protect horse owners from needless expense.

Resources:

In conclusion, do you have a specific question about Cost-Conscious Feeding of Horses? Contact J & J Hay Farms today at 770-887-0440!

Article Source: Kentucky Equine Research

Lactation in Mares: Nutritional Notes. The nutritional requirements of broodmares peak as fetal growth surges in late gestation and as lactation commences after birth. Experts assert that lactating mares may require twice as much dietary energy as horses at maintenance, placing them in the same nutritional classification as intensely worked athletic horses. Owners of broodmares can assure optimal nutrition through provision of a well-fortified diet.

Broodmare Inventory:

Before exploring dietary options, take inventory of your broodmare. What breed or type is she—a fine-boned Arabian; a rugged, sporty half-Thoroughbred; or a muscly stock-type? Where would she place on the metabolism spectrum: is she an easy keeper, a hard keeper, or average in her conversion of calories to body maintenance and fat stores? What does she weigh when she’s in moderate body condition?

“Horses will generally consume 1.5-3.0% of their body weight in dry matter intake daily, with lactating mares at the upper end of this range,” explained Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research. “Forages would supply at least half of this dry matter but may provide considerably more depending on the mare’s phenotype and metabolism.” Identifying proper forage for broodmares is therefore paramount.

Hay Inventory:

As with all hays intended for horses, broodmares should be offered high-quality hay that is free of any dust, mold, or weeds. The texture of the hay should be soft, and the smell pleasant and appealing. Not only is high-quality hay more palatable, but it can provide significantly more calories than lower quality hay. Toss any hay that is refused or soiled.

The type of hay given—whether it is a grass or legume—depends largely on the mare and availability. Early and mid-bloom alfalfa, for example, provide more energy than many good-quality grass hays, even those harvested in early maturity.

“With this in mind, alfalfa hay or an alfalfa-blend hay may be appropriate for mares that require more energy to maintain body condition during lactation. Think of the hard keepers that put a lot of energy into milk production, like some Thoroughbred mares,” Crandell said. On the contrary, for mares that are known to be easy keepers, alfalfa may provide too many calories. A grass or alfalfa-grass mix might be more appropriate for them.

Depending on the mare’s foaling date, fresh forage might be available to lactating mares. The quality and quantity of pasture may vary from farm to farm. If mares are allowed access to high-quality, properly maintained pasture for much of the day, then this will go far in meeting a mare’s energy requirements but likely will not satisfy them entirely.

Because of their high energy and nutrient needs, mares cannot generally consume sufficient forage to meet their nutritional requirements. Mares in late gestation and lactation are usually provided concentrates to fulfill this caloric shortfall.

The amount of concentrate given will depend on the mare, but the general feeding recommendations supplied by the manufacturer provide a logical starting point. If the mare requires less concentrate than the manufacturer suggests, a ration balancer pellet can offer further nutrition. A ration balancer is a concentrated source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, typically fed in small amounts, such as 1-2 lb (0.45-0.9 kg) per day.

Other considerations when managing lactating mares:

• While mares in late gestation may have a reduced appetite, lactating mares typically have normal, even ravenous, appetites. Because of this, mares should have access to appropriate forage at all times. Tall, large-framed broodmares (1,300 lb or 600 kg) may consume more than 40 lb (18 kg) of hay daily. If high-quality pasture is available as a forage source, hay may not be necessary, but many hours of grazing would be necessary for mares to consume sufficient forage. “Grass contains a great deal of water. Large quantities of pasture are needed to fulfill the forage requirement. Some researchers estimate that four acres of quality pasture is needed for every mare-foal pair,” Crandell said.
• Choose a concentrate formulated expressly to meet the nutritional needs of mares and foals. Use the manufacturer’s recommendations as a launching point, and adjust feed as necessary, staying mindful to keep meals as near to no more than 5 lb (2.3 kg) as possible. Most mares will typically consume 6-12 lb (2.7-5.5 kg) of concentrate per day. Divide into two or three meals. Because energy requirements peak in early lactation, more feed might be necessary then as opposed to mid or late lactation.
• Consider rebreeding efficiency. Keep lactating mares in moderate body condition. Maintaining mares throughout the reproductive cycle at higher body condition scores holds no advantage. In fact, maternal obesity has been linked to systemic inflammation, decreased insulin sensitivity, and an increased incidence of osteochondrosis in foals.^* Further, long-term obesity may predispose mares to endocrine-related disorders, such as insulin dysregulation, and increased risk of dystocia, according to Crandell.
• Mares that are unable to maintain moderate body condition should have their diets evaluated. If high-quality forage is provided in adequate quantities, attention should be turned to the concentrate portion of the diet. A concentrate that features various energy sources should be fed. Different energy sources include starch (as found in cereal grains), fermentable fiber (beet pulp, soy hulls), and fat (vegetable oil, stabilized rice bran). Add more calories to the diet by top-dressing fat. For example, oil or stabilized rice bran, onto concentrate meals. Fat is palatable so long as not too much is given at once. “As a concentrated source of calories, fat can be very helpful for increasing the energy intake without adding bulk to a diet that may already be maxed out in how much the mare can consume,” Crandell explained.

Resources:

In conclusion, do you have a specific question about Lactation in Mares: Nutritional Notes? Contact J & J Hay Farms today at 770-887-0440!

Article Source: Kentucky Equine Research

^*Robles, M., E. Nouveau, C. Gautier, L. Mendoza ,C. Dubois, M. Dahirel, B. Lagofun, M. Aubrière, J. Lejeune, I. Caudron, I. Guenon, C. Viguié, L. Wimel, H. Bouraima-Lelong, D. Serteyn, A. Couturier-Tarrade, and P. Chavatte-Palmer. 2018. Maternal obesity increases insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation and osteochondrosis lesions in foals and yearlings until 18 months of age. PloS One 13(1):

 

Hay: The Favorite Lunch Munch for Horses!  As part of their nature, horses have a built-in desire to chew. Evolving as wandering herbivores, horses in their natural state graze off and on all day long. They spend up to 65% of their time in this activity. A stalled horse’s chewing instinct apparently remains strong even if the horse’s nutritional needs are fully met by various feed products other than hay.

A study at Cornell University was designed to learn a horse’s preference for loose hay or a complete pelleted feed. Horses were put on one of two treatments: free-choice loose hay or free-choice complete pelleted feed. Each horse could get a serving of the alternate product by pressing a plate. First, the horse learned to press the plate once for an alternate serving. The mechanism was then set to give the reward only if the plate was pressed an increased number of times.

Horses with free-choice loose hay did not progress beyond pressing the plate once for a serving of pellets. Meanwhile  horses with free-choice pellets learned to press the plate as many as 13 times for a serving of hay. In addition, horses with free-choice pellets spent 11% of the time nosing through their bedding, a foraging activity. Horses on free-choice hay spent only 1% of their time foraging, possibly indicating their need to chew and swallow fiber had been more completely met.

Owners of stalled horses are advised to provide some hay or turnout/grazing time if possible, and to split the ration of pelleted complete feeds into a number of small meals spaced throughout the day. This strategy may help to combat boredom and reduce the tendency of stalled horses to develop stereotypic behavior such as weaving, cribbing, and kicking.

Resources:

In conclusion, do you have a specific question about Hay: The Favorite Lunch Munch for Horses? Contact J & J Hay Farms today at 770-887-0440!

Article Source: Kentucky Equine Research

Shipping Fever in Horses:  Horses that are trailered for long periods of time—more than three or four hours—are at increased risk for developing a respiratory infection commonly known as “shipping fever.” Owners who plan to transport horses can take steps before, during, and after the trip to minimize the chance of a horse developing this infection. It can easily derail training, competition, or breeding plans for several weeks.

Before the trip:

• Be sure the horse is in good health. Don’t ship horses that are already sick. Horses that have been subjected to unusual stress such as a difficult competition may have had challenges to their immune systems that can make them more susceptible to illness.
• Have the horse rested, hydrated, and well-nourished in the days before the trip so that he is in the best condition to resist disease.
• Know the horse’s normal temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate.
• While it might seem like a good idea to administer antibiotics to horses before travel, research has shown that giving bronchodilators or antibiotics does not prevent all cases of shipping fever.
• Be sure that horses are current on vaccinations against respiratory viruses such as influenza and equine herpes virus. Vaccines should be administered two to three weeks before the horse travels to maximize antibody response because the stress of travel may suppress the immune response if administered just before shipping.

During the trip:

• Provide ventilation in the trailer. Breathing warm, damp, dusty air for several hours can set up a perfect scenario for respiratory tract irritation.
• If you are going to provide your horse with a hay net, soak the hay before traveling to remove dust particles. Damp hay can mold quickly. You will need to provide fresh dampened hay at least once a day on multi-day trips.
• Every three or four hours on a long trip, stop for half an hour to let the horses rest. Many horses won’t drink or urinate while the trailer is moving, and rest stops allow them to relax a bit.
• If the horse is tied in the trailer, unsnap lead shanks or cross ties at rest stops so the horse can lower his head and stretch his neck. This natural head-down position allows fluids, bacteria, and dust particles to drain from the upper respiratory tract.
• On long trips, check pulse, respiration, and body temperature to detect possible illness as soon as possible. Pulse and respiration will probably be a bit faster than normal because of stress. If body temperature rises, this is a warning flag for infection.

After the trip:

• If possible, turn the horse out in a small paddock for an hour or longer after unloading. This allows him to relax, stretch, and graze before going into his stall.
• Monitor vital signs for several days and check the horse regularly for a fever, cough, or nasal discharge. Check with a veterinarian if any horse shows signs of illness after travel.

In conclusion, do you have a specific question about Shipping Fever in Horses? Contact J & J Hay Farms today at 770-887-0440!

Article Source: Kentucky Equine Research

Out of Work Horses: Management Strategies. How can you safely shift a horse from near-daily exercise to a life of leisure, even if temporary? Appropriate nutrition is a key consideration during this transition.

Moving from stall to pasture:

Has your horse been kept in the barn all or most of the time while actively training and showing? Make the switch to pasture gradually. Start with half an hour of grazing two or three times a day. Make sure to provide plenty of hay when the horse is in the stall. Increase pasture time in half-hour increments for several days. Next, add an hour or two to each grazing session until the horse is able to be out all the time.

The horse’s digestive system is complex. Any horse relocated abruptly from stall to full pasture is at high risk for colic or laminitis. At any time during the shift, if the hooves feel warm to the touch, or the horse shows signs of pain or reluctance to move, put the horse in the stall and contact your veterinarian immediately.

Some horses are so sensitive to the sugars in grass that they can never have unlimited access to pasture. These equines can still benefit from a few weeks or months of full or partial turnout if they are muzzled or placed in a drylot with an adequate supply of hay.

Feeding:

To stay in show condition and perform the work he has been asked to do, your horse has probably been given top-quality hay and one or more feedings of concentrate (pellets or sweet feed) daily. Without the demands of training, he will require the same basic nutrients but will need much less energy. Ideally, you can take a week or two to taper his schedule, slowly decreasing both his work and his grain ration.

Gradually switching to a balancer pellet or a vitamin and mineral supplement will supply essential nutrients without the calories found in a concentrated feed. Kentucky Equine Research has developed several vitamin and mineral supplements. Continue to give your horse whatever dietary supplements he is accustomed to, such as hoof and joint products, but check ingredients to avoid over supplementation when feeding more than one product.

You should still provide hay whenever the horse spends time in the stall. Something to munch on will alleviate boredom, keep gastric ulcers at bay, and prevent gorging on grass at the next turn-out. Free-choice access to water and salt is essential at all times.

Pasture safety:

Before turning your horse out the first time, take a quick tour of the fenceline and field to check for debris, holes, loose boards or wire, and insecure gate latches, and correct any problems before using the field. Bell boots and galloping boots can help guard against injury as the horse gets used to his freedom.

Depending on the season, fly spray will give a few hours of relief from insects; consider using mesh fly sheets, face masks, and leg covers for longer-lasting comfort. Changing seasons may eliminate insect problems, but horses with white faces may need sun protection year-round. Sunscreen or fly masks with muzzle extensions can prevent painful sunburn.

Hoof care:

Many people feel it is advantageous for horses to go barefoot if they are going to be inactive for several months. Will your horse benefit from having his shoes pulled? Consider these things as you make this decision.

• Horses that are newly barefoot will probably be somewhat tender for a week or so until the soles begin to toughen. If possible, turn out in a field with grass or dirt rather than a rocky area. Pasture the horse with amiable companions to avoid forcing him to run or kick to defend himself.
• Hoof shape will change without the support of a shoe. Probable changes include spreading of the heel, flaring in the quarters, and chipping at the toe and sides of the hoof. These changes are normal. Unless they are excessive, they’re nothing to worry about.
• Whether the horse is shod or barefoot, basic hoof care should not change when the horse is out of work. Hooves should be inspected and picked at least daily, and the schedule of farrier visits should be maintained. Toes tend to grow faster than quarters and heels. Going more than about six weeks between trimmings can change the angle of the pastern. This can lead to unnecessary strain on the tendons and ligaments in the lower leg.
• Horses that have therapeutic shoeing for navicular syndrome, laminitis, or other hoof problems may need to remain shod. Discuss with your farrier whether to leave the idle horse shod. In addition to remove only the rear shoes, or to pull all the shoes until the horse returns to work.
• Maintain horses on a high-quality hoof supplement, if necessary.

Other management:

Even though he is not working, your horse still needs daily attention. A light grooming gives you a chance to find and treat injuries or skin conditions. For example, dew poisoning or rain rot. Face masks and grazing muzzles should be removed at least once a day to check for rubbed areas. A regular schedule of deworming, vaccinations, and dental care should be followed just as though the horse were still in training.

In conclusion, do you have a specific question about Out of Work Horses: Management Strategies? Contact J & J Hay Farms today at 770-887-0440!

Article Source: Kentucky Equine Research

 

What Is the Effect of Restricted Hay Intake Before Exercise in Horses? The goal of this study was to compare ad libitum and restricted (1% of body weight for a three-day period) hay intake on metabolic responses of Thoroughbreds. They were subjected to high-intensity exercise.

Free-choice hay intake averaged 9 kg (20 lb). Three days of restricted hay intake (10 lb per day) resulted in a 2% decrease in body weight. It was compared with free-choice feeding. During a sprint exercise test, oxygen consumption was higher in horses fed restricted hay. Oxygen deficit and peak plasma lactate were higher during exercise in horses fed ad libitum hay.

The reduction in body weight associated with restricted hay feeding coincided with greater oxygen consumption during exercise. In addition, a corresponding decrease in anaerobic energy expenditure and accumulation of blood lactate. As lactate accumulation can contribute to fatigue during high-intensity exercise, short-term (3 to 4 days) restriction of hay intake may be beneficial for racehorses.

This report of KER’s 2001 research was published in Proceedings of the 17th Equine Nutrition and Physiology Society Symposium.

In conclusion, do you have a specific question about your horse’s health or What Is the Effect of Restricted Hay Intake Before Exercise in Horses?? Contact J & J Hay Farms today at 770-887-0440!

Article Source: Kentucky Equine Research

Analyzing Horse Hay: Low in Zinc and Copper? Whether it’s fresh grass in a meadow or high-quality baled hay, forage is one of the most natural and nutritious feedstuffs available for horses. The best forage contains many of the vitamins and minerals needed for health and vigor, but not all.

“Many horsemen take the time to have hay analyzed. This speaks volumes for their commitment to the nutrition of their horses. Occasionally, test results reveal that hay is low in zinc, copper, sodium, and possibly other minerals,” said Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

Analysis:

“Depending on where the hay is grown, it might also be low in selenium. Because testing for selenium is expensive, some horsemen choose not to have hay analyzed for that macromineral. Similarly,  it is well known that vitamin content decreases significantly after hay is cut and stored. Therefore vitamin supplementation is warranted.”

It is tempting to buy separate mineral supplements—such as zinc and copper—to make up for the nutritional shortfalls in hay. However, employ caution. Too much of one or the other may throw off the balance between the two minerals. The solution lies in something much simpler: a balancer pellet or a high-quality vitamin and mineral supplement.

“If horses absolutely cannot withstand the calories provided by a well-fortified feed—and many easy keepers cannot—a balancer pellet or vitamin and mineral supplement works wonders to provide essential nutrients,” said Whitehouse. “Nutrients are concentrated. So these feedstuffs have low feeding rates, about 1-2 lb. (0.45-1 kg) for balancer pellets and mere ounces for vitamin and mineral supplements.”

The chief difference between the two products involves protein content, said Whitehouse. “The balancer pellet contains enough protein to fortify certain classes of horses beyond maintenance. This includes low-level performance horses and some breeding animals,” she explained, “whereas the supplement contains only vitamins and minerals, and no protein.”

Finally, forage is low in sodium. Horses should have access to loose salt or a salt block and fresh, clean water at all times.

Steaming Hay One Component of Managing Equine Asthma: According to one recent study*, steaming hay, a common strategy for managing horses suffering severe equine asthma, may not help relieve the clinical signs of asthma in all horses.

“Strategies such as soaking or steaming hay, housing asthmatic horses outdoors, and other allergen-avoidance techniques, in addition to medications recommended by veterinarians, are important means of managing this condition,” explained Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a Kentucky Equine Research nutritionist.

Management:

Crandell uses the term “management,” as there is no cure for this progressive and potentially debilitating condition. The underlying mechanics of equine asthma remain unclear, as researchers are still unsure which pro-inflammatory cytokines contribute to the condition. Is it interleukin 1β, a classic fall guy for most bodily inflammation, or interleukin 5, the inflammatory mediator currently being examined to create an “asthma vaccine”? Are other cells or mediators involved?

Past studies suggest that soaking hay lowers dust and molds. However, vitamin and mineral content might be negatively affected. Steaming hay, on the other hand, preserves the protein and mineral content of the hay with the effective reduction of respirable particles.

To determine the effectiveness of steaming hay, French veterinary researchers Orard and colleagues recruited horses with and without severe equine asthma. Both groups were offered steamed and dry hay for 5 days, with a 26-day washout period between the trials. All horses underwent assessment for their asthma clinical score, tracheal mucus accumulation, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis (a “lung wash”), and mRNA expression of various inflammatory mediators.

Effectiveness of Steaming Hay:

Feeding steamed hay significantly decreased the mold content, as expected, and mucus score significantly increased when feeding dry hay. However, the clinical score of equine asthma found no significant influence.

“Above all, this goes to show that no single method will alleviate clinical signs in all horses,” Crandell said. “Managing a horse with equine asthma often requires multiple adjustments, which can include steaming hay. Not all horses in this study showed improvements. However, many horse owners have successfully used this tactic to help their horses breathe easier.”

As a result, the researchers concluded, “Steaming significantly decreased mold content but inconsistently influenced the respiratory response of sEA [severe equine asthma] affected horses when fed hay. Based on lavage fluid analysis cytology and cytokine profiles, its relevance might be controversial as a non-medicinal therapy for sEA-affected horses.”

The authors of the recently revised Consensus Statement on Equine Asthma** advise that any method of decreasing environmental exposure to known allergens like mold and dust from hay may help. In addition, they also recommend using omega-3 fatty acids to facilitate the management of equine asthma.

“Kentucky Equine Research offers EO-3, which contains 9,450 mg of marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids per serving, including DHA and EPA. This product is top-dressed onto the feed to support horses with equine asthma,” Crandell said.

In conclusion, do you have questions about Managing Equine Asthma? Contact us at J & J Hay Farms by clicking here!

Resources:

*Orard, M., E. Hue, A. Couroucé, et al. The influence of hay steaming on clinical signs and airway immune response in severe asthmatic horses. BMC Veterinary Research. In press.

**Couëtil, L.L., J.M. Cardwell, V. Gerber, et al. 2016. Inflammatory airway disease of horses—Revised  consensus statement. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 30(2):503-515.