Released Jan. 14, 2008

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- If you are a horse owner looking for ways to extend your hay, remember that horses need roughage just like everyone else—in fact, they need much more. Fifty to 100 percent of a horse’s diet should be forage of some sort.

Lower amounts of forages can lead to an increased risk for ulcers and colic.

The easiest approach to lack of hay is to avoid the situation in the first place. Know how much you need and plan to have enough hay. Horses eat roughly 2 to 3 percent of their body weight a day; for example, an average 1,000-pound horse will eat around 20 to 30 pounds of feed daily, plus water.

When calculating your hay needs, add 10 percent for wasted hay. There is less waste when using feeders and small square bales, compared to round bales. Ask your hay supplier how much the bales weigh and calculate your hay needs before ordering. If you do experience a shortage of hay, it is best to extend the good hay you have with other fiber sources. A slow transition to other forages is essential for horses rather than switching when you run out. Common alternatives to regular baled hay are listed below, along with the pros and cons of each.

• Hay cubes. Pro: Little waste, easily handled and transported, good baled hay extender or replacement. Think of them as very small hay bales. Con: Can be expensive.
• Older hay. Pro: Can be quite healthy for horses. Con: Vitamins break down with time and minerals can leach out if bales get wet. You may want to test for nutrient levels to balance the hay with supplements.
• Beet pulp. Pro: Good source of energy and protein, you can feed 5 to10 pounds a day. Con: Beet pulp should be soaked before feeding large amounts to prevent swelling in the horse’s digestive system. Need to supplement vitamins and minerals, particularly calcium.
• Complete feeds. Pro: Nutrients are balanced, good hay extender. Con: Not enough total fiber. It needs to be divided up into small meals because feeding large amounts can increase chances of colic and choking.
• Miscellaneous. Occasionally you hear of people feeding straw or corn stalks to horses. These are not recommended because they have little nutritional value. Haylage has been fed to horses, but the potential for mold and botulism in haylage makes it a risky choice for the wellbeing of your horse.

For more information, contact Betsy Gilkerson Weiland, an agriculture educator with University of Minnesota Extension at (612) 596-1175 or eliza003@umn.edu.

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http://www.extension.umn.edu/extensionnews/2008/forageforhorses.html

Contact: Julie Christensen, (612) 626-4077, reuve007@umn.edu