DEALING WITH HAY SHORTAGES

STRETCHING HAY SUPPLIES

Hay Supplementation Considerations

• Horse = NON RUMINANT HERBIVORE

1. Gastrointestinal function

2. Behavior

Hay supplementation considerations

• How much hay is needed?

1. Minimum of 0.75 to 1% in dry matter or hay as fed? Not less than 50% of total diet?

2. Minimum of 24% NDF (13% Crude fiber) or 14% ADF?

3. Does form of hay make a difference?

chopped, cubed, pelleted

Relationship of NDF & Crude Fiber

• Legume hays

NDF = (Crude fiber % - 2.07)/ 0.546

• Grass hays

NDF = (Crude fiber % - 3.72)/ 0.4

Know how much hay you are feeding

• Weigh hay to make sure it is not less than 0.75% of body weight.

• Limit time on round bales, i.e. will generally be full 1 to 2 hours AM & PM.

• Commercial feeds higher than 14% crude fiber, hay can make up 0.5% BW.

Hay – Roughage Substitutes

• Beet pulp• Alfalfa cubes & pellets• Soy hulls• Haylage• Cottonseed hulls• Citrus pulp?• Complete feeds

** Whatever is substituted make sure chew factor is present.

Beet pulp

• DE approximately 1.0 Mcal/lb, Crude protein 8-10%, NDF 40.5%

• Substitute up to 50% of hay.

Alfalfa Cubes & Pellets

• Remember you are feeding alfalfa.

• Cubes and pellets are consumed rapidly, chew factor and stem length of concern.

• Choke concern with pellets.

• Cubes up to 50% for long stem hay.

• Pellets up to 25% for long stem hay.

Soy hulls

• NDF 61%, C.P.11-13 %, DE 0.8 -1.1 Mcal/lb.

• Booth, et al. replace up to 50% of forage in diet.

• Recommendation probably no more than 25% as sorting will occur, chew factor concern as no long term studies have been reported.

Cottonseed hulls

• DE .50 Mcal/lb, C. protein 3.8%, NDF 80%.

• Maximum of 20% of total diet.

• Mix with grain or can mix with chopped hay.

Haylage

• High moisture ensiled hay harvested at 40 – 60% dry matter.

• Highly acceptable, actually prefer over hay.

• Slightly more digestible than hay?• Disadvantage with wet (high moisture),

possibility of spoilage if not fed relatively quickly.

• Botulism rare but possibility.

Digestible energy comparisons (Hoffman 2004)

Feed DE, Mcal/kg DE, Mcal/lb

Hay 2.15 ± 0.14 0.97 ± .06

Pasture 2.49 ± 0.13 1.13 ± .06

Super fibers 2.62 ± 0.14 1.19 ± .06

Grains 3.71 ± 0.14 1.68 ± .06

CSH diets 3.15 1.43

Example Diet 1150 pound horse, light work

POUNDS/DAY

Bermudagrass hay 4.90

Beet pulp 4.90

Grain mix (10-12% Prot., 5-8% Crude fiber)

9.75

Light work, 1150 pound horse nutrient intake

ITEM REQ. IN UNITS % REQ. ST

D.M intake 19.20 17.45 Lb/day 90.88 OK

D.E. 21.30 22.47 Mcal 105.49 OK

C. Protein 852.0 863.1 Grams 101.30 OK

Calcium 26.00 46.58 Grams 179.16 OK

Phosph. 18.50 26.37 Grams 142.54 OK

C. Fiber 3.00 3.0 Lbs 100 OK

Example 2, 1150 pound horse doing light work

POUNDS/DAY

Bermudagrass hay 6.00

Cottonseed hulls 4.50

Grain mix (10-12% Protein, 5-8% C. fiber)

10.25

Nutrient intake

ITEM REQ. IN. UNITS % REQ. ST

D.M. intake 19.20 18.92 Lb/day 98.53 OK

D.E. 21.30 21.40 Mcals 100.47 OK

C. Protein 852.0 815.4 Grams 95.70 Marg

Calcium 26.00 38.20 Grams 146.94 OK

Phosp. 18.50 28.02 Grams 151.48 OK

C. Fiber 3.00 4.29 Lbs 142.92 OK

Example 3, 1150 pound horse light work

POUNDS/DAY

Beet pulp 5.00

Whole oats 3.50

Cracked corn 3.00

Alfalfa pellets 2.00

Rice bran 1.75

Ration balancer 1.50

Nutrient intake

ITEM REQ. IN UNITS % REQ.

ST

D.M. intake 19.20 15.02 Lbs/day 78.22 OK

D.E. 21.30 22.27 Mcals. 104.54 OK

C. Protein 852.0 858.9 Grams 100.80 OK

Calcium 26.00 55.40 Grams 213.07 OK

Phosp. 18.50 37.05 Grams 200.25 OK

C. Fiber 3.00 2.98 Lbs. 99.41 Marg

HELP

• GARY HEUSNER

• 706-542-9092

• gheusner@uga.edu