With forage yields reported to be down by up to 50% this year, hay may well be in short supply this winter.
The best hay for most horses is well made meadow hay. This has a range of species in it, often wildflowers as well as different grasses. Ideally, it will have been made without being rained on and baled when completely dry – 87% dry matter or more means it will keep and store well, without going mouldy.
Other types of hay are grown as a crop, part of a sustainable rotation, and are made from one or a few species of grass. Timothy, Cocksfoot and fescue grasses tend to be well suited to horses. Ryegrass is often best avoided as it can cause issues for some who are intolerant of it. Ryegrass can also have higher sugar levels, so it is unsuitable for a number of horses, especially good doers.
It is always worth having your hay analysed so you can gain a good idea of its feed value. Simple System offer a hay analysis service which includes free interpretation from the Feed Line. Learn more about forage analysis here.
Good hay means less short feed is needed so can be a worthwhile investment. Similar criteria apply to haylage, which may have higher overall feed values as it is usually harvested at a slightly earlier stage, and is baled and wrapped with a greater moisture content than hay.
Hay shortages and horses’ differing requirements may mean you will need to look to provide alternatives to hay this winter season.
Chopped forages can be an ideal way to replace some of the hay ration. Look for those with quality fibre, and avoid those that contain straw, including ‘‘Nutritionally Improved Straw’’ (NIS).
For older horses and for those who struggle to chew due to dental issues, chops or chaffs are best avoided altogether. They will need a soaked bulk feed that does not need so much chewing. HayCare is the obvious and best choice with its nutrition levels likened to good quality, high fibre hay, but PuraBeet can also be used to replace some of the hay ration. We suggest you can feed up to 0.5% of the horse’s ideal weight in dry weight of this cost-effective fibre feed. For an average 500kg horse, this amounts to 2.5 kg dry weight a day, which when soaked will make 5 times its volume of palatable mash.
Lucie Fibre Cubes offer an alternative forage type (great for the gut microbes) with very low sugar and starch levels. They are well suited to good doers and those prone to laminitis.
Horses with higher requirements could have Blue Bag Grass Pellets again fed soaked as a mash. These are a Timothy grass pellet with nutrition likened to summer grazing.
If you’re looking to offer forage variety, Sainfoin Pellets are ideal. They offer higher nutrition levels than hay, so if you wish to feed in replacing quantities we would suggest diluting with HayCare or PuraBeet. A ratio of 1/3 Sainfoin Pellets, to 2/3 HayCare® or PuraBeet is suitable for the majority of horses.
For horses with sound dentition, Organic Lucie Stalks provide a good time-consuming chew and they are low in calories so they can be well utilised for good doers. These can be fed dampened in a tub or mixed with the hay in the net or hay feeder - helping to prolong the hay supply.
Timothy Chop is another good alternative, being made from nothing but mature Timothy grass. Again, they can be mixed in with hay, or offered alongside. For a hay replacer with a difference, Simple System Brix provide enrichment as well as forage. Available in either grass (MeadowBrix), lucerne (Lucie Brix) or sainfoin (Sainfoin Brix), these compressed forage blocks replace approximately 1kg of hay. They are fed whole from the ground, for the horse to gnaw on, so a different way of feeding which is greatly enjoyed – but good teeth are essential for chewing.
Hay is such a good winter feed for horses and is excellent value, but not only must it be available, it must be suitable. Poor hay which is dusty, mouldy or low feed value, can be harmful. Older horses will find hay increasingly difficult to eat. No horse should be fed unsuitable hay, but fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives.
For individual feeding advice to suit your horse’s requirements, contact the Feed Line on 01728 604 008, email info@simplesystem.co.uk or complete our advice request form here.