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.
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
100
OK
21.30
Lbs
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
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
OK
4.29
Lbs
100.47
142.92
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.
D.M. intake 19.20 15.02 Lbs/day 78.22
ST
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
99.41
2.98
Lbs.
Marg
HELP
• GARY HEUSNER
• 706-542-9092
• gheusner@uga.edu