Feeding a Horse For $300
Horse Seminar Series 2004
Keith Vander Velde
Central District Livestock Specialist
Keith.VanderVelde@ces.uwex.edu
Feeding a Horse for $300
• Assumptions
– 1. Feed 1,100 pound horse for 365 days and
horse is used for pleasure riding-Light activity
– 2. Horse Owner has area to store forage
– 3. Horse has access to 2-3 acres of pasture
– 4. Grain is purchased in bulk
Feeding a Horse for $300
•
C O N S U M P T IO N
R E Q U IR E M E N T S
% B O D Y W E IG H T C O N S U M P T IO N
F o ra g e
M a tu re H o rs e
M a in ten a n ce
1 .5 -2 .0
Y o u n g H o rses
N u rsin g fo a l, 3 m on th s
0
W ea n in g fo a l, 6 m on th s
T o ta l
0 -0 .5
1 /5 -2 .0
1 .0 -2 .0
2 .5 -3 .5
1 .5 -3 .0
2 .0 -3 .5
1 .0 -1 .5
1 .0 -2 .0
2 .0 -3 .0
L o n g Y ea rlin g , 1 8 m o n th s 1 .0 -1 .5
1 .0 -1 .5
2 .0 -2 .5
1 .0 -1 .5
2 .0 -2 .5
Y ea rlin g fo a l, 1 2 m o n th s
T w o Y ea r o ld , 2 4 m on th s
Keith Vander Velde
0 .5 -1 .0
C o n cen tra te
1 .0 -1 .5
Feeding a Horse for $300
•
C O M M O N FEED STU FF
% DM
M c a l/#
A lfa lfa
90
.9 4
18
B ro m e
89
.8 0
11
O rc h a rd
88
.8 5
11
S tra w
91
.7 0
4
O a ts
89
1 .3
12
C o rn
88
1 .5
9
Keith Vander Velde
% P r o t ein
Maintenance Requirements
Mcal/day
•16.4
Protein/day
•1.4 pounds
Suggested Ration:
Keith Vander Velde
Alfalfa hay = 18 lbs.
Or
Orchard grass = 20 lbs.
Growing Horse Requirements
Mcal/day
•Yearling-19
•2 yr. old-22
Protein/day
•Yearling-14 %
•2 yr. old 10 %
Keith Vander Velde
Pregnancy Requirements
Mcal/day
•18.4 last 3 months
•1 lb./day fetal growth
Protein/day
•1.5 lbs. first 8 months
•2 lbs.. Last 3 months
Keith Vander Velde
WORKING REQUIREMENTS
Mcal/day
•28-30
Protein/day
•2.8 lbs.
Suggested Ration:
Keith Vander Velde
Alfalfa = 20 lbs.
Oats= 8.5 lbs.
Feeding a Horse for $300
• Daily Needs-1100 lb Maintenance Ration
– Energy-16.4 Mcal/day
– Protein-1.4 lbs/day
– Trace mineral Salt-Free Choice loose
• Do not feed white salt in addition
– Hay Ration
•
•
•
•
•
Alfalfa/Brome Hay (.94 + .80)/2=.87 Mcal
Alfalfa/Brome Hay (18 + 11)/2=14.5 % protein
Need 16.4 Mcal 16.4/.87=19 lbs
Protein need 1.4 lbs-19 pounds of hay=2.75 lbs (exceeds needs)
Hay at $60 per ton is $0.03 per pound=feed 20 pound per day
20 lbs x $0.03=$0.60 per day x 365 days = $219
Feeding a Horse for $300
• Daily Needs-1100 lb Maintenance Ration
– Hay more Expensive:
• $300/365=$0.82 per day
• If need 20 lbs per day you can pay $80 per ton maximum for hay if
feeding all hay ration in a year
• Adding pasture grazing will reduce hay needs for 150 days or
more per year
• Land charge for horse per grazing season is $60-$80 per season
– 3 acres at $25 in Sandy areas
– 2 acres at $40 in better soils
• Grazing 150 days at $60 rent=$0.40per day or $12 per month
• Grazing 150 days at $80 rent=$0.53 per day $16 per month
Keith Vander Velde
Feeding a Horse for $300
• Daily Needs-1100 lb Maintenance Ration
– Hay plus Pasture
• 150 days pasture at $12 per month= $60.00
• 215 days hay at $0.60 per day=====$129.00
• Trace Mineral Salt Mix 50 lbs/year = $6.00
• TOTAL ANNUAL FEED COST=$195
Feeding a Horse for $300
• Daily Needs-1100 lb Working Horse
– Energy-28 Mcal/day
– Protein-2.8 lbs/day
– Trace mineral Salt-Free Choice loose
• Do not feed white salt in addition
•
Balancing a Ration
worksheet meeting requirements
Needs:
MC
Protein
Working Horse
28
2.8
Brome Hay
.80
11%
(feed 15 lbs) = (15x.8)= 12 Mc (15x.11)= 1.65
STILL NEEDED
16 Mc
1.15 lbs
Oats provides
1.3 Mc
12%
Need 16Mc
16/1.3= 12.3 lbs of oats 1.47 protein
12.3 oats x 12% =1.47
Ration = 28 Mcal energy & 3.13 lbs protein
Feeding a Horse for $300
• Daily Needs-1100 lb Lactating Mare
– Energy-28 Mcal/day
– Protein-2.8 lbs/day
– Trace mineral Salt-Free Choice loose
• Do not feed white salt in addition
– Using the example sheet calculate a ration
•
NURSING REQUIREMENTS
Mcal/day
•28
Protein/day
•12.5 %
•3 lbs.
Suggested Ration: Alfalfa= 20 lbs
Oats= 8 lbs