choosing the right hay & feed for your horse

Choosing the Right Hay & Feed for Your Horse

University of Maryland Horse ConferenceMontgomery College

November 10, 2007

Erin D. Petersen, MS, PASExtension Horse Specialist

University of Maryland

How do I know what my horse needs?

Requirements differ with:

Individual horse Age Size and weight Body condition Health Weather Physiological state

Exercise, breeding, growing, etc.

Weather

Starting Point: Determine Requirements

Horse Age, Weight, Use To determine weight:

LengthHeartgirth

1 kg = 2.2 pounds

1 inch = 2.54 cm

Nutrient Requirements of Horses

Weight (kg) = girth2 x length 11,877

“NRC”

IN METRIC UNITS! Allows user to manipulate diet (forage,

concentrate), horse information ration evaluation

Does NOT include commercial concentrates Most commercial feed manufacturers will

give additional info on feeds when called

http://nrc88.nas.edu/nrh/

Forage Quality

What determines forage quality?PALATABILITY - Will my animals eat this hay?INTAKE – How much will they eat?DIGESTIBILITY – How digestible is this hay?ANIMAL PERFORMANCE – How will my

animals perform on this hay?NUTRIENT CONTENT – What is in the hay?

Nutrients for Horses

ENERGY Carbohydrates Lipids

PROTEIN

MINERALS

VITAMINS

WATER

Other things to consider

Grass vs. legumeIntakeNutrient ContentDigestibilityAffects of maturity

Species differencesTimothy vs. Orchardgrass

Nutrient Requirements

1 pound = 454 grams ADG = Average Daily Gain (targeted

weight gain for growing animals) DE = Digestible Energy Mcal = Megacalorie = 1000 kcal

Daily Requirements - Maintenance

Body Wt (g)

DE (Mcal)

CP (g) Ca (g) P (g)

440 6.7 252 8.0 5.6

880 13.3 504 16.0 11.2

1100 16.7 630 20 14

1320 20 756 24 16.8

1980 30 1134 36 25.2

Daily Requirements - Growth

1100 g Mature Body Weight

Horse ADG (g)

DE (Mcal)

CP (g) Ca (g) P (g)

Weanling/4 mos

1.8 13.3 669 39.1 21.7

Weanling/ 6 mos

1.6 15.5 676 38.6 21.5

Yearling 1.0 18.8 846 37.7 20.9

18 mos 0.64 19.2 799 37 20.6

18 mos mod exer.

0.64 25 906 37 20.6

Daily Requirements - Growth

1100 g Mature Body Weight

Horse ADG (g)

DE (Mcal)

CP (g) Ca (g) P (g)

24 mos 0.4 18.7 770 36.7 20.4

24 mos mod exer

0.4 21.8 829 36.7 20.4

24 mos heavy ex.

0.4 27.9 969 36.7 20.4

24 mos. v.h. exer.

0.4 32.5 1091 36.7 20.4

Relative Change in Daily Requirements with Age

DE CP

4 mos.

6 mos.

Yearling

18 mos.

24 mos.

Adult

DE CP

4 mos.

6 mos.

Yearling

18 mos.

24 mos.

Adult

Relative Change as a function of Body Weight

Daily Requirements - Reproduction

Horse/Function

DE (Mcal)

CP (g) Ca (g) P (g)

Stallion 21.8 789 30 18

Pregnant mare (9 mos)

19.2 797 26 26.3

Pregnant mare (11 mos)

21.4 893 36 26.3

1st month of lactation

31.7 1535 59.1 38.3

4th month of Lactation

29.4 1398 41.7 26.2

Daily Requirements - Exercise

Horse/ Function

DE (Mcal)

CP (g) Ca (g) P (g)

Light Exercise

20 699 30 18

Moderate Exercise

23.3 768 35 21

Heavy Exercise

26.6 862 40 29

Very Heavy Exercise

34.5 1004 40 29

The Hays…

First Cutting Orchardgrass (grass 1)

CP = 7.9% ADF = 45.1% NDF = 66.3% DE = 0.82 Mcal/# Avg. bale wt. = 35 Cost = $4.50

Second Cutting Orchardgrass (grass 2)

CP = 14.8% ADF = 33.7% NDF = 53.2% DE = 1.06 Mcal/# Avg. bale wt. = 35 Cost = $6.00/bale

The Hays…

Orchardgrass/ Alfalfa Mix (MGA)

CP = 17.1% ADF = 35.4% NDF = 52.5% DE = 1.01 Mcal/# Avg bale wt. = 42 Cost = $5.50/bale

3rd Cutting Midwest Alfalfa (alfalfa)

CP = 21% ADF = 30.4% NDF = 38% DE = 1.12 Mcal/# Avg bale wt. = 70 Cost = $8.00/bale

Assumptions

Most horses will eat anywhere from 1.5 - 3% of their body weight in Dry Matter per day Maintenance 1.5 – 2% Growth 2 – 3%

• Decreases with age Reproduction 1.5 – 3%

• Highest in early lactation Exercising horses 1.5 – 3%

• Increases with increasing exercise intensity

What to feed the maintenance horse?

Maintenance

Requirements:

16.7 Mcal

630 g CP (1.39 #)

DM Intake:

16.5 – 22 lbs

HAY Grass 1 Grass 2 MGA Alfalfa

DE Content (Mcal/#)

0.82 1.06 1.01 1.12

Hay to meet DE

20.4 15.75 16.5 14.9

CP Content (%)

7.9 14.8 17.1 21

Hay to meet CP

17.72 9.4* 8.13 6.6

Growth

Weanling, 6 months old

Requirements:

15.5 Mcal

676 g CP (1.5 #)

DM Intake:

9.5 – 14.25 lbs

HAY Grass 1 Grass 2 MGA Alfalfa

DE Content (Mcal/#)

0.82 1.06 1.01 1.12

Hay to meet DE

18.9 14.6 15.3 13.8

CP Content (%)

7.9 14.8 17.1 21

Hay to meet CP

18.9 10.1 8.8 7.1

Reproduction

Requirements:

19.2 Mcal

797 g CP (1.8 #)

DM Intake:

16.5 – 22 lbs

HAY Grass 1 Grass 2 MGA Alfalfa

DE Content (Mcal/#)

0.82 1.06 1.01 1.12

Hay to meet DE

23.4 18.11 19 17.14

CP Content (%)

7.9 14.8 17.1 21

Hay to meet CP

22.785 12.16 10.6* 8.6*

Broodmare, 9th month of gestation

Requirements:

31.7 Mcal

1535 g CP (3.4 #)

DM Intake:

22 – 33 lbs

HAY Grass 1 Grass 2 MGA Alfalfa

DE Content (Mcal/#)

0.82 1.06 1.01 1.12

Hay to meet DE

38.7 29.9 31.4 28.3

CP Content (%)

7.9 14.8 17.1 21

Hay to meet CP

43 22.9 19.9 16.2*

Broodmare, 1st month lactation

Mcals of DE supplied by grass and alfalfa hay of varying quality at an intake of 2% BW in DM relative to requirements

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Grass Hay Alfalfa Hay

DE, Mcal

Immature Mid-maturity Mature

1st month of lactation

Gestation, Mo. 9

Conception - 5 mos gestation

Grams of CP supplied by grass and alfalfa hay of varying quality at an intake of 2% BW in DM relative to requirements

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Grass Hay Alfalfa Hay

CP, g

Early bloom Mid bloom Late bloom

1st month of lactation

Gestation, Mo. 9

Conception - 5 mos gestation

Exercise

What defines performance??

Exercise

Amount of energy used? Must know in order to determine

amount of energy required

1. DURATION Easy to measure…

2. INTENSITY Many factors at play

Other factors?

Energy Requirements - Performance Defined

Light Work Heart rate = 80 bpm 1-3 hours per week 40% walk 50% trot 10% canter

Examples: Trail riding Beginning of training Occasional show horses

Energy Requirements - Performance Defined

Moderate Work Heart rate = 90 bpm 3-5 hours/week 30% walk 55% trot 10% canter 5% low jumping, cutting

and other skill work Examples:

School horses, trail riding, breaking/training, frequent show horses, polo, ranch work

http://www.rettingerranch.com

http://www.reddemeade.com

http://www.polo-nz.co.nz

Energy Requirements - Performance Defined

Heavy Heart rate = 110 bpm 4-5 hours per week 20% walk 50% trot 15% canter 15% gallop, jumping, other

skill work Examples:

Ranch work, polo, show horses (frequent/ strenuous), low-medium eventing, race training (middle stages)

Energy Requirements - Performance Defined

Very Heavy Heart rate = 110-

150 bmp Duration varies

1 hr/week speed work to 6-12 hr/week slow work

Examples: Racing (QH, TB,

STB, Endurance) Elite 3-Day Event

Requirements:

23.3 Mcal

768 g CP (1.7 #)

DM Intake:

19.25 – 27.5 lbs

HAY Grass 1 Grass 2 MGA Alfalfa

DE Content (Mcal/#)

0.82 1.06 1.01 1.12

Hay to meet DE

28.4 21.9 23.1 20.8

CP Content (%)

7.9 14.8 17.1 21

Hay to meet CP

21.5 11.5 9.9 8.1

Moderate Intensity Exercise

The problems with excess protein

Makes my horse “hot”Truth or fiction?

Excess protein increase water intake increase in urination increase in ammonia in stable

Protein is EXPEN$IVE!!

Which Hay should you choose?

Maintenance ANY No supplements*

Growth Alfalfa or Mix for weanlings, high quality grass or mix for older DE and/or CP supplementation Vitamin/mineral

Reproduction High quality grass or mix for late gestation, mix or alfalfa for lactation DE and/or CP supplementation Vitamin/mineral

Exercising horse High quality grass or mix DE and/or CP supplementation Vitamin/mineral

Choosing the right concentrate Base it on your hay! FORAGE FIRST Have a great hay?

That 10% CP fortified sweetfeed may be all your horse needs!

Better yet, maybe just a forage balancer

Not so good hay?Higher quality, higher protein feed

may be needed in larger amounts!

Example: 6 mo old weanling

Grass Hay 1

Triple Crown Growth

Grass Hay 1

Buckeye Gro N Win

Daily Amount

Can’t be done with this hay!

12.3 4

Daily Cost $1.59 $1.76

$3.35/day

Example: 6 mo old weanling

Grass Hay 2

Triple Crown Growth

Grass Hay 2

Buckeye Gro N Win

Daily Amount

9.3 4 12.3 2

Daily Cost $1.59 $1.04 $2.10 $0.88

$2.98/day$2.63/day

Questions?