choosing the right hay & feed for your horse
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Choosing the Right Hay & Feed for Your Horse. University of Maryland Horse Conference Montgomery College November 10, 2007 Erin D. Petersen, MS, PAS Extension Horse Specialist University of Maryland. How do I know what my horse needs?. Requirements differ with: Individual horse Age - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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?