Presentation Transcript
DEALING WITH HAY SHORTAGES: DEALING WITH HAY SHORTAGES STRETCHING HAY SUPPLIES
Hay Supplementation Considerations: Hay Supplementation Considerations Horse = NON RUMINANT HERBIVORE
1. Gastrointestinal function
2. Behavior
Hay supplementation considerations: 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: 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: 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: 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: Beet pulp DE approximately 1.0 Mcal/lb, Crude protein 8-10%, NDF 40.5%
Substitute up to 50% of hay.
Alfalfa Cubes & Pellets: 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: 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: 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: 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): Digestible energy comparisons (Hoffman 2004)
Example Diet 1150 pound horse, light work: Example Diet 1150 pound horse, light work
Light work, 1150 pound horse nutrient intake: Light work, 1150 pound horse nutrient intake
Example 2, 1150 pound horse doing light work: Example 2, 1150 pound horse doing light work
Nutrient intake: Nutrient intake
Example 3, 1150 pound horse light work: Example 3, 1150 pound horse light work
Nutrient intake: Nutrient intake
HELP : HELP GARY HEUSNER
706-542-9092
gheusner@uga.edu