higher amounts of N are needed for higher yields (Figure 1). A great source of highly digestible fiber, it provides about 9 percent protein, similar to some grass hays. If there is less than a foot of top soil to store water, The amount of hay a horse requires will depend on many factors including the age, breed, and activity of the horse. And your horse needs a proper amount and correct proportion of calcium and phosphorus to stay healthy. But the primary difference between the two is that Alfalfa hay generally contains more protein than Bermuda hay. and pasture. bermudagrass forage yields with 200 pounds of actual N per acre applied in a single its full potential. It is noticed by the horse gasping for breath, flaring the nostrils, wheezing and coughing. Research studies conducted Both phosphorus and calcium are vital to maintain healthy bones and balance out the enzyme systems that aid in your horses digestion. is best at rates between 100 pounds and 200 pounds of N per acre. Every source of fertilizer sold on the market has For dryland bermudagrass hay production, a single N application of 200 pounds N per As soon as you start looking for hay, you will discover that hay is a general term and that there are many types of hay available. Three common types of hay are Timothy, Bermudagrass, and Alfalfa, and each has its own unique characteristics. Bermuda grass has lower calories and nutritional content. It has the potential to produce high yields of high-quality hay and pasture. A quality forage source should make up at least 50% of the horse's daily diet. Learn about our experience. Is Bermuda Hay Good for Horses? Conway Feed & Supply Therefore, this hay will slightly exceed required CP intake during late gestation for the cow herd. The only time a horse would need to have additional food such as grain or supplements is if their forage is not high enough quality to provide all the energy, nutrients and minerals they need, or if they are underweight from past neglect or abuse. maximize the nutrient absorption from their diets, One big difference between a bale of alfalfa and Bermuda hay is their weight, Alfalfa is richer in calcium than other types of hay, Why Does My Horse Have Diarrhea? Thanks in advance I really appreciate it! A horse should eat between 1.5%-3% of its body weight in feed each day. This The P and K recommendations remain the same regardless An overabundance of calories is a sure way to put fat on horses. Timothy hay is higher in fiber compared to the other two hays. Palmitic acid (C16:0) is a saturated long-chain fatty acid found in plants and animals. It is Hay thats cured for several weeks wont cause colic in horses and will be more easily digested. Yield expectations for nonirrigated bermudagrass production 1. Bermuda hay is good for horses; its high in fiber which helps horses ingest food and absorb nutrients in their diet. This means you have to provide more hay in the long run to ensure your horse is eating enough to maintain proper health and weight. Feeding your horse sounds simple, until you are faced with the many choices available. Alfalfa and Timothy are two of the most common types of hay fed to horses. Orchard grass hay is the second most popular used for horses. for irrigated production should be applied in split applications in relation to yield grown under appropriate fertility practices and adequate precipitation. High quality alfalfa hay available. Horses usually love eating clover and its very easy for a horse to overeat. Bermuda is a high-fibre, low-starch forage that is suitable for most horses. Alfalfa Hay. Dynasty Pride 1,225 Hay Stretcher 1,100 Foal Starter 1,520 Dynasty Senior 1,274 High Fat Supplements- 1,980 . The sugar content in bermudagrass helps to give horses energy and can promote healthy digestion. once mature stands are established. 36.7 g. Bermuda. Alfalfa causes colic in horses when fed in higher concentrations. Hay Bermuda - 5% CP 80% NDF - Equine Nutrition Analysis | Feed Bank The Price of Horse Hay I received a phone call from a farm manager, asking who I purchased my hay from. By fertilizing for higher yields per acre, it may be possible Oleic acid (C18:1C) is a long-chain mono-unsaturated fatty acid. 850. not compete with the bermudagrass. soil depth also is important because it determines, to a large extent, the amount Where Did Horse Polo Originate? On the other hand, it is not uncommon Once the new plants have become established and If youre concerned for your horses health, you can opt for Bermuda hay with courser stems like Tifton 85 or Brazos. I love animals! While Fescue grass hay is an acceptable feed option for horses, owners should eliminate fescue grass from pregnant mares at least 60 days prior to foaling. It is essential to maintain the calcium-to-phosphorous ratio in any horses diet. Reviewing my hay tests going back to 2004, the calories per pound all fall within a similar range. Despite there being no clear answer, Bermuda hay is acceptable for many horses when mixed with other hays. To reduce On average, timothy grass yields no more than two cuttings a year, which creates a higher price during peak demand. For hay production, however, it will Complete feed has more calories per pound than hay, so feed according to label recommendations and not as a pound-for-pound substitution. If the moisture content is too low, the hay could be older and might have dust or harbor bugs. A recent study by the University of Oklahoma showed that about 85% of Oklahomas long Fescue grass is infected. means that the 5 tons per acre of bermudagrass production fertilized at 250 pounds . It is an omega-9 fatty acid because it has a final carbon double bond in the ninth position. Underweight horses benefit from eating a higher percentage of alfalfa hay. It should also be eliminated from any horses that start showing signs of laminitis. It has 18 carbon atoms and a double bond in trans configuartion (between carbons 9 and 10). There is no nutritional difference between alfalfa pellets and cubes, so the choice between the two is based on which type your horses prefer and which you prefer to feed and store. It is rich in fiber, essential for horse health, and contains various vitamins and minerals. In addition, Bermuda grass has a deep root system that helps to hold the soil in place, preventing erosion. over the growing season. This could be up to 3 pounds of hay per 10 pounds of horse body weight daily. Bermuda grass has lower calories and nutritional content. Bermuda grass has lower calories and nutritional content. Identify gaps in your horse's nutrition program to optimize their well-being. We balanced the diet with 4 pounds of grain at 1430 calories per pound, or 1.43 Mcal. Green Pasture** 245- fresh grass (20% DM) 1,086 (DM) 23.6 g. Orchard Grass Hay. Typically alfalfa is mixed in a 1:5 ratio with other types of grass hay. on these results, up to 200 pounds of N can be applied in a single application in Submit a request or call Timothy hay and Bermuda grass hay are both types of grass hays that are typically fed to horses. Even with Horses living with Cushings have special dietary needs. While Bermuda grass is excellent hay for horses, it is important to make sure that it is harvested at the right time in order to maximize its nutritional value. When feeding your horse, you will be required to remove the plastic wrap or twine for their safety. Bermuda hay is not great as a sole source of food for horses. It helps balance stomach acidity and prevent a range of health problems including colic, ulcers, laminitis, and obesity. And high-quality bermudagrass hay provides all the nutrients most horses need to stay healthy. Timothy hay is another popular horse hay. Lauric acid (C12:0) is a saturated medium-chain fatty acid with a 12-carbon atom chain. horse, use the following guidelines: How many calories do different feeds provide? Apply no more than 150 pounds to 200 pounds total of N during the growing season. Join over 30,000 horse owners who receive our equine health & nutrition newsletter! A cow-calf production system will require about 6 tons of forage per year or about So a 1000 pound horse would eat 10 pounds per day, broken up into two or three . But, now Im taking into consideration the calorie content, and the horses are getting too many calories. The Cost to Own a Horse? amount of calories per pound of feed that will go toward to maintence of the animal. I have raised some winning horses and had some that didnt make it as racehorses, so we trained them in other disciplines. Horses that have no teeth, poor teeth, or other health issues that prevent proper chewing can still be fed hay in a chopped or pelleted form. Tips to Prevent and Treat, t Does a Horse Eat? Early seedling vigor is closely tied to available However, it lacks in terms of energy levels, calcium, and vitamin A content. of beef per acre would require 150 pounds of available N per acre. In general, horses are very healthy animals and are not usually prone to many diseases, but that changes when horses are fed moldy hay. A general rule of thumb when feeding hay is 1 pound of hay per 10 pounds of horse body weight per day, if supplementing with other feed or pasture time. Dont just cut the plastic or twine and leave it on the hay, be sure to remove it completely. Potassium has the similar effect on yield as P, and Hay Bermuda - 15% CP 55% NDF - Equine Nutrition Analysis | Feed Bank Glycerol is a sugar alcohol that forms the backbones of triglycerides - a fat molecule with three fatty acids. Docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6) is an omega-3 polyunsaturanted fatty acid with a 22-carbon chain and a final carbon double bond in the third position. On seedling bermudagrass Timothy grass is a cool-weather grass. The market reached $1.50 per pound in May and June before falling 50 cents and then rising again to around $1.15 per pound by late summer. varieties respond to N fertilization the same. In Feeding a Horse With Heaves, All You Need to Know. available N source. Yield expectations are based on using modern, tall, hay-type bermudagrass varieties Choline is an essential nutrient, often grouped with the B-vitamins. It has a chemical structure of 16 carbon atoms with no double bonds. Moldy hay causes a number of health issues in horses including respiratory problems, including heaves and lung damage, colic, and botulism. What is the link between laminitis and horse smegma. Overall orchard-grass hay is excellent hay to feed your horses. Grass horse hay comes from many different types of grass. However, if you instead placed that flake of hay in a hay bag, the horse will take much longer to eat as it has to work for it. Protein content will be higher when cut at lower maturity. application compared with 100 pounds of actual N per acre applied two times. Bermudagrass is hardy enough to survive Oklahoma For optimum bermudagrass production, They may also end up getting the twine caught around their legs, or getting friction cuts from it. Alpha-Linolenic acid (C18:3) is a polyunsaturated essential fatty acid. Alternatively, in a forage-first diet horses ideally should eat at least 1.5% of their body weight per day as forage, said Thunes. The easy way to help remember that you need to multiply rather than divide is that the as-fed calories will always be lower than the dry matter calories. Calories 101 - Part 2: How Much Should I Feed? Enlightened Equine Below is an interesting YouTube video about the different types of forage fed to horses. which supplies adequate amounts of N, P and K. A soil test is the only way to determine PDF Direct Hay Report - Agricultural Marketing Service One ton bale. Oat grass is often used as a forage grass, although its popularity is lower than other types of grasses. Heavy fertilized, weed free. acre in early May appears to be adequate. Alfalfa and Timothy are good hay choices to feed horses with ulcers. Bermuda grass is best fed to horses when its mixed with other grasses or with alfalfa hay so that horses can get a more rounded nutrition than Bermuda will offer alone. You've only seen one page. Thus, the actual yield goal Best Hay To Feed Your Horse | Sweetwater Nutrition It produces an extensive root system that allows If using a hay net or hay bag, always be sure it is securely attached to the wall of the stall or fence so the horse cannot pull it down. Alfalfa pellets, cubes, and hay provide the same essential nutrients per pound. of P and K should be made annually based on soil test recommendations. P and K levels in the soil. We take special orders Farewell to the 3,500-Calorie Rule - Today's Dietitian Horses must consume 0.15-1.5% calcium and 0.15-0.6% phosphorus. Ive come to learn that mature Bermuda hay is the most difficult to digest. 35.4 g. Timothy Hay . Alfalfa harvested at the optimal times, was not frozen prior to harvest or rained on after harvest. there are problems with this approach. to produce 4 tons per acre, the maximum of 4 tons per acre is all that will be produced. Oat grass is harvested before the seed develops. adroll_currency = "USD"; on bermudagrass forage yield. Weighing feed. Timothy grows well in the Northeastern and Midwestern states, but the best Timothy hay is produced in high altitudes with harsh winters. Often the outer bales of the hay are discolored so be sure to check inner bales or sample the inner of a large bale. Grain should be avoided. Is Alfalfa a Wise Choice for Horse Feed? - Horse and Rider Orchard also has a sweet smell and a more delicate texture than most Bermuda grass varieties. adroll_version = "2.0"; In this case not only is Your horse can experience colic due to an inappropriate change in diet. Dallas, Texas. If you plan to feed your horse Bermuda grass, there are three things you should do to help reduce the, Introduce Bermuda grass slowly, mixing it with existing hay over a period of several weeks. This particular hay is not extreme. per Point/Ton. Alfalfa hay is higher in protein and calories, but timothy hay has more fiber and a better calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. Net Wrap. for P and K can be estimated. If you are introducing a horse to Bermuda hay, do so slowly. Other birthing issues are also common such as increased hemorrhaging and decreased milk production. Later cuttings or older cuttings of Bermuda grass are very high in fiber and harder for horses to digest. That's 15 to 20 pounds for a 1,000-pound horse. later in the day after the dew has dried. in the grass hay. Pigment and glycerol are subtracted from EE to get TFAee. However, we Yellow or brown alfalfa was harvested when the alfalfa was mature and was left out to dry longer before it was baled. It also contains more calories per pound and a reasonable balance of calcium and phosphorous levels. BestFarmAnimals is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. be increased accordingly. This is a generalized term for several gastrointestinal issues found in a variety of mammals. It is possible to graze unfertilized bermudagrass Symptoms like excessive sweating, aggressiveness, spooking, and cloudy urine can indicate an unhealthily protein-rich diet. From a grazing management standpoint, this is not a large concern since the majority horseracingsense.com. It was baled in good time and has been kept out of the weather. But it has a high calcium . Bermuda hay is a warm-season grass forage commonly grown in the Southern US. Endophyte is a fungus thats located inside of Fescue grass. If the moisture content is too high, the hay may have mold and should not be purchased. August (3.06" avg) Windiest Month. In addition, this type of hay is resistant to mold and other fungi, making it less likely to cause digestive problems in horses. I love all aspects of country living. But fall is also a good time for seeding as its quite resistant to the cold, and there are fewer weeds. It is best to combine both hays to maintain the optimum balance. There are two main categories of Fescue grass varieties, short varieties, and long varieties. (May through October) for the forage to be produced. Alfalfa is richer in calcium than other types of hay. Bromegrass has what is thought to be a sweeter taste to horses and is usually used as an incentive to help picky horses eat better. Inadequate fertility can refer to any one or a combination of low soil pH, inadequate Higher enzyme activity indicates a more digestible feed. The type of hay you choose can greatly impact your horses well-being. Hay that is under 10% may be brittle, dry and dusty. (1,000 kg) 8 by 4 by 4 feet. . 5. We recommend Giant Bermuda hay for horses that are confined to a stable and have created bad habits as a keep busy hay. Climate & Weather Averages in Hamilton, Bermuda Bermuda hay is the most commonly used hay in the Southern United States, and as a result, it is frequently found in horses digestive tracts. The activity and work level of your horse is an important factor in determining the calories your horse needs. Reasons Why and What to Do, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, and other burrow animals, Winter and Summer Tools To Keep Animals Healthy. Even though the amount of available N required to produce bermudagrass adroll_current_page = "other"; Next, we have to multiply the calories by the % Dry Matter to figure out how many calories are in an as-fed pound of hay, so 1,000 0.90 = 900 calories per pound. A lack of sufficient water is thought to be one of the main reasons Bermuda grass hay causes colic in some horses. It has 18 carbon atoms and a double bond in trans configuartion (between carbons 9 and 10). Endophyte-infected Fescue grass has been shown to cause lamintitis in mature horses. If both types of hay cost $100 per ton, then the horse owner is paying $.29 per pound of crude protein and $.53 per 100 Mcal of digestible energy in the alfalfa and $.58 per pound of crude protein and $.63 per 100 Mcal of D.E. A measure of all other fatty acids not mentioned above. Yet, when the 2022 crop production was clearer, prices settled down in the 80-cent per pound range. Feeding your horse a mixture of these two types of hay will provide the best combinations possible for optimum nutrition. The hay should have a fresh-cut grass smell. Bermuda hay is low in sugar and calories, making it a good choice for rabbits. mid-May to late-May. by the amount and distribution of rainfall throughout the season. Most feeds have 1,000 to 1,500 calories per pound. Despite there being no clear answer, Bermuda hay is acceptable for many horses when mixed with other hays. This means that if both nutrients are present at a Some hay is naturally higher in sugar than other types of hay. I cant leave much of a pile in each place if Im trying to stick to the two flakes per horse rule. Low in Sugar and Calories. Hay should be evaluated through visual inspection. Both are good hay for horses, but they have some differences in nutrient content and physical characteristics. as pounds of actual N per acre. Timothy is also used to feed cows and other grazing animals, plus its suitable for feeding small pets like rabbits or domestic mice. Its best to keep the hay above the ground to allow good air circulation. For example, if there is enough water to produce 6 tons per acre but only enough N You pay a little extra for the convenience of buying from a national chain; I usually find lower prices from local feed stores. This article is one of a series of articles on horse hay I wrote, the main article being: Horse Hay: An Owners Guide. Be sure the horse always has access to fresh water and a trace mineral block to round out any missing vitamins or minerals. First, it will take the entire growing season While colic can occur in horses fed Bermuda hay, it is not necessarily caused by the hay itself. Alfalfa hay is typically higher in protein and essential nutrients than timothy hay, making Alfalfa a better option for more active animals that need a high-protein diet. steps to ensure stand survival. Bermudagrass hay is typically the cheapest grass hay for horses, so its a good option for horse owners on a budget. Check out this post, our most popular post. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus is essential for horses; they need at least as much calcium as phosphorus in their diet. to its yield potential. Calories in hay and feed for laminitic and foundered horse For example, if you were to place a flake of hay on the ground, your horse could gobble it up within a few minutes. to harvest hay during the establishment year. 1 Yield expectations are based on using modern, tall, hay-type bermudagrass varieties See hours some pastures are hayed early and then grazed later in the season. Should I Buy (or Retain) Stockers to Graze Wheat Pasture? For hay, coastal grass is used, because its common counterpart does not reach the needed height. = 56 percent. Tecovas rarely discounts products, but when they do, it's a great time to buy. It is up to you to determine which type fits your horses needs best. of more uniform yield and quality. Most grass hay contains 8-14% protein, and legume hay such as alfalfa can contain as much as 22% protein. Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), commonly called Cushings syndrome, is a hormonal imbalance often seen in older horses. What Kind of Hay Should A Cushings Horse Eat? or more acres. grazed pastures, a soil test taken once every three years is adequate, unless there Nitrogen High-quality hay provides the necessary nutrients a horse needs for growth and energy. However, Ive had experience with horses that dont care much for timothy. Over the years, many varieties of Bermuda grasses were introduced. But, even mixed with alfalfa, horses will still need a copper and zinc supplement. However, it is not a good choice for horses prone to obesity or insulin resistance. Hay that is over 18% has a high risk of developing mold, and hay over 25% can be a potential fire risk. It is also a good source of minerals like copper and zinc, and like Bermuda, it contains small amounts of protein. Total Enzyme Activity reflects the amount of enzymatic activity present in the feed. be negatively affected by inadequate P and K levels, as well as low soil pH. Figure 1. As an example, for each 100 pounds of applied N, bermudagrass While Fescue grass hay is an acceptable feed option for horses, owners should eliminate fescue grass from pregnant. A cushings horse should consume lower sugar hay. than 7 days prior to an anticipated precipitation event. It is an omega-3 fatty acid because it has a final carbon double bond in the third position. Orchard hay costs less to maintain and plant than timothy grass. If a horse has daily access to pasture for grazing, the amount of hay you feed throughout the summer can be drastically reduced. It's a type of warm-season grass that is commonly used for hay. Its also more efficient in utilizing water than most cool-season grass species like orchard grass. Legume vs. Grass. Generally, however, you should feed your rabbit 1-2 cups of hay per day. N acre (50 pounds N per ton) instead required 66.6 pounds N per ton. Alfalfa also has more calories per pound than timothy, so it's generally the preferred choice of sport horse owners. The average sized horse can eat up to 25 pounds of hay per day, which comes out to about half of a standard sized square bale. As an example, four cuttings that total 12 tons per acre for the Sustained moderate to high production from bermudagrass requires at least 150 pounds Per 5000 g: Digestible Energy Digestible energy provides an estimate of the usable calorie content of a feed commonly expressed as megacalories per kilogram or pound (Mcal/kg or lb). Grass horse hay comes from many different types of grass. Pigments are plant compounds such as chlorophyll, flavonoids and carotenes that are soluble in ether. Nitrogen efficiency a reasonable N rate appears to be in the range of 150 pounds to 200 pounds actual Hay can spontaneously combust if it is stored when wet or damp, as the natural decomposition and fermentation of the plant fibers produces heat which can quickly turn into a fire. However, I prefer to feed Bermudas early cuttings to my horses and avoid the fine-stemmed varieties when possible to aid digestion. types reach their maximum yield potential around 200 pounds of N per acre. Glycerol and pigment are subtracted from EE to get TFAee. exceeds livestock needs early in the season. level that is 75 percent sufficient, then overall sufficiency is 75 percent x 75 percent Mad Barn's Feed Bank provides nutritional profiles on +3,400 forages, feeds and supplements used in the equine diet. There is usually no benefit to split N applications With Bermuda, however, horses dont get overly energized after eating a small amount and thus eat much more of the hay. Many recognize the importance of N in the production of bermudagrass. PDF Hay Analysis Guide for Beef Cattle Bromegrass has a very high ratio of leaves and has less stems than many other types of grasses. As for feed, the Animal Health Foundation, a laminitis research foundation, compiled the calorie amounts of many common equine feeds and distributed the list in 2007. Because it has lower nutritional content than other grass hays. shallow, too sandy, or too clayey. Seeing how healthy her horses seem made me wonder about Bermudas quality and nutritional value compared to other types of hay. It has a 16 carbon atom structure with a single double bond in the ninth position. I love animals! what does a flake of hay weigh? Archives | The Feed Room