forages for horses dr. robert a. mowrey extension horse husbandry north carolina state university
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Forages for HorsesForages for Horses
Dr. Robert A. MowreyDr. Robert A. Mowrey
Extension Horse HusbandryExtension Horse Husbandry
North Carolina State North Carolina State UniversityUniversity
ForageForage The foundation of a horse’s feeding The foundation of a horse’s feeding
programprogram Provide grains and protein, mineral & Provide grains and protein, mineral &
vitamin supplements only when vitamin supplements only when deficient in foragedeficient in forage
The economical approach to feedingThe economical approach to feeding
Forages Suitable for Forages Suitable for EquinesEquines
LegumeLegume GrassGrass Cereal GrainCereal Grain Mixed grass / legume Mixed grass / legume
What is Quality Hay?What is Quality Hay?
High in nutrient contentHigh in nutrient content Eaten in large amountsEaten in large amounts
Palatable vs. acceptablePalatable vs. acceptable Appearance?Appearance?
Factors Affecting Hay Factors Affecting Hay QualityQuality
Stage of maturityStage of maturity Leafiness vs. stemLeafiness vs. stem
Foreign materialForeign material WeedsWeeds DebrisDebris Other foragesOther forages
ColorColor Condition and odorCondition and odor
Green Color “Means”Green Color “Means”
Cut at immature stageCut at immature stage Proper curingProper curing High in carotene Vitamin AHigh in carotene Vitamin A
Condition & OdorCondition & Odor
Shake hay flakeShake hay flake White cloud = mold sporesWhite cloud = mold spores Brown cloud = dusty hayBrown cloud = dusty hay
Avoid moldy hayAvoid moldy hay Feed refusal factorFeed refusal factor coliccolic
Stage of MaturityStage of Maturity
Cut forages earlyCut forages early Grasses- prior to seed headGrasses- prior to seed head Legumes- at 10% bloomLegumes- at 10% bloom
Nutrient content decreases with maturityNutrient content decreases with maturityGrass field cutGrass field cut
June 3June 3 June 27June 27
Crude Fiber (CF)Crude Fiber (CF) 29%29% 40%40%
Crude Protein (CP)Crude Protein (CP) 15%15% 5%5%
Digestible Energy (DE)Digestible Energy (DE) 65%65% 50%50%
Effect of Maturity on Effect of Maturity on DigestibilityDigestibility
Immature plantsImmature plants Thin cell wallThin cell wall Cell contents- protein, sugar, fat, starch, pectinCell contents- protein, sugar, fat, starch, pectin Low CFLow CF High CP; DEHigh CP; DE
Mature plantsMature plants Thick cell wallThick cell wall Thin cell contentsThin cell contents High CFHigh CF Low DE, CPLow DE, CP
Nutrient Content of Nutrient Content of Forages in Horse DietsForages in Horse Diets11
DMDM DEDE CPCP ADFADF CFCF(%)(%) (Mcal/lb)(Mcal/lb) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
OrchardgrassOrchardgrassfreshfresh 23.523.5 0.240.24 3.03.0 7.2 7.2 7.5 7.5immature hayimmature hay 89.189.1 0.88 11.40.88 11.4 30.130.1 30.230.2mature haymature hay 90.690.6 0.780.78 7.67.6 34.234.2 33.633.6
Coastal BermudagrassCoastal Bermudagrassfreshfresh 30.330.3 0.330.33 3.83.8 11.111.1 8.6 8.6immature hayimmature hay 88.488.4 0.87 10.60.87 10.6 30.030.0 26.726.7mature haymature hay 93.093.0 0.790.79 7.37.3 35.735.7 30.430.4
1 1 Nutrient Requirements of the Horse (1989). As fed basis.Nutrient Requirements of the Horse (1989). As fed basis.
Feed Testing ServiceFeed Testing Service
Conducted by NCDA & CS Conducted by NCDA & CS $10.00 per sample$10.00 per sample
Test KitsTest Kits Free Free Available at County Extension OfficeAvailable at County Extension Office
Forage Protein Forage Protein ContentContent
Hay Hay %CP%CP % DP % DP %Lysine %Lysine
LegumesLegumes Red CloverRed Clover 14.9 14.9 8.3 8.3 0.64 0.64
AlfalfaAlfalfa 15.0 15.0 10.0 10.0 0.640.64
LespedezaLespedeza 13.4 13.4 7.5 7.5 0.60 0.60
TimothyTimothy 9.0 9.0 6.0 6.0 0.40 0.40
GrassesGrasses OrchardgrassOrchardgrass 10.1 10.1 6.0 6.0 0.350.35
BermudagrassBermudagrass 9.5 9.5 4.5 4.5 0.43 0.43
FescueFescue 8.4 8.4 3.7 3.7 0.410.41
Forage Energy Forage Energy ContentContent
DEDE
Hay Mcal/kgHay Mcal/kg TDN % TDN %LegumesLegumes Red CloverRed Clover 2.16 2.16 49 49
AlfalfaAlfalfa 2.16 2.16 49 49
LespedezaLespedeza 2.07 2.07 52 52
TimothyTimothy 1.98 1.98 45 45
GrassesGrasses OrchardgrassOrchardgrass 2.07 2.07 44 44
BermudagrassBermudagrass 1.94 1.94 44 44
FescueFescue 1.81 1.81 45 45
Forage Mineral Forage Mineral ContentContent
Ratio Ratio Hay Hay %Ca % P Ca:P %Ca % P Ca:P
LegumesLegumes Red CloverRed Clover 14.9 14.9 0.250.25 6:1 6:1
AlfalfaAlfalfa 15.0 15.0 0.250.25 6:16:1
LespedezaLespedeza 1.04 1.04 0.230.23 4.5:1 4.5:1
TimothyTimothy 0.41 0.41 0.190.19 2.15:1 2.15:1
GrassesGrasses OrchardgrassOrchardgrass 0.35 0.35 0.310.31 1.1:11.1:1
Bermudagrass 0.46Bermudagrass 0.46 0.180.18 2.5:1 2.5:1
FescueFescue 0.36 0.36 0.210.21 1.7:11.7:1
Forage Fed as Hay vs. Forage Fed as Hay vs. GrazedGrazed
Performance of Yearling Performance of Yearling Horses on Pasture and Horses on Pasture and
Supplemental FeedSupplemental Feed
Hansen et al. 1987, Texas A& Hansen et al. 1987, Texas A& M UniversityM University
Experiment DesignExperiment Design
18 Yearlings, 295 kg Body Weight18 Yearlings, 295 kg Body Weight
188 day continuous grazing trial 188 day continuous grazing trial (March-Sept)(March-Sept)
Part 1= 56 days (ryegrass + Part 1= 56 days (ryegrass + bermudagrass); March-Maybermudagrass); March-May
Part 2= 132 days (Bermuda); June- Part 2= 132 days (Bermuda); June- OctOct
Stocking rate: 3.0 horses (700 Stocking rate: 3.0 horses (700 lbs.)/acrelbs.)/acre
TreatmentsTreatments
PAS - pasturePAS - pasture
1/2 Fed - pasture + grain (25% NRC 1/2 Fed - pasture + grain (25% NRC energy)energy)
Fed - pasture + grain (50% NRC Fed - pasture + grain (50% NRC energy)energy)
Estimated Cost/DayEstimated Cost/Day
PasturePasture
Pasture + 1/2 Pasture + 1/2 FeedFeed
Pasture + Full Pasture + Full FeedFeed
$0.14$0.14
$0.58$0.58
$1.02$1.02
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