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