Can You Mix Straw With Hay For Horses?

Although straw is often not the most palatable source of fibre, most horses will eat it, particularly if they are on a restricted diet. It can easily be mixed in with hay and soaked or steamed if necessary.

How do you mix straw and hay?

If you have access to some good quality hay (16 percent protein) this can be fed in a 60/40, straw/hay mix to supply adequate energy and protein. With an average quality hay (12 percent protein), go to a 50/50 mix, and with a low quality hay (9 percent protein), cut straw back to 30 percent of the ration.

Can horses eat too much straw?

If horses eat a large volume of straw, this lignin fiber accumulates in the digestive system and it can plug (impact) the digestive system. This results in severe colic and even death if not properly treated. Horses that are well- fed normally do not eat large volumes of straw bedding.

What is the best straw to feed horses?

Oaten
What type of straw is best for horse feed? Oaten or barley straw is generally softer (less indigestible fibre) than wheaten straw and is therefore more commonly used for feed. If you have a feed analysis performed, look for an NDF of less than 65.

What to put on straw to stop horses eating it?

Deterring Straw Eating
So a strong mix of Malt Vinegar would be a safer option for these horses. Carbolic Powder, which is often used to absorb the smell of ammonia on the floor of the bed, can also be mixed into the horses bed and is usually enough to discourage horses from eating their straw bed.

What is the best mix for horse hay?

What is the best hay mixture for horses? Mixed or mixed-grass hay usually means that it has different types of grasses in it. Common mixes are timothy/alfalfa, orchardgrass/ alfalfa, and orchardgrass/clover. The best hay mix for most horses, without any health problems, is one-half Alfalfa and one-half Timothy.

Do horses like hay or straw?

Horses will nibble at straw, but it won’t hurt them to eat it. Unlike hay, it provides no nutrients, but the fibrous material can keep the gut moving. Your best choice is probably wheat straw, if available, because horses usually won’t eat it.

What is the cheapest bedding for horses?

Straw is one of the cheapest options available to use as horse bedding, however it does come with some drawbacks: Mould can form if it is harvested or stored improperly. Ingestion can cause impaction problems.

How many bales of hay should a horse have a day?

A horse can eat anywhere from 15-25 pounds of hay a day, which generally equates to a half of a 45/50-pound square bale of hay per day (~15-30 bales per month).

Can straw cause ulcers in horses?

In an earlier study, feeding with straw as the only/major roughage source was associated with a higher risk of gastric ulcers [11].

How much straw should I feed my horse?

Introduce straw gradually, as with all feeds. Feed barley or oat straw, ideally not sprayed with chemicals and of good hygienic quality. Feed no more than 50% of the total forage amount as straw. NB Pat Harris suggests feeding no more than 25% of the total forage amount as straw.

Is straw better than hay?

Straw is better than hay because straw has no seeds. This give straw a wider variety of uses in the garden. Although you can use hay as mulch or compost, this does present a problem. That is, the seeds (from grain or weeds) in hay might germinate in your garden and compete with your other plants.

Which is better straw or hay?

Straw is not as nutritionally valuable as hay and is generally less expensive than hay. Hay is harvested while it is still a live, healthy plant. Straw is the dead stalks of plants after the valuable parts of the plants have been harvested.

What is the most absorbent bedding for horses?

Wood pellets
Of all the different types of horse bedding, wood pellet bedding is by far the most absorbent. It will absorb four times as much moisture as straw and three times as much as shavings.

What to feed a horse that is Quidding?

As long as a horse has learned to quid and is satiated by easy-to-chew meals, it will likely find pleasure in grazing.
Quidding and Teeth Dysfunction in Old Horses

• Soft, leafy alfalfa (lucerne) hay.
• Hay pellets.
• Senior feeds.
• Vegetable oils.

Should horses eat hay off the ground?

If the ground is grassy and relatively dry, consider feeding hay on the ground to mimic the way a horse naturally grazes. However, if your soil is sandy or gravelly, elevate hay off the ground when feeding via a hay net or manger, as horses can ingest sand or gravel which can lead to impaction colic.

Should horses have hay all time?

Because we like to think our horses follow the same schedule that we do, many people think that horses need less hay at night because they’re asleep (and therefore, not eating). However, that’s a myth. Horses need access to forage at all times of the day.

What is the healthiest hay for horses?

Alfalfa, white clover, red clover and birdsfoot trefoil are common types of legumes, with alfalfa being the most popular choice. Benefits: Legumes are higher in protein and calcium than grass hay, and may also provide more energy and a higher level of total digestible nutrients, such as vitamin A.

Can a horse live on hay alone?

Many pleasure and trail horses don’t need grain: good-quality hay or pasture is sufficient. If hay isn’t enough, grain can be added, but the bulk of a horse’s calories should always come from roughage. Horses are meant to eat roughage, and their digestive system is designed to use the nutrition in grassy stalks.

Can hay be too rich for horses?

Providing grain and supplements (e.g. a supplement for hoof, or generally vitamin and mineral supplements) can make up the rest. Richer hay can provide more nutrients; however, you have to be careful not to provide hay that is too rich or “hot” for your horse, donkey or mule.

Do horses sleep on straw?

In addition to looking attractive, straw can make a very soft bedding, particularly if it’s chopped a second time after harvest. This softness can encourage horses to lie down and get more rest. Straw is also the bedding of choice for foaling, as opposed to wood shavings.