Is Peanut Hay Good For Older Horses?

Hay made from annual peanuts is unsuitable for horses, as it is usually sandy, dusty, stemmy, and low in nutritional value.

What is the best hay for older horses?

Alfalfa hay and good quality grass hays are preferable to stemmy and mature hays that have tougher fiber to ferment. The small intestine loses some function – Older horses find it harder to digest protein in the small intestine.

Is peanut hay safe for horses?

Annual peanut hay should not be fed to horses under any circumstance as it is sandy, mostly stems, and dusty.

Is peanut hay high in calcium?

Moreover, peanut hay was rich in Ca (12 g/kg DM) and P (1.7 g/kg DM).

What is the most digestible hay for horses?

Timothy hay is a popular choice because of its easy digestibility and may be more suitable for certain life stages. However, alfalfa hay has a higher calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, which makes it unsuitable for younger horses. Timothy hay has a balanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.

What can I feed my senior horse to gain weight?

Consider adding a supplement

• Inexpensive and Easy: Vegetable Oil.
• Easy but Expensive: Top dress with a high-fat supplement to add more calories to your existing feeding program.
• Effective yet Time-Consuming: Add beet pulp or alfalfa pellets/cubes to your horse’s diet.

What hay is toxic to horses?

Endophytes present in tall fescue and ryegrass produce mycotoxins that are toxic to equines. Endophyte-infected fescue hay can cause reproductive problems resulting in dystocia (foaling difficulties) and poor milk production.

What is the highest protein hay?

One of the biggest differences between alfalfa hay and grass hay is the protein content. On average, alfalfa hay has much higher levels of protein, ranging from 15% to 21% depending on when the alfalfa was cut. This is much higher than the protein levels of grass hay, which typically contains 10% or less protein.

What hay causes colic in horses?

A change in the type of hay may cause colic for many reasons. Hay of poor quality is often less digestible, predisposing to impaction. Changing types of hay as in alfalfa and bermuda, may be related to colonic pH changes resulting from calcium differences in the two hays.

What hay is best for overweight horses?

Grass hay
Grass hay is the best type for many mature, idle, overweight horses and those with some metabolic problems. Caloric level is lowest, though it may still be too high for safe use with horses that have insulin resistance. Obese horses can eat more of this hay without taking in the energy contained in a better-grade hay.

What to feed an old horse who can’t eat hay?

Alternatives to Traditional Hay
Adding beet pulp to your horse’s morning meal is one popular way to help them maintain their weight and control their rate of grain consumption. Beet pulp is available with or sans added molasses and its soft texture makes it easy for toothless horses to consume.

Can horses overeat hay?

We know horses need to eat either grass or hay. When horses eat grass, you will need to keep an eye on their condition and make sure that they are neither eating too much nor too little. Horses can overeat grass, especially if the pasture is lush, but it is also easy to let a horse get too fat from eating hay.

What hay is high in nitrates?

Alfalfa, barley, corn, oats, and wheat are examples of field crops that are nitrate accumulators.

Are peanut hulls good for horses?

Peanut hulls carry a greater risk for aflatoxins.
These fungi love groundnuts like peanuts more than just about anything, and the aflatoxins they produce can be lethal to horses, livestock, and even humans.

What animal eats peanut hay?

Perennial peanut is a high-quality persistent tropical forage legume which can be grazed or fed to horses, dairy and beef cattle, hogs, goats, sheep and rabbits. It can be stored as dry hay or silage and is a substitute for alfalfa.

What is the feed value of peanut hay?

Peanut Hay

What should you not feed a horse?

Here are eight foods you should never feed your horse:

• Chocolate. ©russellstreet/Flickr CC.
• Persimmons.
• Avocado.
• Lawn clippings.
• Pitted fruits.
• Bread.
• Potatoes and other nightshades.
• Yogurt or other milk products.