Is Steamed Hay Good For Laminitic Horses?

Soaking hay and steaming it can benefit horses with respiratory issues, laminitis and those that are sensitive to sugar or require low potassium content. Dry hay can be very dusty, which may trigger respiratory problems in horses, particularly those with equine asthma aka chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (heaves).

Does steaming hay take out the sugar?

Steaming is less effective at reducing the sugar and starch content of hay. Steaming has been shown to reduce water-soluble carbohydrate levels in hay by 0 – 18%, compared to 8 – 50% for soaking. For horses that require low NSC hay, soaking before steaming can help.

What hay is best for laminitic horses?

Hay is likely to form the bulk of the diet for an EMS/PPID/laminitic horse. Late cut, native species grass hay is likely to have lower sugar levels than early cut improved species (e.g. ryegrass) grass hay. High fibre haylage may also be suitable.

Is steamed hay good for horses?

Other research demonstrates that steaming reduces mold content in hay. It also shows that horses with Recurrent Airway Obstruction expressed more disease signs while eating unsteamed hay compared to steamed hay. This suggests that horses with respiratory disease may benefit from steamed hay.

Does steaming hay remove nutrients?

Soaking hay and steaming hay are strategies that are used to reduce respirable dust particles for horses but may result in variable nutrient losses, including nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) and minerals.

Does steaming hay work?

Steaming hay reduces bacterial counts almost entirely. This benefits horses with respiratory compromise and may also support a healthier hindgut. “The health of the horse depends largely on the health of the intestinal microbiome.

What does steaming your hay do?

Steaming (even after Soaking) improves the palatability of hay to the point that Horses have been proven to prefer it. The result is a happier horse, more of the hay eaten and less hay scattered in the stable and walked into your bedding.

What should laminitic horses not eat?

A high fibre, low starch and low sugar diet is essential for laminitics, so avoid feeds that contain cereals or molasses.

What is the best hay to feed a foundered horse?

Feed grass hay, possibly a little alfalfa hay, or rinsed sugar beet, BUT stay away from corn, oats, barley, and especially stay away from sugar as molasses. Feed extra fat in the form of oil or rice bran if you need to get energy into the horse.

What months are worse for laminitis?

Spring is traditionally known as a peak time for laminitis, but the latest research shows that the second biggest killer of horses and ponies is an all-year-round threat.

How long will steamed hay last?

Most are designed to distribute steam evenly throughout the bale, ensuring the whole bale is steamed thoroughly. It has also been shown that the lower RP achieved by steaming can last up to 4 days. However, it is recommended that steamed hay is fed within 12-24 hours to prevent other contamination.

Does steaming hay lower NSC?

The above numbers demonstrate that steaming will reduce the NSC to 12.06% on a 100% dry matter basis. But even better, the NSC level is actually brought down to 10.86% on an as-sampled basis — safe to feed for most insulin resistant horses.

What hay should horses not eat?

Types of Hay for Horses—What to Avoid

• Perennial ryegrass and rye.
• Dallisgrass.
• Argentine bahiagrass.
• Johnsongrass, Sorghum grasses/Sudangrass.
• Switchgrass, which causes photosensitivity, peeling skin, mouth ulcers and liver disease.
• Foxtail Millet (aka German Millet) and Meadow foxtail.

What nutrients are lost when steaming?

Nutrient content is often altered during cooking

• water-soluble vitamins: vitamin C and the B vitamins — thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9), and cobalamin (B12)
• fat-soluble vitamins: vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Does soaking hay remove sugars?

In addition to removing sugars, soaking also reduces some minerals. Crude protein, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium concentrations all decrease with soaking. However, certain horses might benefit from the loss of specific nutrients.

What hay has the most nutrients?

Alfalfa Hay
Alfalfa is a legume hay that is very nutrient-dense, offering your livestock a significant source of protein and energy, as well as vitamins and other nutrients, like calcium.

How long should hay be soaked for laminitis?

Soaking hay for 12 – 16 hours in cold weather and no more than 3 – 6 hours in warm weather can help to reduce WSC content by up to 50% in some cases.

What can I feed a laminitic horse?

Forage: High quality grass hay is the ideal forage for a horse prone to laminitis. Feed: A product specially formulated for metabolic issues or a ration balancer are the best bet to feed your laminitic horse.

Does steaming hay make it softer?

That’s the main use for a steamer. It also softens the hay, and it’s very, very palatable. When horses are given a choice, they always choose the steamed hay.

How do you steam hay at home?

Using Your Steamer

1. Step 1: Put your steamer somewhere with good drainage away from any fire hazards.
2. Step 2: Put your hay in steamer.
3. Step 3: Thoroughly wet the hay – I spray each flake on each side.
4. Step 4: Fill steamer with water to steam line.
5. Step 5: Steam hay for 90 minutes to 2 hours.

Does steaming hay make it more palatable?

Hay steaming not only helps with your horse with coughs it also makes the hay more palatable. Steaming hay can be a great way to encourage your horse to eat the hay while helping to reduce or eliminate coughs and kill moulds and spore forming bacteria.