What Nutrients Are In Hay For Horses?

Hay drying Living pasture grasses and alfalfa are rich in fat and water-soluble vitamins, essential fatty acids, minerals, carbohydrates, and protein. But once they are cut, dried, and stored as hay, many nutrients that were once plentiful begin to dwindle. Fat-soluble vitamins. These include vitamins A, D, E, and K.

What nutrients do horses get from hay?

Forages make up a large portion of a horse’s diet, and contribute significantly to the horse’s nutritional status, a factor that is often overlooked. Good quality grass hay may provide all of the energy, protein, calcium, and phosphorus most horses need, depending on how much of it they eat.

What minerals does hay have?

Substances

• Minerals.
• Phosphorus.
• Magnesium.
• Potassium. Calcium.

What is the main ingredient in hay?

Composition. Commonly used plants for hay include mixtures of grasses such as ryegrass (Lolium species), timothy, brome, fescue, Bermuda grass, orchard grass, and other species, depending on region. Hay may also include legumes, such as alfalfa (lucerne) and clovers (red, white and subterranean).

Are there vitamins in hay?

Hay contains large amounts of Vitamin A, which functions as a provitamin, supporting eye health, the immune system, reproductive health, and a robust antioxidant. Six-months after cutting, hay may have as little as 10% of its original carotenoid content.

Can horses survive on just hay?

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.

What is the most nutritious feed for horses?

Roughage/Forage Roughage, found in hay or grass, is the bulk of the horse’s food. Grass or alfalfa hay, or a combination of the two, are good sources of roughage. Grass hay is generally higher in fiber and dry matter than alfalfa, but alfalfa may be higher in protein, energy, vitamins and calcium.

What nutrient is hay high in?

Hay drying
Living pasture grasses and alfalfa are rich in fat and water-soluble vitamins, essential fatty acids, minerals, carbohydrates, and protein. But once they are cut, dried, and stored as hay, many nutrients that were once plentiful begin to dwindle. Fat-soluble vitamins. These include vitamins A, D, E, and K.

What is the most nutritious hay?

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.

Which cut of hay has the most nutrients?

Legume hays (alfalfa) are richer in nutrients and energy while grass hays are high in fibre for a healthy digestive tract. Therefore, if choosing between the two, alfalfa hays are preferred for those who require more energy. Seniors, mature non-working horses and easy keepers are apt to do better on a grass hay diet.

What is the best mixture of hay for horses?

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.

Which hay is highest in protein?

Higher 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 additives are added to hay?

Four main categories of hay preservatives are available; organic acids and their salts, bacterial inoculants, sulphur-based preservatives (HayGuard) and ammonia-based additives. Some products may also include enzymes, antioxidants and nutrients.

How long does hay hold its nutritional value?

If the hay was of good-quality when harvested and stored in a dry place with sufficient airflow, hay is likely suitable for consumption for two to three years. Keep in mind that hay, even premium forage, loses much of its vitamin content in the first few months of storage.

Is there any protein in hay?

Crude protein is a measure of protein content in the hay and is an indicator of the number of amino acids in the hay. CP can range from: 8 to 14 percent in grass hays. 14 to 17 percent in legume-grass mixed hays.

Does soaking hay remove nutrients?

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.

Do horses get enough nutrition from hay?

The truth is that good quality hay can provide a horse with the majority of its nutritional needs. Many horses can derive adequate calories and protein from hay as well as much of their macro-mineral needs (calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium).

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 you feed a horse too much hay?

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. And, sometimes too little hay can mean a horse will lose weight. So, what is the right amount of hay for your horse? Just how much your horse will need will depend on its weight.

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 should you not feed horses?

There are certain foods which you should certainly never feed to your horse.

• Chocolate.
• Persimmons.
• Avocado.
• Lawn Clippings.
• Fruit with Pips and Stones.
• Bread.
• Potatoes and Other Nightshades.
• Yogurt and Other Dairy Products.