Area Extension Agronomy Specialist Horse Healthy Hay Bob Woods Area Extension Agronomy Specialist NE Oklahoma 2007 Arkansas Hay Day July 12, 2007

Horses Need Forage ¾ to 2 pounds per 100 pounds of body weight Prevent acidosis, colic, ulcers Reduce crib biting, wood chewing

Hay for Horses Fits the Nutrient Requirement Palatable (they like it) Free of dust and mold (avoid mycotoxins and respiratory problems) Free of foreign material and objectionable weeds (avoid injury and trips to the vet) Color (bigger effect on price than quality)

Fits the Nutrient Requirement Nutritive Value determined by forage maturity at the time of harvest Fertilizer increases yield and allows harvesting at an earlier stage of growth Lab analysis is the only sure way to determine nutritive value

Effect of Stage of Maturity on Yield and Forage Nutritive Value Boot Stage to early heading, or bud to early bloom Forage Yield High Fescue 8 months Multiple Harvests or Rotational stocking Nutritive Value Bermudagrass 4 Weeks Low Stage of Maturity

Effect of Nitrogen Fertility and Maturity on Crude Protein in Bermudagrass Lbs. of N/A O 50 100 Stage of Maturity 4 weeks 6 weeks 8 weeks Estimated CP % 7 6 5 9 12

The percentages and ranges of CP and TDN of Arkansas Hays Alfalfa Bermudagrass Bluestem Fescue Ryegrass Sudangrass Wheat CP Avg (Range) 18.5 (6.1 – 33.1) 12.4 (3.7 – 23.7) 9.4 (2.6 – 15.6) 11.2 (3.9 – 22.4) 11.8 (3.9 – 26.7) 11.6 (2.5 – 20.2) 11.3 (4.4 – 19.4) TDN Avg (Range) 61 (37 – 78) 60 (40 – 81) 56 (37 – 71) 54 (42 – 70) 56 (45 – 68) 62 (42 – 83) 55 (38 – 68) Arkansas Publication MP434

Fertilized Hay For Sale Harvest for Quality Fertilize for Quantity

Effect of Rainfall on Hay Reduces nutritive value Potential Leaching Dry Matter 20 to 40%, Crude Protein 20%, Non Structural Carbohydrates 35% Increases shattering losses Increased rejection Greater effect if rain is late in the drying process Delayed harvest and resulting increased maturity also reduces nutritive value

Effect of Nitrogen Fertility and Maturity on Crude Protein in Bermudagrass Lbs. of N/A O 50 100 Stage of Maturity 4 weeks 6 weeks 8 weeks Estimated CP % 7 6 5 9 12 22% 25%

Palatable Palatability – How well the horse likes it! Soft texture, fine stems, leafy Heavily dependent on maturity of the forage when harvested Preference Weathering can increase rejection

Free of dust and mold Moldy Hay May contain mycotoxins or fungal spores Can cause respiratory problems (horse and human) Reduced palatability (increased rejection)

Mold Prevention Most mold occurs before harvest Adequately dried before baling 20% moisture (or less in high humidity)

Free of foreign material and objectionable weeds Avoid injury, rejection, importing weeds Thistles Horse nettles, blackberry Mature foxtails, dallisgrass Excessive undesirable broadleaf forbs (ragweeds, bitter sneezeweed, ironweed) Poisonous plants

Free of foreign material and objectionable weeds Blister Beetle Mostly associated with Alfalfa A Swarming insect Earliest found in OK – May 14 often mid June before active

Alfalfa Buyer Inspect closely before feeding 1st cutting and after September cuttings usually safe Know your supplier

Color Bright green color has little to do with quality and a lot to do with marketing. Mostly and indicator that hay was harvested and packaged during good drying conditions. Weathering and sunlight will bleach the hay both before and after baling.

Forages for Horse Hay Bermudagrass Native Alfalfa Tall Fescue Small Grains Ryegrass Crabgrass Sorghum/Sudan Cool season legumes Sericea lespedeza Old world bluestems

Cool Season Grasses Fescue, Ryegrass, small grains, orchardgrass, timothy, bromes Harvest in boot stage (April-May) Weather? Fescue (endophyte)

Legumes Red Clover Mold can cause slobbering Harvest in April, May, June Tends to turn black Alfalfa Sericea lespedeza Annual lespedeza

Warm Season Grasses Native Hay typically low nutritive value Bermudagrass fertilized and multiple harvests for high nutritive value Crabgrass, Sudangrass Test for nitrates

Practical Guide to Hay Selection Ask for a quality analysis Avoid dusty, moldy, musty smelling hay (Does it make you sneeze?) Fine stemmed (soft) and free of objectionable weeds (should not stab you!) Immature (few seed heads) Bright green color? (premium price does not mean premium quality)

Summary for the Horse Hay Producer It’s not all horse hay! Horse hay requires extra effort Weed control Time to dry Provide what the customer needs Ask a fair price for the effort

Summary for the Horse Owner Know your supplier Expect to pay more for horse hay!