Buying Horse Hay Key issues for Horse Owners

Nutritional Requirements of Horses n Pseudo-Ruminants –ineffective ruminants: high quality needed –fiber required: »daily forage intake should >1% bw »Prefer 1/2 of daily intake to be forages n Multiple Requirements –Production: Reproduction, Growth, Work –Maintenance: infrequently exercised, mature horse

Forage Requirements of Horse Owners n Nutrition –High Quality needed –Reduce feed costs –Control of Toxic plants n Exercise –Daily requirements –Soil compaction n Aesthetics

Forage Quality n Digestibility is a function of maturity n Crude protein is a function of maturity and soil nitrogen.

Nitrogen rate effect on digestibility and crude protein

Maturity effects on Digestibility and Crude protein.

Forage Selection n Cool Season –Annuals »Ryegrass »Small grains »Clovers –Perennials: »Tall Fescue: toxin »others n Warm Season –Annuals »Crabgrass: loams »Millets: Sand –Perennials: »Switch Grass, Indian Grass, Side Oats Gamma, Big and Little Bluestem

Sugar Problems With Hay and Forage n Sensitive horses –Laminitis (founder) –Equine metabolic syndrome –Equine Cushing’s syndrome –Polysaccharide storage myopathy

Sugar Problems With Hay and Forage n Cushing Disease and pasture laminitis n Cause: Unable to take up sugar in the form of glucose due to diminished response to insulin (insulin resistance) –Obese or fat horses over 15 years of age –Common in ponies

Sugar Problems With Hay and Forage n Polysaccharide storage myopathy n Cause:Increased sensitivity to insulin and increased glucose uptake in muscles –Found more often in heavy muscled horses and ponies

Sugar Problems With Hay and Forage n Cool Season Grass Ratings –Orchardgrass, meadow fescue, tall fescue all high in sugar –Timothy and crested wheat grass are medium in sugar –Warm Season Annuals are medium in sugar content

Sugar Problems With Hay and Forage n Test forage for Sugar if horses are sensitive –10% of less considered safe

Sugar Problems With Hay and Forage n Producers can Take Some Action –Soak hay 60 minutes in cold water followed by 30 minutes in hot water –Removes 30% of the sugar content

Sugar Problems With Hay and Forage n Grazing Control Options for Producers –Sugar highest at vegetative state and periods of cool nights and warm sunny days, or after a hard freeze and during periods of drought –Usually found in top 2” of plant so grazing susceptible horses last is recommended

Warm Season Perennial Grasses adapted to Central Sands n Rye Grass: most popular n Switch Grass: gaining popularity n Sudan Grass: Can be toxic and avoided n Big and Little Bluestem: Late Summer n Indian Grass-Side Oats Gamma- Gamma Grass-Some interest

Weed Control n Limited Herbicides n Multiple options n Integrated Management –Multiple uses –Multiple methods

Why Control Weeds n Economics: forage quality and quantity n Animal Health: toxic –Hoary Alyssum –Tall fescue n Spouse Nagging: better listen

Weed Control Methods n Herbicides n Defoliation –Mowing –Grazing n Good Management –Fertility –Carbohydrate Management –Shading

Basic Principles of Chemical Weed Control n Know your weeds n Choose the right herbicide n Calibrate your sprayer n Spray at the proper time

Know Your Weeds 300 different species in Wisconsin Pastures and Fields

Only a Handful Economically Significant n Yellow FoxtailMilkweed n PigweedRagweed Thistles n Spotted Knap Weed n HorsenettleGrassburs n Buffalo Burs and Sand Burs n Hoary AlyssumCrabgrass

Life Cycle n Annual: Seed germinates, plant grows, flowers and seeds out in one growing season (crabgrass) n Biennial: Seed germinates, plant grows, then reproduces in following year (onion) n Perennial: Seed germinates, and plant lives and reproduces for several years (bermudagrass)

Basic Principle n Starve the weed, feed the crop n Spray annual weeds when they are young and actively growing n Spray perennial weeds when they are at full leaf or fruit set

Labeled Herbicides n 2,4-D: annual broadleaf n Banvel: Weedmaster n Picloram: Grazon P+D n Sulfanyl Urea: Ally, Amber –specific weed tolerance and susceptibility n Roundup: new uses n Zorial: only labeled pre-emerge

Summary n Weed management n Weed Identification n Integrated management

Lieberg’s Law of Limits

Soil Fertility n Chemical –Soil pH –Nitrogen –Phosphorus –Potassium –Secondary –Micronutrients n Physical –Texture –Structure –Infiltration rate –Utility –Aesthetics –Crop selectivity

Nutrient removed (lbs./ac) by grazing and hay production.

Fertility Management n Potassium: Tricky –Grazing: limited –Hay: depletion –First indication: Winter kill –Late application may be more important –examine roots in late summer –fertilize for Ryegrass Requirements

Fertility Management n Soil pH: –limits nutrient availability –Cool season more intolerant –Ryegrass/small grains: pH>5.8 –Clover »pH<7: crimson, arrowleaf, subterranean, lespedeza »pH>7:alfalfa, berseem, sweetclover, vetch, medics (?)

Fertility Management n Secondary: Ca, Mg, S. –Ca, Mg: adjust with lime –Sulfur becoming more important n Micronutrients: Zn, Cu, others –pH regulates »pH<5.5: Zn, Cu, others »pH>7.5: Fe, others –manure: build up of Cu

Summary n Maximum response –Nitrogen –Potassium n Forage requirement n Nutrient use n Crop Compatibility –Manage for cool season

Quality Hay Characteristics n High digestibility n High nutrient content n High palatability n Easily consumed n Free of toxic materials n Easily handled

Factors in Purchasing Hay n Chemical Analysis –Protein –Digestibility –other nutrients n Physical Factors n Anti-quality Factors: –toxins: fescue, sorghum, kleingrass –dust, etc.

Physical Factors Affecting Quality Hay n Stage of Maturity: younger is better n Foreign Material: –Dust, mold, etc. –Metal, Toxic weeds –Insects (blister beetles) n Texture: softer is better n Leafiness: more leaf, more digestible n Color: buyer factor

How Much Hay Will Your Horse Eat Per Year n Horse Weight x 2.2% of Body Weight (1100x 2.2=25 lbs) n Number of days feed hay: 180 x 25=4,500 lbs –Small Square Bales(40 lbs) per year »4,500 divided by 40 lbs = 113 bales –Round bales or Big Squares per year at 800lbs »4,500 divided by 800=6 large bales per year

How Much Will Your Hay Cost Small Squares Price Per Bale Price Per Ton 40 lbs 60 lbs 80 lbs 40 lbs 60 lbs 80 lbs Bale Weight, lbs Bale Weight, lbs $3.50$175$117$88 $3.00$150$100$75 $2.50$125$83$63 $2.00$100$67$50 $1.50$75$50$38

How Much Will Your Hay Cost Big Bales(Round or Square) Price Per Bale Price Per Ton 600 lbs 800 lbs 1000 lbs 600 lbs 800 lbs 1000 lbs Bale Weight, lbs Bale Weight, lbs $55$183$138$110 $45$150$113$90 $35$117$88$70 $25$84$63$50 $15$50$38$30

CONSUMPTION REQUIREMENTS % BODY WEIGHT CONSUMPTION ForageConcentrateTotal Mature Horse Maintenance Young Horses Nursing foal, 3 months Weaning foal, 6 months Yearling foal, 12 months Long Yearling, 18 months Two Year old, 24 months

Horse Requirements n Nutrient Research Council Sets Standards n Horse Status Digestible Energy Crude Protein Maintenance 16.4 mcal 1.44 lbs Working Light Working Intense 20.5 mcal 32.8 mcal 1.8 lbs 2.9 lbs Mare Lactating 28.3 mcal 3.1 lbs 2 year old in training 26.3 mcal 2.5 lbs

Class Digestible Energy Mcal Crude Protein lbs Calciu m in grams Phosphorus in grams Maintenance,mature Weanlings 4-5 months Weanlings 6-11 months Yearling months Yearling months Two Year old-resting Two Year old-Training Intense working

Hay-Alfalfa vs Grass n Is There a Difference In Grass Vs Legumes?? n Should I feed Grain??? n Is Hay Enough????

COMMON FEEDSTUFF Alfalfa % DMMcal/# % Protein Brome Orchard Straw Oats Corn

Balancing a Ration worksheet meeting requirements Needs:MC Protein Working Horse Brome Hay (feed 15 lbs) 12 Mc 1.2 lbs NEEDED 16 Mc 1.6 lbs Balancing a Ration worksheet meeting requirements Needs:MC Protein Working Horse Brome Hay (feed 15 lbs) 12 Mc 1.2 lbs NEEDED 16 Mc 1.6 lbs

Balancing A Ration Grain Mix(50% corn x 50% Oat) Needs 16Mc 1.6 lbs Ration 1.4/lb 10.5% Amount= 16/1.4=11.4 lbs 11.4x10.5=1.2 Balancing 0 Short.4 Need.4 lbs protein Source 1 lb of Soybean meal Increase amounts fed by 10% of DM

Balancing a Ration worksheet meeting requirements Needs:MC Protein Maintenance Alfalfa/Brome Hay (feed 20 lbs) 17.4c 2.9 lbs NEEDED 16 Mc 1.6 lbs Balancing a Ration worksheet meeting requirements Needs:MC Protein Maintenance Alfalfa/Brome Hay (feed 20 lbs) 17.4c 2.9 lbs NEEDED 16 Mc 1.6 lbs