|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Horse Nutrition and FeedingVisual Evaluation of FeedsHaysColor—Green feed is normally higher in all vitamins, particularly vitamin A (as carotene) and riboflavin. The green color indicates the hay has not been rained on excessively, is less apt to contain mold, and is more palatable. Type—Legume hays like alfalfa and clover are normally higher in proteins, vitamin A, and minerals (especially calcium) than are grass hays. They should be preferred over grass hays. A 1:1 mix of legume:grass hay is preferred by many. Leaf to stem ratio—A high leaf to stem ratio makes a feed more nutritious and palatable. Such feed has greater value per ton. Nutrients are concentrated in the leaves; stems are low in digestibility. Date of cutting—Age at cutting is a good indicator of feed value. As a hay matures, it declines appreciably in protein and phosphorus, increases in fiber, and decreases in digestibility. Mold—Hay that "smokes" when a bale is opened is moldy. If fed it may cause heaves. Abortion, colic, and even death have been attributed to moldy hay. Often visual evidence of these toxic molds is not obvious. All types of hay can mold, though normally it's a greater problem with legumes. Table 1 indicates the relative amounts of major nutrients that various feeds contain. Obviously, some deviations from the average values occur. In general, remember that grains contain 70–80 percent TDN and hays about 50 percent TDN. Legumes are considerably higher in protein than are grass hays. Hays are richer sources of calcium and most trace minerals than are grains, but grains are richer sources of phosphorus. Furthermore, grains, except for corn, contribute almost no vitamin A value to a horse ration. Table 1. Composition of Typical Horse Feeds
The horse chose the hay with the highest nutritive value. The other two hays would not sustain him and were dry and stemmy, two traits that invariably reduce hay intake. GrainsBushel weight—Oats weighing 26 pounds per bushel have more fiber, less energy, and therefore less feed value than heavy oats weighing 34–40 pounds per bushel. Color and smell—Grains should be clean and bright colored. A dull appearance indicates that grains have been rained on and may be musty or have mold and bacterial growth on them. Foreign material—Portions of cob, weed seeds, dirt, stones, etc. greatly detract from the value of grains and reduce feed value. Kinds of grain—The energy value of grains varies widely. Corn is considerably higher in energy value than oats, but oats are higher in protein and minerals. Oats are more bulky than corn and thus a safer feed. Moisture content—Corn and sorghums, in particular, may contain excessive moisture and thus be subject to mold and spoilage. Excess moisture adds weight but no feed value. 
Agriculture \
Community \
Environment \
Family \
Garden \
Youth
Home \ Search \ News \ Workshops \ Online Shopping About Extension \ Extension Offices  In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this material is available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact your University of Minnesota Extension office or the Extension Store at (800) 876-8636. University of Minnesota Extension is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
