Open Bale

[click to enlarge-400K]

For an explanation about the physical characteristics reported in the next table, please refer to the document Evaluation Guidelines for Hays for Horses (pdf).

Physical Characteristics

Equine Digestible Energy and Crude Protein Content

Comments

Just from looking at this hay one could think it is fairly decent because it does not have any mold, although it is apparent from the seed heads and thick stems that it was cut too mature.

NOTE. It was very interesting to find out through the lab analysis that this hay should not be fed to horses. The results show that the protein level is too low as we had imagined, but more important, the calcium to phosphorus ratio (Ca:P) is very low. Even after supplementing with a mineral and vitamin mix as shown by the yellow bar in the graph, P is still too low. As it turns out, because there is no practical way of supplementing P at such rates by itself (bad taste makes horse refuse it), this is not appropriate hay for horses.

• Click here to read tables with energy and protein requirements and expected feed consumption of various types of horses (pdf).
• More detailed information of nutrient composition of this hay and how it meets the requirements of a horse.