Open Bale

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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

This hay is over mature and has too many weeds. Weeds mature faster than most desirable grasses and legumes, and from the looks of this hay one could be fairly certain that the nutrition content would be low.

Lab test results show that digestible energy is low, and the horse would have to eat more than it actually can in order to meet its nutritional requirements. Most likely the horse will not want to eat that much because this is really rough and “crappy” hay.

Note that lab results show fairly good crude protein levels. The trick with such weedy hay would be to also test for digestible protein. The same as with the energy, if we knew the digestibility of the protein we would know if the horse is actually capable of eating as much hay as it would need to meet the requirements!

• 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.