Quick Facts...
- High-fiber roughages should make up the majority of a horse’s
diet.
- Ideally, horses should receive 1.5 to 2.0 percent of their body weight
per day as roughage.
- If grain is needed to maintain body condition, divide the daily portion
into several smaller meals. Each grain meal should not exceed 0.5 percent
of body weight.
- Make any changes to the diet gradually over 1 to 2 weeks.
- Provide free-choice access to water and salt.
Drought conditions result in poor hay and pasture production and rising
feed costs. Often, horse owners are forced to find alternative feed sources
to either “stretch” their limited hay supply, or completely
replace it.
Horses should be fed between 1.5 percent and 3.0 percent of their body
weight per day in total feed. The amount of feed should be adjusted based
on the quality of the roughage, the addition of grain to the diet, the
horse’s physiological state (e.g., growth, lactation, level of work),
and the desired level of body condition (Table 1).
Roughages, including hay and pasture, are the most important component
of your horse’s diet. Roughages provide essential sources of digestible
energy, protein, and some vitamins and minerals. Roughages also supply
dietary fiber required for the normal function of the horse’s digestive
system. Ideally, horses should receive 1.5 to 2.0 percent of their body
weight per day as roughage. A minimum of 1 percent of body weight as roughage
is needed to maintain gut health.
Roughages, by definition, are feeds that are high in fiber (minimum 18
percent crude fiber). In addition to hay and pasture, there are many other
high fiber feeds that can be used to totally replace or partially replace
the roughage portion of your horse’s diet. Table 2 lists some alternative
roughage sources, along with their replacement value relative to grass
or alfalfa hay.
Feeds with moderate levels of fiber (11 to 15 percent crude fiber) can
also serve as an alternative during drought. These lower fiber feeds cannot
totally replace the roughage your horse needs, but they can reduce the
amount of hay you have to feed your horse. Start by ensuring your horse
receives at least 1 percent of its body weight per day in roughage. Then
use moderate fiber feeds to complete the remaining portion of your horse’s
ration. Table 3 lists feeds with a moderate level of fiber that can be
used to replace a portion of the hay in your horse’s diet.
| Table 1: Expected daily feed intake as a percent
of body weight* |
| Class of horse |
Roughage
|
Grain
|
Total
|
| Mature, idle |
1.5 – 2.0 |
0 – 0.5 |
1.5 – 2.0 |
| Working horses** |
1.0 – 2.0 |
0.5 – 1.5 |
1.5 – 2.5 |
| Mare, late gestation |
1.0 – 2.0 |
0.5 – 1.0 |
1.5 – 2.5 |
| Mare, lactation |
1.0 – 2.0 |
0.5 – 1.5 |
2.0 – 3.0 |
| Weanling |
1.0 – 1.5 |
0.5 – 1.5 |
2.0 – 3.0 |
| Yearling |
1.0 – 1.5 |
0.5 – 1.5 |
2.0 – 2.5 |
| *Adapted from NRC (1989) Nutrient Requirements of Horses |
| **Depends on intensity of work. |
| Table 2: Alternative roughage sources that can be
used to totally replace or partially replace your horse’s hay/pasture. |
| Alternative Roughage |
Can be used for total replacement
of hay |
Can be used for partial replacement
of hay |
Replacement Value* |
Comments on Roughage Alternative |
| Amt. needed to replace 1-lb grass hay |
Amt. needed to replace 1-lb grass hay |
| Alfalfa hay |
P |
P |
0.85 lbs |
1.0 lb |
Higher protein and calcium than grass hays, so will
feed less. |
| Grass hay |
P |
P |
1.0 lb |
1.2 lbs |
Many types of grass hay: timothy, brome, orchardgrass,
prairie, etc. |
| Bermudagrass hay |
P |
P |
1.0 lb |
1.2 lbs |
Type of grass hay imported from southern U.S.; hay Similar
nutrition as other grass hays. |
| Millet hay |
P |
P |
1.3 lbs |
1.6 lbs |
Usually contains some millet grain; Less nutritional
value than most grass hays; May have a laxative effect if feed as
the only roughage. |
| Sorghum grass |
Not recommended
|
Includes Johnsongrass, Sudangrass, & sorghum-Sudan
hybrids; May cause neurological problems in horses. |
| Alfalfa hay cubes |
P |
P |
0.85 lbs |
1.0 lb |
Alfalfa that has been chopped and cubed; Similar nutrition
as alfalfa hay (see above). |
| Alfalfa/timothy hay cubes |
P |
P |
0.95 lbs |
1.1 lb |
Combination of alfalfa and timothy forages;
Less protein and calcium than straight alfalfa, but more than plain
timothy. |
| “dehy” alfalfa pellets |
P |
P |
0.85 lbs |
1.0 lb |
Pelleted alfalfa hay; Similar nutrition as alfalfa (see
above). |
| “Complete” feed |
P |
P |
0.70 lbs |
0.85 lbs |
Contains a mixture of grains and roughage sources; Designed
to be fed without hay; Should contain at least 15% fiber if no hay
is fed. |
| Haylage |
P |
P |
1.55 lbs |
1.85 lbs |
Hay preserved by ensiling rather than traditional drying;
Higher moisture than hay, so will have to feed more; Can spoil (mold),
so feed contents of bag within 2 to 3 days. |
| Oat hay |
P |
P |
1.0 lb |
1.2 lbs |
Nutritive value similar to grass hays. |
| Straw |
P |
P |
1.25 lbs |
1.5 lbs |
Oat straw more palatable than wheat or barley straw;
Bulky, high fiber, low in other nutrients; Will require protein supplementation. |
| Beet Pulp |
|
P |
0.70 lbs |
0.85 lbs |
Good source highly digestible fiber; Relatively high
in calcium; May require soaking before feeding; Limit to 10 lbs (dry
weight) or less. |
| Soy hulls |
|
P |
0.8 lb |
1.0 lbs |
High fiber, but more digestible than other hulls. |
| *Replacement values based on average digestible
energy content of feeds. Feed amounts may have to be adjusted due
to variation between sources of feed and horses. |
| Table 3: Moderate fiber feed sources that can be
used to replace a portion of the hay/pasture in your horse’s
diet.* |
| Alternative Fiber-Feed Alternatives |
Can be used for total replacement
of hay |
Can be used for partial replacement
of hay |
Replacement Value** |
Comments on Moderate Fiber Feeds Alternatives |
| Amt. needed to replace 1-lb grass hay |
Amt. needed to replace 1-lb alfalfa hay |
| Rice bran |
|
P |
0.50 lbs |
0.60 lbs |
High in fat and phosphorus; More fiber than most grains
(similar to oats), but less fiber than hays and other roughages; Diet
may require additional calcium supplementation if product is not already
balanced by the manufacturer, if 2 lbs or more rice bran are fed per
day, and/or if horse is also receiving plain, unfortified grains (e.g.,
oats). |
| Wheat bran |
|
P |
0.60 lbs |
0.70 lbs |
More fiber than most grains (similar to oats), but less
fiber than hays and other roughages; High in phosphorus; Diet may
require additional calcium supplementation if 2 lbs or more wheat
bran are fed per day and/or if horse is also receiving plain, unfortified
grains (e.g., oats). |
| “Pack” cube |
|
P |
0.70 lbs |
0.85 lbs |
Combination of grains and roughage sources; Can be fed
without additional hay if pack cube contains at least 15% fiber. |
| Oats |
|
P |
0.65 lbs |
0.75 lbs |
Not a high fiber feed, but contains more fiber than
other grains; Limit to 1% of horse’s body weight or less; Ensure
at least 1% of body weight is fed as high fiber roughage; Fortification
of diet with vitamin/mineral supplement may be necessary. |
| * As long as your horse is receiving a minimum
1% of its body weight per day as hay or some other high fiber roughage
(18% crude fiber or greater), the rest of the diet can be made up
of lower fiber feeds, such as those included in this table.
|
| **Replacement values based on average digestible
energy content of feeds. Feed amounts may have to be adjusted due
to variation between sources of feed and horses. |
|
