Is Timothy Hay bad for horses?
Timothy hay is the most digestible of all hays and is one of the most popular hay feeds for horses. Horse owners have found that Timothy hay promotes a shiny coat, good digestion, bowel regularity, and a healthy weight. It is also excellent for colic prone, protein-sensitive, and obese horses.
Is it OK to feed horses wet hay?
Rained on hay is actually beneficial for horses prone to laminitis and other metabolic disorders because of its reduced carbohydrate content. Analyzing forage for nutrient content is recommended, but can be especially useful when determining the quality of rained on hay.
Can you feed hay straight off the field?
While traditionally hay is left to cure for a few weeks before feeding, if moisture content allows (dry matter in excess of 86%), it can be fed straight off the field. If hay is stored properly then it can be fed after several years, but it won’t be as nutritious as it was when it was first made.
How long is hay good for horses?
You can store hay indefinitely if the stack is managed correctly; although, in humid climates, using hay within three years of harvest is ideal. Hay growers need to bale it at correct moisture levels because if it’s baled too damp the hay will generate heat, which leads to molding.
How long before you can feed new hay to horses?
In perfect conditions — where the hay has been baled at less than 12% moisture and is very dry — it is safe to feed straight away, but this isn’t often the case, Tim explains: “The main reason for allowing a period of anywhere between two and eight weeks before feeding freshly made hay is to allow for a process called …
How much hay can a horse have a day?
The average 1000 pound horse must eat approximately 10 to 20 pounds of hay every day according to LSU.
Is green hay good for horses?
Bright green hay indicates that hay was cut at a relatively early stage of maturity; rapidly and properly cured, with no damage from rain, molds, or overheating during storage. Light green or faded hay is often due to sun bleaching and is generally not a concern for quality.
How long does hay need to sit before feeding?
“Some traditional horsemen believe that fresh-baled hay should ‘sweat’ for two to four weeks before feeding. This allows the hay to cure, which might be important if the hay too wet when it was baled.