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Nov/Dec 2009
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Horse Hay
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By Peggy M. Auwerda, Ph.D. ~ Iowa State University

Know how much hay Losses from different feeding methods.

your horse will eat per year?
Table 1 shows losses when feeding hay on the
The average horse weighs 1100 lbs and eats 2% ground versus feeding in a feeder. Purchasing a

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of their body weight per day. This calculates out hay feeder can easily be recouped when consid-
to be 22 lbs/day. If a horse is only consuming ering the losses.
hay you would need 22m lbs/day
a g a xz365i ndays/yr.
e
= 8030 lb/yr or 4 tons hay. If your bales of hay Table 1. Hay Loss
weigh 50 lbs then you would need 8030 lb/yr ÷
Unprotected round bales 25%
50 lb/bale = 160 bales/yr.
fed free choice on the ground
Purchase hay from the field Protected round bales fed in a feeder 5%

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and store it for the year.
Square bales fed on the ground 25%
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Understand large round and square bales. Square bales fed in a feeder 5%
A large round bale weighs between 500-1200
Store the hay properly
lbs which is equivalent to 10-24 small 50-lb
square bales. This would feed one horse for 20- • Animal proof the area
50 days. A medium size rectangular bale weighs • Feed older bales first
800-1200 lbs which is equivalent to 16-24 small • Place the bottom row of square bales off the
50-lb square bales. This would feed one horse ground on pallets

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36-54 days. A large rectangular bale weighs • Stack square bales where circulation can
1500-2500 lbs which is equivalent to 30-50 enter. This involves alternating the orienta-
small 50-lb square bales.
m aThis
g awould feed
z i n e one tion of bales so successive layers are at right
horse 60-100 days. With the wet weather always angles with the stacks above and below.
check the bale you are feeding because some • Water proof roof
will mold and this can cause dangerous conse- • Store round bales end to end and store on a
quences in a horse. well drained site

HORSEpower m a g a z i n e Table on next page.

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HORSEpower m a g a z i n e Follow HORSEpower
Nov/Dec 2009
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If you can not find hay or need a substitute for all or part of the hay, Table 2 lists feedstuffs you can use.

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Table 2. FORAGE SUBSTITUTES
Can be fed as
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the sole part

FeeD of the diet? ADvAnTAgeS DISADvAnTAgeS noTeS

Hay Cubes Yes • Can be fed as • Normally more • Usually sold in

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the complete diet expensive than hay 55 lb. bags
• Both grass and alfalfa • Some horses may chew • Maintenance Horse:
cube are available on wood more 17-18 lb/day
m a •gConsistent
a z i n quality
e • May need to soak for
• Reduced dust. some animals
depending on their teeth

Haylage Yes • Maintains quality • Ensiled bags are heavier

of forage than hay

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• High in energy • Danger of botulism
and protein
• Low dust
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Beet Pulp No • Good source of fiber • Moderate protein (8%) • Up to 10 lb. (dry wt)
• Fairly high in Ca. • Low vitamin content can be fed per horse.
• Must be soaked before Supplement with a
being fed, thus is labor balanced vitamin/
intensive mineral supplement
• If not adequately soaked, • Some beet pulp is
animal can choke pelleted with
• Will spoil if left soaking molasses

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too long in warm weather

Rice Bran No • Good source of fat • High phosphoruss • Commercial products

m a •gGood
a z source
i n e of fiber generally add Ca
to balance P

Wheat Bran No • Good source of fiber • Extremely high in • Limit to no more than
• High in protein (16%) phosphorous 1 lb. per adult horse
• Feeding excessive amounts per day

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may cause debilitating Ca:P
imbalances
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By-products No • Depending upon the • Does not have enough • Examples –
from product, it may be protein and energy oat straw,
grain harvest quite palatable to meet the needs of wheat straw,
• Provides extra fiber a mature equine soybean hulls,
• Good when used with corn stalks
a complete feed

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Straw No • High fiber • Contains very little • Straw should only be
• May satisfy a horse’s nutritional value used as a chew factor
m a gdesire
a z to chew
i n e

Complete feed Yes • Available in pelleted, • More expensive than hay • 12-15 lbs are needed
with crude fiber textured and • May result in more per day to meet the
(CF) > 15%. extruded forms wood chewing average horse
Horses with • Easily obtainable • Feeding horses without (1000 lb)
Equine • Consistent quality other roughage may requirements
Metabolic • Palatable increase risk of colic
Syndrome • Ease of handling and/or laminitis
should be fed
ration where
CF > 20%
Resistance