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Horse Hay
By Peggy M. Auwerda, Ph.D. ~ Iowa State UniversityLosses rom dierent eeding methods.
able 1 shows losses when eeding hay on theground versus eeding in a eeder. Purchasing ahay eeder can easily be recouped when consid-ering the losses.
Tble 1. Hay Loss
Unprotected round bales25%fed free choice on the groundProtected round bales fed in a feeder5%Square bales fed on the ground25%Square bales fed in a feeder5%
Store the hay properly
•Animal proo the area•Feed older bales rst•Place the bottom row o square bales of theground on pallets•Stack square bales where circulation canenter. Tis involves alternating the orienta-tion o bales so successive layers are at rightangles with the stacks above and below.•Water proo roo •Store round bales end to end and store on awell drained site
Know how much hayyour horse will eat per year?
Te average horse weighs 1100 lbs and eats 2%o their body weight per day. Tis calculates outto be 22 lbs/day. I a horse is only consuminghay you would need 22 lbs/day x 365 days/yr.= 8030 lb/yr or 4 tons hay. I your bales o hayweigh 50 lbs then you would need 8030 lb/yr ÷50 lb/bale = 160 bales/yr.
Purchase hay rom the feldand store it or the year.Understand large round and square bales.
A large round bale weighs between 500-1200lbs which is equivalent to 10-24 small 50-lbsquare bales. Tis would eed one horse or 20-50 days. A medium size rectangular bale weighs800-1200 lbs which is equivalent to 16-24 small50-lb square bales. Tis would eed one horse36-54 days. A large rectangular bale weighs1500-2500 lbs which is equivalent to 30-50small 50-lb square bales. Tis would eed onehorse 60-100 days. With the wet weather alwayscheck the bale you are eeding because somewill mold and this can cause dangerous conse-quences in a horse.
Table on next page.
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