What to Feed Your Horse in a Hay Shortage
- Hay cubes (grass or alfalfa) One of the first things you can use when there is a hay shortage are hay cubes. Hay cubes...
- Alfalfa pellets and/or complete feed pellets These serve as a good substitute for hay when there is a shortage, but they...
- Soaked beet pulp pellets Another substitute when there is a hay shortage are soaked...
What to do when there is a hay shortage?
In times of hay shortage, we have to look to alternate options to meet the horse’s fiber needs. In years where hay was harvested late due to rain, there is often plenty of hay available but it is more mature and lower quality. As hay matures, it becomes coarser and less digestible to the horse.
How do you substitute hay for alfalfa hay?
Substitute 1 pound of grain or other concentrate feed for 2 pounds of alfalfa hay or 3pounds of grass hay, Feed the highest quality feeds to animals that have higher feed requirements (i.e., growing replacement heifers or growing calves),
How to choose the right hay for your horse?
To offset lower quality hay, horses can often benefit from the inclusion of high fiber concentrates in their diet to supply highly digestible fiber. Look for feeds that are high in fiber (15%+) and include highly digestible fiber ingredients such as beet pulp, dehydrated alfalfa or soy hulls.
Do you need forage to feed soybean hulls?
Soybean hulls can be fed without additional forage, however, the digestible energy increases when fed with hay in a 2-to-1 ratio. Wheat middlings are a good source of protein (18 percent) and energy. It is best to mix at least 5 pounds of forage with the wheat middlings.
What can I feed instead of hay?
Six Hay Alternatives for HorsesBagged chopped forage. It can replace all of your horse's hay, if necessary.Hay cubes. Chopped cubed hay (usually alfalfa or timothy or a combination) is another 100-percent replacement. ... Hay pellets. ... “Complete” feed. ... Beet pulp. ... Soybean hulls.
Is there a hay shortage 2021?
When it comes to purchasing hay this year, John Bland says, “[Horse owners] are between a rock and a hard place.
Why is hay in short supply?
Many other feed stores agreed, saying that the dry weather this past spring and summer, and inflation have all led to this large shortage. Some stores also said the recent winter weather is impacting trucks and big rigs being able to make deliveries to their stores.
Can horses survive without hay?
Horses can adapt to balanced rations that do not contain hay or pasture, but the absolute minimum of fiber necessary has not been established. However, low fiber/high concentrate rations have been documented to increase the risk of colic, gastric ulcers, and wood chewing behavior of horses.
Will there be a hay shortage in 2022?
The ongoing drought continues to squeeze available hay supplies and widespread drought this year is a severe threat to 2022 hay (and range/pasture) production. May 1 hay stocks in the 17 plains and western states were down 17.7 percent year over year.
How much is a bale of hay 2022?
Hay Market Demand and Price Report for the Upper Midwest – for February 14, 2022Hay GradeBale type———- Price ($/ton) ———-Large Round$250.00Grade 1 (125 to 150 RFV/RFQ)Small Square$224.00Large Square$230.00Large Round$205.009 more rows•Feb 14, 2022
Is grain cheaper than hay?
"Nutrient –dense feeds such as grains, commodities and the like are cheaper per unit of nutrient compared to hay," he says.
Is there a shortage on hay?
- A drought last year and a cold, wet start to 2022 caused a new crisis for many farmers, ranchers, and those that care for livestock: a shortage of hay, alfalfa and other feed crops.
Is there a shortage of hay in California?
The report was published in Imperial County Agricultural Crop & Livestock Report 2020. “The drought in northern California has resulted in the shortage of hay,” said Pat Dockstader, owner of P&T Enterprises based in Calipatria.
How do you feed a horse in a hay shortage?
Soak a cup or two of beet pulp in water for eight to twelve hours prior to feeding (and make sure to drain the water!) Limit beet pulp portions to 25% of the horse's total daily ration. While these alternatives are great hay replacements, complete feeds fill the gap for hay as well.
Can alfalfa pellets replace hay?
These pellets do not have particles big enough to stimulate the horse's digestive tract. This means that alfalfa pellets, while good for the horse, do not promote a healthy tract. They lack long-stem fibers and cannot replace hay. However, they can replace the calories that hay provides safely.
Can hay pellets replace hay?
Like forage cubes, forage pellets can be fed just like hay, at a 1:1 ratio to replace hay. Forage pellets are the fiber choice for horses that have lost teeth or have poor dentition since forage pellets can easily be soaked in water to form a mash or slurry.
Is hay going up in price?
Hay farmers are gearing up for the season ahead. Everyone has their fingers crossed for good weather! You may have noticed some posts circulating social media about increased hay prices for 2022. With the rise of fuel and fertilizer, it would only make sense that you can expect to pay more for a square or round bale.
Is there a hay shortage in Canada?
Extreme weather events in 2021 have devastated cattle ranchers across Western Canada. Ironically, the B.C. floods wreaked havoc as a drought ravaged the west coast of North America, wiping out the hay harvest and leading to a shortage.
Why is the cost of hay going up?
Hay exports for 2021 were trending slightly ahead of 2020 levels, and exports to China were up 35%. Meanwhile, retail crop input prices have soared. “This has a huge impact, not only when buying hay but also for producing hay,” Rankin said. “This is going to have a big impact on prices in 2022.”
How to conserve forage?
Feeding some grain is another way to conserve forage. Depending on the cost of grain and hay, it may or may not be more expensive. Slowly adapt animals to grain diets by substituting a few pounds of grain for a few pounds of hay. Every few days, increase the amount of grain in the diet until you reach the desired grain level.
What do ruminants need to eat?
Ruminants require a diet that is at least 10% forage (pasture or hay) for a functional digestive system. A high-grain diet contains more energy than mature cows need. Although the cow's need for feed will be satisfied, she will probably gain weight on this diet.
What is endophyte fescue?
As you may know, endophytes are a type of fungus that helps protect the plant from disease. They are bred into turfgrass-type fescues but are toxic to livestock. The forage-type fescues and ryegrass sold in Oregon are endophyte-free. Information on endophyte testing and tolerances by livestock is available.
What animals need supplemental protein?
But, if you are feeding animals with higher requirements (lactating cows and ewes, replacement heifers and ewe lambs) or using low-quality forage (poor quality hay or grass straw/screening pellets), you will need to add supplemental protein and energy.
Is alfalfa hay better than grass hay?
Usually higher in protein and energy than grass hay, it is sometimes available at a lower cost. Some rained-on alfalfa hay might meet the nutrient requirements of your livestock. Alfalfa may be fed at strategic times like after lambing or calving.