DECEMBER 2017 THE RIDER /35


Equine Wellness: Health and Nutrition with Jean Klosowicz, Superior Equine Health and Nutrition Inc.


Winter Forages Despite the lack of


snow on the ground we are well into “winter” mode with our horses! Pastures are now dormant and not considered a forage source at this time of year. Many horse owners are now using a variety of dried and processed forages which in- clude


hays, alfalfa


cubes/pellets, and timothy- alfalfa cubes and pellets. Other choices may include beet pulp, haylage and silage while straw and chaff are typically too low in en- ergy and protein to be fed for horses. In this article I will highlight the two most common winter feeding for- ages: Hays and Cubes/Pel- lets.


Hays: This is the most


typical of forages fed during the winter months when horses are off of pasture. Forage species commonly found in hays in Canada are timothy, timothy- clover or alfalfa, mixed grass hays, and alfalfa.. While small square bales are the pre- ferred choice by many horse owners for ease of handling, round bales or


larger


squares of varying sizes are often the choice for when a number of horses are fed, and as a time convenience for horse owners. However in either case, storage meth- ods will vary as well as costs which may be signifi- cant when deciding the form to purchase. Some pros to consider include: a variety of baled options to choose from depending upon what is most suited to owners/sta- ble managers, readily avail- able locally or shipped in, accepted by most horses, and price point is good com- pared to other forage types (cubes, pellets). Some dis- advantages include: nutri- tional value is highly variable from one lot to the other, owners must be very diligent and knowledgeable about quality when selecting hay (nutrient value, mold, dust, etc), many horse own- ers are unaware of poison- ous weeds that the hay may contain, storage of hay can be difficult and some horses cannot tolerate certain hays


the hay


right for


your horse because of all the vari- ables. It is easy to do and pro- vides


a


wealth of informa - tion to help you make the


Alfalfa Pellets


purchasing. Alfalfa mixes are generally NOT suited for easy keepers and horses prone to laminitis or founder. Cubes and pellets are often fed to horses with respi- ratory conditions because of low dust and make an excellent forage for horses with poor dentition, as well as for senior horses in need of keeping weight on. There is usually less wastage, eaten quite readily, reduced manure, and nutrient quality is guaranteed. Owners should be aware that there is re- duced eating time which may lead to boredom and vices, cubes can lead to choke making it necessary to soak, and introduce cubes/pellets gradually into the diet because they are more rich in protein and energy than grass hay. Alfalfa or alfalfa mixed cubes and pellets should be carefully bal- anced in nutrients with other feeds and supplements be- cause of the higher calcium levels than grass forages. Always request an analysis from the company to confirm the nutritional value of their products before adding addi- tional feeds and supplements. Over and under supplemen- tation may affect your horse’s health, performance, behaviour, hoof quality and overall well-being so be sure to investigate further before you decide on your feeding choices. If you have questions about balancing your horse’s


forage to ensure an optimal diet, please send an email to superiorequine@gmail.com and I will be happy to assist you! I specialize in balancing diets using NRC guidelines and ranges to maximize your horse’s health and nutrition, and achieve superior results!


Cheers! right


selection of s u p p l e - mentation for your horse. Horse hay can be fed in


Alfalfa Cubes


mixes: timothy and timo- thy/alfalfa cubes.


Baled Hay


because of health conditions (high starch, sugars, pro- teins, iron levels, etc). Nutritional value in


hay can vary tremendously from field to field and across the country due to soil conditions, weather, species, farming practices including fertilization, crop rotation, spraying, etc. Hays are susceptible to weed in- festations (poisonous and non- poisonous), mould, dust, high sugar and starch content, and varying min- eral /vitamin content. While most horses tolerate hay


very well, not all hay species are suitable for all horses. making them in some case a high risk for some horses. For example timothy or mixed grass hay is commonly fed for mature maintenance or light work horses, while legume mixed hays make an excellent choice for horses in growth, pregnancy, lactation, and performance. This is be- cause it has higher protein, energy and calcium than grass hays. Hays, regardless of the mix. should always be analyzed to determine if it is


a variety of ways depending upon the needs of the owner and the horse. Flakes and loose hay are often fed at floor level in a loose state or may be fed in hay nets of various sizes. Larger bales may be placed in a bale holder right outside, and preferably under some sort of cover to prevent mould. There are also large slow feeder nets for these size bales that will help to mini- mize waste and keep horses from overfeeding. Hay Cubes and Pellets:


When quality of hay is com- promised due to weather or availability horse owners will often turn to using hay cubes for their horses. Al- though pound for pound they are typically more ex- pensive, horse owners ap- preciate the convenience of storage, feeding and quality control. Hay cubes are readily available directly from companies and feed stores and come in different


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The


amount of alfalfa in the cube/pellet can vary from manufacture to manufac- turer so it is important to be selective when it comes to


Jean Klosowicz Equine Nutrition Consultant and Educator Superior Equine Health and Nutrition Inc. Bruce Mines, ON www.superiorequinenutrition.com www.feedmyhorse.ca f. @SuperiorEquine


All values are expressed on a Dry Matter Basis (DM); ppm (mg/kg) refers to concentration in the total diet; NRC refers to NRC’s Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 6th ed. All articles are for general information purposes only


and are not intended to replace the advice of a veterinarian, or provide a diagnosis for your horse.


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