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EquiSearch Community » Talk About Horses » Horse Care » Alternatives for hay

Alternatives for hay

Last post 09-24-2007 5:14 AM by HRSEPLA. 7 replies.
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  • 09-19-2007 8:20 AM

    Alternatives for hay

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    I dont fore see running out of hay, since we baled our own and we've got what I think will be more than enough for my two till the first cutting of next year, but I want to have a plan for supplementing them with something else if we get low.

    I was thinking about alfalfa cube or pellets.  What about beet pulp, brans, etc?  What are other options or the best option to give them if I start to cut back their regular hay and supplement them with something else through the winter. 

    A little feeding back ground in case it helps.... They are both currently getting Progressive's ProAdvantage Grass Formula and pretty much 24/7 turn out weather permitting, and grass hay when they are inside.  The Progressive dealer said to give them oats in the winter with their ProAdvantage, he suggested about 4lbs (give or take) a day of oats.

    DukesMom

  • 09-19-2007 8:39 AM In reply to

    Re: Alternatives for hay

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    Practical Horseman just did a story on this in the September issue (Health Update, p. 16). In a nutshell, the six substitutes outlined are bagged, chopped forage; hay cubes; hay pellets; "complete" feed; beet pulp; and soybean hulls.

  • 09-19-2007 9:15 AM In reply to

    Re: Alternatives for hay

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    Thanks, I'll have to hunt dow that article.....Big Smile

    Edit:  I cant seem to find that article online about it. 

     What amount of beet pulp would you use?

    DukesMom

  • 09-20-2007 1:48 PM In reply to

    Re: Alternatives for hay

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    The article isn't online since it JUST came out in the magazine. The expert in the article recommends feeding no more than 10 pounds (dry weight before soaking) per day. If your horse is sensitive to high-sugar feeds, look for beet pulp without molasses. Make sure you follow directions for soaking, if necessary.

  • 09-20-2007 6:01 PM In reply to

    Re: Alternatives for hay

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    I got a lot of good advice on my column  " alfalfa cube advice",if you are wondering about the cubes and beet pulp.Found out they love it even better watered down.The beet pulp gives them the energy levels they need where the cubes don't offer much.

  • 09-21-2007 6:37 AM In reply to

    Re: Alternatives for hay

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    Beet pulp is great - to replace 1lb of hay you would feed about 3/4 of a lb (give or take)of beet pulp not to exceed 10 lbs a day - most horses will eat it without adding it to their grain which is a plus if grain is not fed & or if one does not want to feed grain every time beet pulp is offered.
     
    Alfalfa cubes are OK - but for greedy eaters soaking them for about 10 minutes  before feeding is good practice to avoid choke - plus if they are not accustomed to Alfalfa it can give them gas so as with anything new introduce them gradually into their program.The cubes are also quite high in protein so that may be a consideration.
     
     
     Here's another thought  regarding beet pulp - perhaps you could try  beet pulp with the Pro A instead of oats for the winter. B Pulp & oats have close to the same energy values but your horses might feel more satiated with the B Pulp as it has a lot more (digestible) fiber than oats and the energy release is slower than oats as B pulp has a glycemic value of 1 which is much easier on the horses blood glucose & oats are up around 100.
     
     
    That ProAdvantage is good stuff don't you think =;-> 
     
     
    http://photobucket.com/albums/b3/HRSEPLA/

  • 09-21-2007 7:20 AM In reply to

    Re: Alternatives for hay

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    Thanks, I didnt know I could feed the beet pulp instead of oats.  The dealer is the one who recommened the oats. Would I feed the same amount of beet pulp as I would the oats? 

    They've been on theProAdvantage for about 1 1/2 months now.  They seem to be doing great on it.  It's almost double in price what I was feeding before, but I think come winter time I will actually be saving money since they wont be getting such an increase in actual grain.  Do you use the mineral too?  I'm thinking about trying it instead of the red and white blocks.   So far so good on the ProAdvantage......Smile

    DukesMom

  • 09-24-2007 5:14 AM In reply to

    Re: Alternatives for hay

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    Hi,
     
      I live in Maine so we can't get the Progressive nutrition products here but I had the opportunity to use them for a while as a friend of mine would bring them to me here from New York on her monthly visits to her parents. Her parents have since moved so she doesn't come this way as often so I am now using Source Micro Nuggets. I never feed grain to my own horses they get  second cut grass hay & the Source Nuggets all yr round & they are (very healthy!)
     
    I'm wondering why Progressive doesn't have dealers this way as they have them in almost every state except Maine NH VT & Mass. At any rate I really liked the product & would recommend it to any one who can get them.
     
    I should have asked you why your dealer suggested feeding oats as well during the winter. Is it for weight/ energy/calories - what? I wouldn't want to mislead you or disrespect his recommendations regarding their products. 
     
    I was speaking from a bit of experience regarding the issue. We had a horse boarding here  who was getting the ProA who also was not on grain & did great yet had a hard time in only the winter months with weight. His owner starting adding oats without success so we switched to beet pulp and he did great. It meet his caloric needs without giving him the concentrated energy of grain.
     
    I'm not implying that oats are bad or a hot feed- in fact when I had/have horses that I feed grain to - beet pulp & or oats  were/are my top choice. As I mentioned in my last post beet pulp doesn't wreak havoc on the blood glucose & provides a steady release of energy which enables horses to utilize that energy more efficiently.
     
    When I used to do cross country my horse got beet pulp for more that purpose and it helped to keep him hydrated. I have friends who do endurance riding & feed beet pulp as well - for the same reasons. So it's a pretty good multi purpose product.
     
    So the looonng way to answering your question regarding the amount to feed - it's best to start with half the amount of beet pulp as you would grain. So if you were to feed 2 lbs of grain 2X a day at each feeding it would be 1 lb of beet pulp 2X a day. Just remember that beet pulp is a fiber so you want to introduce it slowly. It will put weight on more quickly than oats so may find that 2 lbs a day will meet their needs.
     
    Of course if your hay supply stays plentiful you wouldn't need to add oats or beet pulp just more hay to their diets if they need more calories - as you probably know hay generates heat so it helps keep them warm in the winter.
     
    I'm not saying you - but so many people don't realize the value in hay - it's so much better for them than feeding grain grain and more grain. Sorry for rambling Wink
    http://photobucket.com/albums/b3/HRSEPLA/

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