CHA - Horse Feed

Products

Timothy Hay for Horses

Timothy hay has long been a favorite hay of horse owners, its popularity due in part to the fact that timothy hay is typically a very clean hay, free of dust and mould. This is critical for horse owners selecting hay, because of the potential for respiratory problems in horses.

Timothy harvested at an early stage of maturity (prior to early bloom) can provide a significant percentage of a mature horse's nutrient requirements. For horses with higher nutrient requirements, such as lactating mares and young growing horses, timothy hay can be an effective forage but the feeding programs will require supplementation to meet the increased nutrient requirements of these classes of horse. However for mature horses at maintenance or doing light work, timothy hay is a good choice as limited supplementation will be required to meet the horse's nutrient requirements.

Clean, mould free timothy hay can be used effectively in mature horse diets with minimal supplementation of protein and minerals.

Daily Feed Ration Suggestions using Timothy Hay
The following ration suggestions are designed to meet the NRC 1989 Nutrient Requirements of the horses indicated. The rations do not take into account any individual horse variation, changes in climatic conditions, or the body condition of the horse. Changes required because of these factors will mean the horse owner may need to adjust intakes of the different feeds. The ration suggestions are for a mature horse weighing 520 kg (1150 lbs) and having a body condition score of 5 (moderate)
Mature Horse at Maintenance
This class of horse would include all mature idle horses, plus broodmares up to and including the 8th month of gestation.
	Timothy Hay: 22-23 lbs per horse/day
	Salt—Free choice intake of 20-30 grams of block or loose salt is expected.
	Mineral—Mineral product containing 18% calcium and 18% phosphorus could be used. A free choice intake of 20-25 grams per day is expected.
Mature Horse at Light Work
These horses would be doing low intensity activities such as recreational riding, Western and English Pleasure riding.
	Timothy Hay: 18-19 lbs per horse/per day
	Commercial Grain Ration— 6 lbs per horse/day and should have the following minimum nutrient profile. DE 3.0 mcal/kg; Crude Protein 12%; Calcium 0.80%; Phosphorus 0.65%; Copper 25 mg/kg; Manganese 90 mg/kg; Zinc 100 mg/kg, Vitamin A 10,000 IU/kg; Sodium 0.40%.
	Salt—Free choice
For working at a greater intensity, horse owners may reduce the hay intake and gradually increase the amount of grain ration being fed to meet the horses' increased requirement for energy due to increased work load.
Brood Mares in Late Gestation
This suggestion is based on the nutrient requirements for a mare during the 10th month of gestation.
	Timothy Hay: 18 lbs per horse/day
	Commercial Grain Mix—5 lbs per horse/per day (Same commercial mix as used for the horse at light work.)
	Salt—Free choice
Young Growing Foal
This suggestion is for a 6 month old weaned foal. The foal is expected to reach a mature body weight of 520 kg (1150 lbs) and currently weighs 225 kg (500 lbs) and is growing at the daily rate of 0.55 kg.
	Timothy Hay: 4.5 lbs/day
	Foal Ration*—8.0 lbs/day
* The Foal ration should have the following minimum nutrient concentrations: DE 3.1 mcal/kg; Crude Protein 17%; Lysine 0.80%; Calcium 0.90; Phosphorus 0.70; Copper 30 mg/kg; Zinc 120 mg/kg; Manganese 80 mg/kg; Selenium 0.1 mg/kg; Sodium 0.40%; and Vitamin A at 10,000 IU/kg.