RongDa Machinery

As with many animal husbandry, there is a well-known "grass vs. commercial feed" debate in horse care. While horses (such as cows, pigs, sheep, and other domestic animals) do survive for centuries in the wild in grass and water, their average lifespan in the wild is significantly shorter than that of domesticated horses. In addition, certain animals (older, more active, injured) require higher levels of protein (and/or vitamins) that can only be found in commercial feed. In any case, horses need 24 hours to get fresh water and hay.

Horses can consume more than 1% of their body weight in hay per day. If you have young, healthy horses, and your land can produce enough diverse grass throughout the year, you can feed your horses with fresh grass and hay, thus avoiding the cost of buying commercial feed. For the word "grass", we define a variety of plant species, including grass, clover, alfalfa (purple clover), lupin, legumes, etc. Timothy grass, clover, and Egyptian clover (fresh or hay) are good nutritional bases for horses. Sorghum is toxic to horses and must be avoided. Future horse owners should research local plants that are toxic to horses.

The above rules are general and apply to most healthy horses. However, no two horses are the same, and their abilities and needs are also different. For example, older horses often have dental problems and/or mobility problems, which may prevent them from spending 15 hours a day foraging and eating. Therefore, we must always ensure that a wide range of commercial feed types are in stock. Oats, beet pulp, mixed grains (granules, flakes, corn), barley, oat hay, and vitamins can supplement the horse's nutrition. When we expect horses to gain weight, mainly grains are used. While small amounts of grain are beneficial, we must be cautious because too much grain can threaten the life of the horse. Experienced horse owners know that mature, healthy, strong horses can consume more hay and grass, while older, injured, more workload-heavy horses need more protein and vitamins.

If our horses need to do heavy lifting or are already old, we can provide a high protein commercial mixture. Farmers often offer bran products to elderly animals with dental problems. Barley straw is low in protein (about 5%) and high in fiber.

The material cut after the first cut of Egyptian clover and other related plants is an excellent source of fiber.

Oat hay is suitable for adult horses and pregnant mares as feed in the early stages. Bob Coleman says horse owners should test oat hay for nitrate levels to ensure feed safety. The total nitrate content of the horse diet should not exceed 0.5%.

In general, a horse's stomach is small compared to its huge size. Therefore, horses should continue to eat in small, moderate doses. This way, they can eat smaller, more frequent meals at their own pace instead of two or three large meals a day. However, keep in mind that horses should not eat before or after high-intensity exercise, such as horseback riding, as they may experience colic.

Finally, horse owners should regularly place salt blocks in the stables. This allows the horses to lick the salt lumps, satisfying their needs for sodium and chloride. Note, however, that many of the salt lumps have been mineralized and contain other minerals. Many horses get enough minerals from commercial feed or vitamin supplements. Therefore, you can discuss your horse's diet with a licensed veterinarian to determine if or not to provide mineralized salt lumps.

First-time horse owners should consult with a local specialist, veterinarian, and/or agronomist to develop a reasonable annual feeding plan and be aware of the poisonous plants and shrubs common in the area. In many cases, local plant communities and weather conditions are important parameters in determining the final feeding pattern. Veterinarians and horse owners should also check the horse's physical condition and dental health regularly. Under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, farmers can add some vitamins to certain feeding schedules.

Feeding horses on a daily basis is a complex issue, especially if you are caring for more than 3-4 horses of different ages, backgrounds, and needs. If you rely solely on your memory and feed them without records, it's easy to get confused about each horse's daily feeding schedule. We recommend that you place a chalkboard in the room where each horse's feed is prepared and mixed. Create a table on the board with the names of all the horses and the number of different feeds, ensuring that you can always keep track of each horse's daily and weekly feeding schedule.

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