Posted 2013-03-03 5:49 PM (#150339) Subject: Hay replacer
Veteran
Posts: 201 Location: Lincoln, NE
With the drought hay is scarce and terribly expensive. I can feed pellets but do they provide enough fiber? How can I replace the fiber that the horses usually get from hay?
Posted 2013-03-03 8:01 PM (#150347 - in reply to #150339) Subject: RE: Hay replacer
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 391 Location: Columbia, KY
you can feed beet pulp to replace part of the hay. it's a little more work but the horses love it and it's a good way to get more fiber and liquids in them. the shredded comes with or with our added molasses- soak it in water (I use warm water and mix it w/ a little grain in the winter) 5 min to a couple hrs ahead of time.
it also comes in pellets which take longer to soak.
Posted 2013-03-04 9:02 AM (#150368 - in reply to #150339) Subject: RE: Hay replacer
Member
Posts: 36 Location: The Natural State
Many "senior" pelleted feeds offer all the fiber/roughage that horses normally get from hay. Both Purina and Nutrena offer excellent senior feed products. They are several dollars more per bag than their regular product lines, but might be worth it if you are short on hay. I feed these during the cold weather along with hay to make sure my horses are getting enough fiber.
Posted 2013-03-04 10:31 AM (#150372 - in reply to #150339) Subject: RE: Hay replacer
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 376 Location: Missouri
Been there, done that, The short answer is , NO, you can't get enough fiber, etc, with pellets. They have to have some grass or hay. A flake a day makes a huge difference.
You may need to buy a few of those huge bails and cut them up to feed some real hay. OR, I believe there are several farm stores in Lincoln that handle the Standley hay products. We've used them, when nothing else was available.
Posted 2013-03-05 12:14 PM (#150396 - in reply to #150339) Subject: RE: Hay replacer
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430 Location: TN
I'm an equine feed sales person. You can use hay replacement pellets to supplement your hay up to 50% of your hay. Horses need long stem fiber to keep their guts functioning the way they were intended to as well as to help them not develop other issues, so please do not try to totally replace your hay. I have seen horses start doing things like wood chewing when not receiving enough long stem roughage.
Posted 2013-03-15 5:40 PM (#150588 - in reply to #150339) Subject: RE: Hay replacer
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: high desert, CA.
Cutter, I echo everything you have said. They must have some long stem forage, or they will develope problems with both boredom chewing, as well as occasionally behaviour problems. About 50% is all you can take away.
Posted 2013-03-19 1:28 AM (#150662 - in reply to #150339) Subject: RE: Hay replacer
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
I feed 1 large 3-lb. scoop of Elk Grove Stablemix pelleted feed each feeding along with 1 flake of hay. ( my guys are big) but this has really kept excellent wight on them in the winter as opposed to feeding only hay. Has really kept down on hay waste too. Not sure if you can get the Elk Grove brand out your way? The horses like it and dont waste it as opposed to the other pelleted brands I have tried. They make a oat hay pellet, timothy hay pellet, alfalfa hay pellet, grass hay pellet, you name it. Look them up. I am paying $13.75 for a 50# bag.
Hay replacer
