September 15, 2021

Understanding a Hay Analysis

25 minutes

Getting your hay tested and analyzed is an excellent tool to evaluate your horse's diet. In this week's podcast, we discuss on why you should get your hay tested. It is an affordable option, ~ $30 USD, that allows you to ensure your horse's are eating high quality hay. There are many options for you to get your hay tested, which can be found via the internet or you can ask your local extension office. The hay analysis includes many categories (listed below) and you can discuss with the lab that tests your hay what they will test for and what the results mean. If you have any questions or concerns about how to get your hay tested or what your analysis means, please contact us HERE

General categories and broad recommendations for acceptable values include:

Moisture Content: Range 8 to 16% is acceptable. If a hay preservative is used, up to 20% may be acceptable. Above 20% hay may become moldy and endanger your horse.

Crude protein: will vary in range depending on type of hay. Generally, 10% and above indicates good quality hay. If lower, may consider ration balancer to ensure horse receives adequate protein.

Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF): evaluates digestibility and palatability of hay. A lower value is better. Generally, 30 to 35% indicates good quality hay and 35 to 40% moderate quality hay. Above 40% indicates low quality hay.

Neutral Detergent Fiber: similar to ADF, evaluates digestibility and palatability. Again, a lower value is better. A 40 to 50% value indicates good quality hay and 50 to 60% indicates moderate quality hay. Above 60% indicates a low quality hay.

Starch: generally is low in hay. Should expect less than 2%, May be higher in seeded hay like oat hay.

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC): measured by adding starch value and WSC (water-soluble carbohydrates). Hays higher in NSC ~ 12% may be troublesome for metabolic horses.

Minerals: usually not tested or paid for. Exception would be the calcium to phosphorus ratio. For breeding mares, the Ca:P ratio should be as close to 1:1 as possible. For other horses, the ratio may range but acceptable is usually around 3:1.

Relative Feed Value (RFV): evaluates overall quality of hay. For horses, an RFV above 100 indicates good quality hay, with 80 to 100 a moderate quality hay. Anything less than 80 would indicate a poor quality hay for horses.

You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE

This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

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