Another Hay Question: Do they need variety?

[ozjb]

Probably a dumb question, but do horses need a variety of hay? We are in drought here (Australia) and hay is becoming harder and more expensive to get. My supplier currently has alfalfa (called lucerne here) Teff (a low sugar hay) and oaten hay. I have been feeding lucerne and Teff, but wonder if it would be OK to add the oat hay? Or SHOULD add the oat hay?
No grass hay to be found, so that’s not an option, although my paddocks are OK. Horses are out about 12 hours a day. I bring them in to save the paddocks.

Thanks!

[2DogsFarm]

Though I’ve never fed oat hay, looks like it is an acceptable forage:

https://equimed.com/health-centers/nutrition/articles/oats-and-oat-hay-for-your-horse

As in changing any feed, mix it with your current hay to see how it is accepted & if it causes any problem.

[JB]

The more varied the forage, the more likely you’re going to get a better quality (ratios) and quantity (enough overall) nutritional profile. Not having a variety isn’t the end of the world, as you can make up those deficiencies fairly easily most of the time.

But as for the oat hay, I would want to know the NSC before feeding a lot (or any) of it. Depending on the maturity, it can be pretty ok NSC-wise, but it can also be pretty high.

Teff IS grass hay It’s just a specific variety

[4LeafCloverFarm]

Spring here in TN has gotten go wildly unpredictable, that some years we run out of Bermuda before we have enough pasture. So since we are unable to get Bermuda in early spring, we have to stretch it out with a simple mixed grass hay. So there is certainly no reason why you shouldn’t try some Oat hay that’s good quality to mix with your Alfalfa or Teff.

Like @2DogsFarm said, mix in a small amount to start to make sure your horses find it palatable. So you might want to just get one bale first. If they turn up their noses to it, you haven’t wasted any money. Use it to mulch your garden. If they love it, you’ve lowered your hay bill for the winter, and made your horses happy at the same time. I would think that Teff and Alfalfa would be higher in protein than Oat hay, so you might have to feed slightly more. But I could be wrong about that.

[JB]

@4LeafCloverFarm

I would think that Teff and Alfalfa would be higher in protein than Oat hay, so you might have to feed slightly more.

Alfalfa yes. Teff, have to test. I’ve now seen a wide variety of quality, from super low NSC (like 4-5%) and very good protein (10-12%), and “average” NSC (15-ish) and poor protein (6-7%). So much depends on the soil. The good Teff I saw was grown in Eastern PA and eastern NC. The poor Teff was more Western NC.

[SusanO]

Hay buying was hit and miss this year so I am feeding a variety to stretch the good stuff. They eat the good stuff and pee on the other less desireable hay. Hopefully that will change after frost gets here. I try to feed hay from at least two sources. At this point everybody is too fat for alfalfa but I tend to add that to the mix when the weather gets nippy.

So try some of the oat hay but don’t buy too much at first. If the oat hay was cut early it can be pretty palatable but if it was cut late it may be like straw.

[Outyougo]

Oat hay if cut early season can be really good. Horses do like it but in my experience (and my equine taste testers) prefer to eat there hay early in storage season. Over the winter is looses some of that Katy flavor horses like. Mouses like it

[J-Lu]

Can you get your hay tested and go from there? Feed maybe a balancer to make up nutrients?

[MGLpony]

I have started feeding oat along with some orchard grass, rye grass hay, and a smidge of pasture grass mix. The rye is running out so switching that to oat. I also give 1lb alfalfa pellets, fresh ground flax, and a mineral supplement. Another boarder’s horse colicked and vet insisted it was a feed change. I figured my mare could have a bit of everything, in moderation, of course!