Bermuda hay and colic? (Spin-off from thread re: compressed bale)

[grayarabs]

What’s the deal with Bermuda hay and colic? In Texas we have always fed coastal Bermuda. I bought a bag of compressed Bermuda - California Giant Bermuda. I had never seen or heard of that type before.

I’ve asked around and researched as to why Bermuda hay is implicated in colic. Some say it’s because of the hay being so fine. Others say it’s the length of the pieces of hay. But even that differs - short vs. long. See:

https://horsemansupply.com/hay
http://hayusa.net/bermuda.html

The above sites say Giant Bermuda has better digestibility - with shorter hay being safer…
The feed store folks say the opposite - the shorter hay is a problem…

I talked to two feed stores today. It seems this winter we (Texans) will have a problem with hay supply. Years of drought then years of too much rain. Both feed stores will be buying from out of state.

I bought a bag of Ametza Giant Bermuda in a Bag to supplement the coastal hay the barn provides (not enough of).
After looking at it I’m afraid to feed it - not knowing who/what to believe.
The hay is beautiful. The pieces are short, but fine. The “fine” is what worries me.
And how fast I can imagine my horse eating it - (also not good) even in a slow feed haynet - it’s like horse candy. .

I had bought the bag as a test - just to see - and decided just too risky IMHO to use to replace his hay pellets, cubes and beet pulp.

So…in talking with one of the feed stores about hay - the guy says he will be forced to buy hay from California. Giant Bermuda. Imagine my surprise…

I"m hoping our BO has sourced enough hay for this winter. (decent coastal Bermuda).

I want my horse to have more hay. I want to put in a slow feed haynet.

Thoughts/experiences with Giant Bermuda from California, please. TIA.

[Montanas_Girl]

Statistically, coastal bermudagrass hay is associated with a higher risk of illeal impactions, compared to other hay types (including other bermudagrass varieties). Without getting too technical, this is due to the often-high NDF (a measure of relatively indigestible fiber) content in coastal. That said, there are THOUSANDS of horses in the southeast U.S. who have no problems whatsoever on coastal hay. If your horse has historically done well on coastal, then I’d personally not see any reason to change due to the slightly (and I emphasize SLIGHTLY) increased colic risk, and there’s no reason to avoid any other bermudagrass variety as far as illeal impaction risks are concerned.

I hope that helps put your mind at ease!

[BlueDrifter]

In SoCal there remains a concern about bermuda, but I too wonder it if it fine texture vs long/short blades. However, most seem to think serving bermuda along with another hay dispenses with the issue.

[JB]

it is the fine texture of the Coastal Bermuda specifically that can increase the risk of the ileal impaction. Of course the better quality the lower the risk, but Coastal is still a fine-bladed hay no matter what.

No other variety of Bermuda, of which there are many, have this increased risk issue.

Yes, reducing the % of Coastal in the total hay consumption helps, not just because you’re decreasing the fine-blade nature, but you’re also increasing the coarser blades which helps push the Coastal through.

[wsmoak]

I am fairly sure that ‘Giant Bermuda’ is also what they grow in Arizona in irrigated pastures. When I lived there I observed that many horses did just fine on it. It’s much different than Coastal Bermuda from the East coast – more leaves, less of the tough wiry stem. I am not sure how it compares to the stuff grown in Texas though.

Here is an article I found on growing it in AZ: https://cals.arizona.edu/fps/sites/cals.arizona.edu.fps/files/cotw/Bermuda_Grass.pdf

IMO feeding less Coastal would be a good thing and I’d prefer the stuff from out West. Wait until you see a bale of it, I bet it will be nicer than whatever they’ve chopped up and put in a bag.

[SusanO]

My vet recommends if you feed bermuda hay ( Coastal or other types) to feed some alfalfa along with the bermuda. The alfalfa provides some “scratch factor” that helps keep the hay moving through the digestive system. Also alfalfa sometimes provides a laxative effect.

[mmeqcenter]

Having moved from Ohio to Florida two years ago and having serious sticker shock on the price of hay (I did research before and knew it was more expensive, but in the five months between when I researched it and we actually moved it apparently doubled or something), I gave Coastal a go. My horses have had zero issues with it. I asked a vet what they thought about it shortly after we moved here, they said they’d personally only seen colics on Coastal from round bales. Is that because it was Coastal, or because the round bale had gotten old and possibly moldy? Who’s to say. I feed my thoroughbreds Tifton rounds and Coastal squares when I can’t find rounds. The vet’s comment has made me apprehensive to try Coastal rounds as of yet, but I have a couple friends that feed them without problems.

Everything I’ve read has indicated it is the fine texture that causes colic, as the horses don’t chew it up as well as coarser hay. I have to say, though, the Coastal that I’ve gotten is basically identical to any grass hay I ever fed in Ohio. I’ve had boarders bring in some super fine Orchard before, way finer than any Coastal I’ve gotten.

For new horses in that haven’t been on it before, we slowly introduce it along with O/T/A mixes. Haven’t had any problems.

[LovieBird]

Coastal simply isn’t as digestible as other types of hay such as orchard or alfalfa due to its chemical make up (NDF, ADF, etc). Of course this can vary between cuttings, etc.

My horse was fine on it for years until he wasn’t and had to get colic surgery for an illeal impaction. He now gets orchard/alfalfa only. Could he be ok on the coastal again? Maybe, but the surgeon recommended to avoid it if possible. Obviously if that’s all that is available or what you can afford, your horse does have to eat. I know some who have had horses go through surgery and continue to feed it, but if there’s a chance you can avoid it, why not?

[grayarabs]

Thanks all. I’m fairly certain what the barn buys is coastal Bermuda. Or maybe a mix of Bermudas? Is that done? Different Bermudas grown together in same field? I need to closely inspect the barn hay. There are some short, fine pieces and IIRC stemmy pieces and some longer pieces. Not uniform.

It’s been years since I’ve seen a beautiful green bale of hay. The kind you would walk in the barn - smell it - and swoon it smelled so good. I wonder what happened over the years? In Texas.

The compressed giant Bermuda is green, lovely - smells divine. But it seems “fine” and “short”. Definitely uniform throughout the bag. The flakes fall apart easily. (meaning?). Maybe I have fed it in the past and didn’t know it. I remember feeding a beautiful hay that easily fell apart.

Good info - if one feeds coastal B to mix it with a different hay. Thanks.

To mention: a fellow boarder just bought a bag of compressed Timothy. It’s also a lovely green. The pieces feel limp and soft to me. Weird. Not like any other Timothy I have seen.

It’s a sad day when one sees beautiful hay and is afraid to feed it.