Low protein hay

[Critter]

Tried looking through some old posts, but wasn’t finding exactly the feedback I wanted.

Have one gelding who has put on a lot of weight this winter, with the addition of a few (ie - 4 cubes 2x day) alfalfa cubes for ulcers (those were treated and healed, but vet suggested some alfalfa). So did a dive into looking at the overall nutrition…which lead to doing a hay test (had done one in the past, but not for some time).

Overall, the hay is good for nutrients…except that it is very low in protein (as in 5.6%). All the other nutrients balance correctly from what I can compare to standards. It is supposed to be a grass/timothy/alfalfa mix…but I’ve yet to find any alfalfa in it. But it is clean, and the horses seem to mostly like it. I prefer to do free choice hay as much as possible (use nibble nets also, so that slows them down a bit).

They are also on a small amount of TC senior (1/2 lb twice a day)…and 1/2 lb TC ration balancer (twice a day). They hate the ration balancer…if I try to just feed that or feed that with a little soaked alfalfa cubes, they won’t eat it. If I mix enough senior in they will eat it.

So, trying to explore other options…as in going to a quality supplement and just a handful of feed to get the supplement in…but I am also worried about needing to add protein.

Both horses on the fluffy side - one older with Cushings. The hay did come back with low starch, so we are good there. One horse is 5, but was out of work for an injury this winter (so he should slim down when back in a work program). Currently they are on winter fields, so no grass…but once the grass comes in, they have access to decent pasture.

Should I try a different ration balancer or just go with a supplement? What has worked well for others in this situation?

[Scribbler]

@Critter

Tried looking through some old posts, but wasn’t finding exactly the feedback I wanted.

Have one gelding who has put on a lot of weight this winter, with the addition of a few (ie - 4 cubes 2x day) alfalfa cubes for ulcers (those were treated and healed, but vet suggested some alfalfa). So did a dive into looking at the overall nutrition…which lead to doing a hay test (had done one in the past, but not for some time).

Overall, the hay is good for nutrients…except that it is very low in protein (as in 5.6%). All the other nutrients balance correctly from what I can compare to standards. It is supposed to be a grass/timothy/alfalfa mix…but I’ve yet to find any alfalfa in it. But it is clean, and the horses seem to mostly like it. I prefer to do free choice hay as much as possible (use nibble nets also, so that slows them down a bit).

They are also on a small amount of TC senior (1/2 lb twice a day)…and 1/2 lb TC ration balancer (twice a day). They hate the ration balancer…if I try to just feed that or feed that with a little soaked alfalfa cubes, they won’t eat it. If I mix enough senior in they will eat it.

So, trying to explore other options…as in going to a quality supplement and just a handful of feed to get the supplement in…but I am also worried about needing to add protein.

Both horses on the fluffy side - one older with Cushings. The hay did come back with low starch, so we are good there. One horse is 5, but was out of work for an injury this winter (so he should slim down when back in a work program). Currently they are on winter fields, so no grass…but once the grass comes in, they have access to decent pasture.

Should I try a different ration balancer or just go with a supplement? What has worked well for others in this situation?

My solution for a horse that needs more protein is feeding alfalfa hay up to about 1/3 of the forage. It gives more chew time, it’s forage, it is often the easiest and cheapest option.

[Simkie]

Well, what problem are you trying to solve here? Is the only concern the hay test? Are the horses doing well on the hay? The only complaint I see in your post is that one horse is too fat. Are there any other issues?

If they’re eating enough of the hay and you’re supplementing with grain/balancer, it’s likely they’re doing just fine on the protein front. If you’d like to find a more palatable balancer so you’re not stressing about them leaving it, that is certainly something to explore.

But doing the math, you’re getting 453 g protein in 20#s of your hay, plus 200 g in the senior + balancer. That’s fine for light work, unless you’re seeing issues that are indicating they need more.

Equine Protein Requirements - Kentucky Equine Research

[Critter]

@Simkie

Well, what problem are you trying to solve here?

So, I am going to cut the current ration balancer because both horses really are trying not to eat it or are eating it reluctantly (if I only give them the senior ration, they scarf that up…if I put only ration balancer they will leave it). So, I am concerned about removing that and not having adequate nutrition/protein/vitamins.

The one is too fat - again, that should resolve once he is back to work (he broke two ribs in turnout and so went from full daily work to just turnout for 6 months). The old guy has lost some muscle and topline, but that might be more age/cushings rather than nutrition (as his main cushings issue is exercise intolerance, so I’ve had to back down his work intensity this winter).

So, replacing the balancer is the goal…otherwise, I suppose I’m just feeling concerned that I might not be meeting nutritional needs with just hay, even though both look fine otherwise (and I should probably be glad I have easy keepers)!!

[Simkie]

It might be worth signing up for FeedXL for a month to really run everything through & understand what your hay is lacking. You can do it all by hand, too, but FeedXL makes it a lot easier.

It doesn’t sound like you need more calories at all, or really even more protein, just a different balancer that the horses like better

[OzarksRider]

IIWM I’d try a different ration balancer. My horses both like Purina Enrich Plus, which is lucky for me because that’s all I can get here. I once tried Nutrena’s balancer but one horse wouldn’t eat it.

[phantomhorse]

Another vote for the Purina Enrich Plus. My herd had previously been on the TC balancer and I had the same issue the OP did. They will eat the Enrich Plus alone.

[luvmyhackney]

Purina Enrich is the only feed I can give my pony, drop his meds and he will lick his bowl spotless.

I prefer him on V/M supplement and beet pulp, but if he gets hinky about his meds, I go back to Enrich and he licks it clean again. They like what the like I guess.

Try a different balancer.

[lenapesadie]

Both of mine will eat TC 30 and TC Gold Balancer, but not like they EAT Purina Omega Match. Another vote for trying a different balancer

[candyappy]

My 3 happily eat the Purina Enrich Plus.

[JB]

@Critter

TC senior (1/2 lb twice a day)…and 1/2 lb TC ration balancer (twice a day).

1lb of TC Sr is 63gm protein
1lb of TC Balancer is 136gm
22lb of the hay is 549gm

That 748gm which is good enough for an 1100lb horse in light work, if that’s what they are.

if they eat more or less than that, or weigh more or less than that, I recommend plugging numbers in here - free
Nutrient Requirements of Horses - Working Doc (nationalacademies.org)

it will tell you want the requirements are for the nutrients, and what your totals are based in the parts of the diet you know.

If you drop the balancer, then it’s pretty much guaranteed the total protein will be too low. But definitely try other balancers.