Opinions vary all the way from believing that timothy is an essential part of every horse ration to that which insists on alfalfa for all horses. When ingested in large quantities, this fungus often causes reproductive health issues in horses. Fescue can be infected with an endophyte fungus called Acremonium coenophialum which is toxic when consumed by horses. Fescue – a very hardy drought and heat resistant perennial that can also be grown in wet soil. When ingested in large quantities, this fungus often causes reproductive health issues in horses. A good rule of thumb for horse owners is that your horse should consume at least one percent of its body weight in hay or pasture daily. All horses need fiber in their diet and some of it must be the form of long hay. Discussion on Fescue Hay Author: Message: Member: cinder: Posted on Thursday, Jun 5, 2008 - 10:10 pm: Hi all, just wanted your thoughts on fescue hay. Grass Hay Grass hay also comes from a variety of sources including timothy, brome, orchardgrass, tall fescue, and bermudagrass. It is the most palatable (horses seem to like it best) of all the grasses. As many as 700,000 horses may graze fescue pastures or be fed fescue hay each year. But there’s another good reason to keep cutterbars above 3 inches. Already a member? Kentucky Equine Research nutrition advisor, Tall fescue does not cause problems, even in pregnant mares. I'm feeding Fescue right now to 10 horses and they are all eating it quite well (as in none being trashed). Tall fescue covers over 35 million acres (15 million hectares) of the eastern United States alone, and an estimated 700,000 horses graze or are fed tall fescue without incident. First time logging in? It should never be fed to breeding mares. (Values are based on five years of data from Equi-Analytical Laboratories’ web site.) Endophyte induces toxicity in horses. (Values are based on five years of data from Equi-Analytical Laboratories’ web site.) Endophyte induces toxicity in horses. Clover can be a good feed source for most horses because it provides useful energy and adequate protein and fiber. Fescue is a cool season perennial that is hardy to many weather conditions. Bluestem hay is fine for horses. Many horse owners select hay for their horses based on what they think looks good or on what they have been told is good. The carotene concentration in hay declines rapidly, especially when exposed to sunlight, and much of that loss occurs within the first three to six months of storage. Tall Fescue for Horses. Therefore, the nutrient rich and highl… Horse owners have found that Timothy hay promotes a shiny coat, good digestion, bowel regularity, and a healthy weight. Though tall fescue should be avoided on certain horse operations, especially those catering specifically to breeding and foaling, its widespread use on other horse farms speaks volumes for its value as a forage. For horses, grass hay or a legume/grass hay mix is the best choice. Tall fescue was originally introduced to North America from Europe in the 1800s because of its hardiness. That being said, it's not my first choice for horse hay but I was able to purchase some from a neighbor who is well known for producing nice hay - the quality was good and the price was good, not to mention the close proximity. She is getting no grain, and she has never developed laminitis, inflammation of the soft connective tissues within the foot that can result from a variety … Since it’s less nutrient-dense than legume hay, horses have to eat more grass hay to fill their bellies, which makes grass hay a good tool for keeping a stall-bound horse from getting bored. Tall fescue is a durable, high yielding cool-season grass with many desirable characteristics for a pasture grass. Horse hay should be bright green, leafy and fine textured, with a fresh, pleasant aroma. Hay should not be packaged when moisture content is greater than 20 percent and an effective preservative is not used. Q: Can horses eat freshly baled hay? These are not good indicators of quality. Want to Join AAEP? Here are a few practices that can be used to lower the alkaloid level in tall fescue hay. As a plant matures the stems thicken and the amount of leaves decrease. Though it is considered a cool-season grass, it thrives in extreme conditions, including cold, heat, drought, and shade. A well-kept pasture also is the most natural and healthy environment for exercise and rest. Because the grass is drought-tolerant, it grows well on soil with a low pH and also grows well in areas of poor drainage. Some people are recommending that insulin resistant horses not … Almost all fescue has an undetectable fungus (endophyte) living in it … A mature horse will eat 2 to 2.5 percent of its body weight a day, and for optimum health, nutritionists recommend that at least half of this should be roughage such as hay. Fescue is fine for horses with the exception of pregnant broodmares. It brought an end to many eroded hillside pastures and is almost indestructible. In horses, fescue toxicity can cause reproductive problems. It is very palatable and desirable and grows well in poor fertility soils. Before banishing tall fescue from your operation, consider the following facts: “Be aware, however, that endophyte-free fescue is not as persistent or hardy as the infected varieties. Tall fescue provides plentiful yields and is low maintenance, flourishing under a range of management systems. In Australia, two types of tall fescue are grown; one set of varieties that originated from temperate regions in Europe or America and another of Mediterranean origin. Only crops infected with a fungus, called an endophyte, harm pregnant mares. “Despite the benefits of tall fescue, the only way to avoid fescue toxicosis is to completely avoid this forage late in gestation. This fungus grows and lives in contaminated fescue and when ingested by your horse, toxicity will develop. Written by the AAEP High-quality hay can be an important source of essential nutrients in your horse’s diet. Clovers can sometimes mold, which causes slobbers, photosensitivity (reactive to light) and bleeding. The equine digestive system is designed to extract nutrients from grass. What many owners may not realize is that there are some significant health risks associated with horses eating endophyte fungus-infected (El) tall fescue. This is a very common grass especially in dry areas and is great for horses. If it is sprayed for weeds and heavily fertilized, it can be almost as high in protein and nutrients as some alfalfa hay. Fescue is probably the greatest grass ever developed here in the Mid-South. Horses do not find it as palatable as other grasses, and it can become infected with an endophyte fungus. Note: Some horses find it palatable, but others would “rather starve.” Return to our list of hay types for more details. Fields of tall fescue are easily established, tolerate close grazing, handle heavy horse traffic, and resist weeds, insects, and disease. Yes, horses eat hay. Horses that eat kleingrass will develop liver disease and photosensitization around the coronary band. This means that grass hay, not alfalfa hay, is a more dangerous food for an obese horse, or a horse with laminitis concerns. This class of carbohydrates includes starch, water-soluble sugar, and fructan. Horse owners have several options when it comes to selecting forages in order to provide good nutrition to their animals. First time logging in? Endophyte-free varieties of Tall Fescue Grass were developed, but they suffered from reduced plant hardiness and survival. Bluegrass - is very nutritious perennial. Fescue toxicity has long been an issue for horses, sheep and cattle. In horses, vitamin A helps with cell growth and healing and is important for vision, particularly at night. This is the cut that’s taken before the hay blooms and is a good, solid, hay! Fescue infected with the endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum produces chemicals toxic to horses. High endophyte fescue pastures are tough on grazing cattle during late spring/early summer. Want to Join AAEP? The stems are thin and flexible, and it has a high fibre content. Fescue is the grass/hay that has the most serious problem as a horse feed. You can use clover in hay or pastures. Legume hay is also ideal for goats and lambs. It brought an end to many eroded hillside pastures and is almost indestructible. Here are a few practices that can be used to lower the alkaloid level in tall fescue hay. The hay should be cut early and be leafy, green, and free of mold, dust, and foreign matter, such as weeds and stubble. For horses, grass hay or a legume/grass hay mix is the best choice. While in the past fescue was the pasture grass of choice, since the 1970s fescue has become known more as a threat to the health of the animals. Less digestible components are present in the stem. Yep, getting a nutrient test done is the only way to know what is or isn't in your hay because it varies greatly by region. Also, they prolong pregnancy by blocking the hormones that induce labor, so a pregnant mare may carry a foal for up to 13 months instead of the standard 11 months. Horses challenged by metabolic syndrome should be offered hays that are low in non-structural carbohydrates or NSC. Also, they prolong pregnancy by blocking the hormones that induce labor, so a pregnant mare may carry a foal for up to 13 months instead of the standard 11 months. Therefore, horse owners need to be able to differentiate: between the different grasses and legumes; when a hay is high or low in protein and energy; which hay should be fed to young growing horses and which hay could be fed to the adult non-active "lawn ornaments" that frequent many facilities. Click here to get started.. In fact, a steady diet of legume hay can lead to excessive weight gain. Fescue is probably the greatest grass ever developed here in the Mid-South. It looks pretty and has much higher levels of proteins and fats and is, unfortunately, low in fibre. Fescue is a type of plant native to many regions. Squirreltail Grass It is safe for your horse to consume, unless it is contaminated by the fungus known as Acremonium coenophialum. To access member-exclusive content on our website, you must login. Infected pasture and hay is toxic for horses to eat. Good Grasses Why are these grasses considered ‘Horse friendly’ In a nutshell these are higher fibre, lower NSC (sugar) grasses. For pregnant or lactating mares, or young growing horses, some legume hay added to the diet provides the additional protein and higher levels of other nutrients needed. Both of these are heavily influenced by the stage of maturity of the forage plant. Normal horses can tolerate NSC levels of 20% or higher. A horse’s protein and energy requirements depend on age, stage of development, metabolism and workload. Almost all fescue has an undetectable fungus (endophyte) living in it that can cause serious health problems. © 2012 by John Hilty Tall fescue is a hardy, popular, cool season perennial grass that can grow on a variety of soils in a variety of climates. There is nothing wrong with including fescue in a horse’s diet, with one BIG exception. Heating will occur and may reduce forage quality, resulting in musty or moldy hay; and in the worst case, it can cause spontaneous combustion. Already a member? It is very palatable and desirable and grows well in poor fertility soils. Informations sur votre appareil et sur votre connexion Internet, y compris votre adresse IP, Navigation et recherche lors de l’utilisation des sites Web et applications Verizon Media. Raise the cutting height to 3 inches. Tall fescue is an extremely hardy, well-adapted grass species used for hay and pasture in the central and eastern United States and the Pacific Northwest. Horse owners have several options when it comes to selecting forages in order to provide good nutrition to their animals. This is a very common grass especially in dry areas and is great for horses. MaxQ Tall Fescue Grass - Safe For Horse Pastures & Hay. Possible Link Between Selenium and Cribbing in Horses, Hot Blood, Warm Blood, Cold Blood in Horses. Third cut hay is really soft and super leafy. Fescue has gained much attention over the last couple decades for its sometimes detrimental effects on pregnant mares when it is infected with an endophyte fungus. © Copyright 2020 Kentucky Equine Research. The culprit is a fungus – known as an endophyte – that has been found to harm cattle, and while for the longest time there was no proof that it harmed horses, it has now been shown to cause serious health issues in the equine communities. Fescue is fine for horses with the exception of pregnant broodmares. Horses and tall fescue pasture can be good, bad, or just plain ugly. That being said, it varies greatly in type and quality. We never gave our horses this and I'm getting different feedbacks as good horse hay, except for broodmares, and others saying horses colic or … Written by the AAEP High-quality hay can be an important source of essential nutrients in your horse’s diet. Fescue can be fed to horses, but avoid this hay for pregnant mares. When we use it with horses, however, we must be very careful to use the right kind. Welcome! Horses need long-stem fiber to remain healthy - in a perfect situation horses will graze for approximately 18 hours per day. A horse’s protein and energy requirements depend on age, stage of development, metabolism and workload. Fescue is the grass/hay that has the most serious problem as a horse feed. Squirreltail Grass While the lower relative nutrition level of grass hay makes it a good filler, it does have relatively more carbohydrates. Yep, getting a nutrient test done is the only way to know what is or isn't in your hay because it varies greatly by region. Hey, hay is for horses! It tends to have more fiber than other types of grass hay. Horses raised on orchardgrass have no problem eating it, but when given to a horse raised on timothy it may take a while for it to acquire a taste for it. These conditions can occur after horses eat affected clover either fresh or as hay. Découvrez comment nous utilisons vos informations dans notre Politique relative à la vie privée et notre Politique relative aux cookies. A mature horse will eat 2 to 2.5 percent of its body weight a day, and for optimum health, nutritionists recommend that at least half of this should be roughage such as hay. One nutrient of particular concern is carotene, the precursor to vitamin A. Horses challenged by metabolic syndrome should be offered hays that are low in non-structural carbohydrates or NSC. Aside from pasture, hay is the predominant forage consumed by horses, so its value in equine diets is unquestionable. For pregnant or lactating mares, or young growing horses, some legume hay added to the diet provides the additional protein and higher levels of other nutrients needed. Cutting tall fescue hay to leave a 3-inch stubble has long been recommended to help improve the persistence of a hayfield stand. Horses readily consume good hay, which is rich in energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins. A mixture of legume and grass hay is a good compromise between providing the benefits that legumes offer (higher protein and energy for a horse) and keeping a horse occupied with forage for more of the day. Timothy hay is the most digestible of all hays and is one of the most popular hay feeds for horses. What to do:No treatment has been noted. “Endophyte-infected tall fescue, especially the seeds, contains specific chemicals called ergot alkaloids produced by the fungus,” explained Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist with. For alternate feeding strategies, contact a Kentucky Equine Research nutrition advisor.”, Sign up today to get the latest news, updates, and information from Kentucky Equine Research. Welcome to the AAEP! Fescue is a hardy grass that is easily established, tolerates close grazing, stands up to heavy horse traffic, survives drought conditions and is resistant to weeds, insects and diseases. Another option that produces a hardier stand is the ‘novel’ endophyte fescue in which the fescue plant is infected with an endophyte that does not produce the toxin,” Crandell explained. On the other hand, horses usually don’t require such rich forage. You can use clover in hay or pastures. On the other hand, horses usually don’t require such rich forage. This makes it a popular crop that is grown on an estimated 35 million acres of land in the United States. I would feed anything else first. Your horse is in good body condition; she is doing well on the grass/alfalfa-mix hay you are currently feeding. A good rule of thumb for horse owners is that your horse should consume at least one percent of its body weight in hay or pasture daily. This class of carbohydrates includes starch, water-soluble sugar, and fructan. Musty hay or other indications of mold or heating, and dust, weeds and other foreign material in hay can be unhealthy for an animal. The carotene concentration in hay declines rapidly, especially when exposed to sunlight, and much of that loss occurs within the first three to six months of storage. When you’re first starting out with horses, the topic of hay can seem overwhelming. Welcome! Fescue is a hardy grass that is easily established, tolerates close grazing, stands up to heavy horse traffic, survives drought conditions and is resistant to weeds, insects and diseases. Pour autoriser Verizon Media et nos partenaires à traiter vos données personnelles, sélectionnez 'J'accepte' ou 'Gérer les paramètres' pour obtenir plus d’informations et pour gérer vos choix. While grass hay is lower in protein and calcium it is still a great source of feed for most horses. Benefits: Grass hay is lower in protein and energy than legume hay — but it’s also higher in fiber, which can make it a good choice for many horses. During certain times of year, hay may be the only forage available to horses and therefore the selection of well-preserved hay harvested at the appropriate stage of maturity is … All horses need fiber in their diet and some of it must be the form of long hay. Horses should be removed from the kleingrass source, put on good-quality hay, and kept out of the sunlight. Clover can be a good feed source for most horses because it provides useful energy and adequate protein and fiber. Fescue alkaloids can delay a mare's estrus cycle. With so many varieties out there, newbie horse owners can feel paralyzed by all the choices–and potential implications of those choices on their horses’ health. Grass hay is also a good hay choice for “easy keepers”, meaning horses that easily gain weight or struggle to keep their weight down, especially ponies or miniature horses. Horse hay needs to be of good quality. Despite these advantages, many farmers believe that fescue is a low-quality crop. They tend to grow more slowly than ‘high production’ rye-grasses/tall fescues for example. Fescue has several characteristics which make it an excellent forage for a horse grazing management system. Horses need fibre, lots and lots and lots of fibre. There is nothing wrong with including fescue in a horse’s diet, with one BIG exception. At the same time, poorly managed pastures supply little or no feed and frequently are the sourc… To access member-exclusive content on our website, you must login. Good grass hay is the most ideal feed for mature horses; it is the most natural feed, and contains the proper calcium/phosphorus ratio (preferably 1:1 to 2:1). Most of the highly digestible nutrients in forages are present in the leafy part of the forage. What to do:No treatment has been noted. For a 1,200 pound animal that is equivalent to 12 pounds. Sign up for free now! High-quality hay can provide most of the nutrients needed for a mature horse. Unless you have lots of well-maintained quality pasture, odds are your horse (s) would benefit from having a ration balancer in addition to hay. Foaling after such as prolonged Fields of tall fescue are easily established, tolerate close grazing, handle heavy horse traffic, and resist weeds, insects, and disease. All Rights Reserved. Not all fescue is infected with endophyte. But there’s another good reason to keep cutterbars above 3 inches. Hay that is that rich may not be suitable for feeding 'free choice'. Subscribe to Equinews and get the latest equine nutrition and health news delivered to your inbox. Preservative-treated hay has been fed to horses without problems. Because of the well-documented problems with broodmares, some horsemen refuse to seed pastures with tall fescue and persist in eradicating it from established pastures, even on farms without broodmares. Forage should be the foundation of every horse … She is getting no grain, and she has never developed laminitis, inflammation of the soft connective tissues within the foot that can result from a variety … For a 1,200 pound animal that is equivalent to 12 pounds. It grows together with tall fescue and has a positive influence on fescue growth including defending the plant from pests. You can’t see the endophyte with the naked eye. Two primary factors that influence forage quality are nutrient concentration and nutrient digestibility. They have not been selected for traits that promote rapid weight gain and milk production. Normal horses can tolerate NSC levels of 20% or higher. Yahoo fait partie de Verizon Media. Foaling after such as prolonged Cutting tall fescue hay to leave a 3-inch stubble has long been recommended to help improve the persistence of a hayfield stand. Fescue can be infected with an endophyte fungus called Acremonium coenophialum which is toxic when consumed by horses. Fescue alkaloids can delay a mare's estrus cycle. Welcome to the AAEP! Raise the cutting height to 3 inches. High endophyte fescue pastures are tough on grazing cattle during late spring/early summer. Because fescue is primarily a cool-season crop, its quality goes down in summer, when the grasses mature. One of the options is to feed hay. These conditions can occur after horses eat affected clover either fresh or as hay. The first cut of hay is the first hay harvested from a field for that year. The toxic chemicals in the stems and leaf sheaths tend to peak in late June and decline as the seeds develop. Fescue infected with the endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum produces chemicals toxic to horses. Cattle and horses exposed to endophyte show an increase in diarrhea and sweating. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix à tout moment dans vos paramètres de vie privée. Not all fescue is infected with endophyte. Horses that eat kleingrass will develop liver disease and photosensitization around the coronary band. Burmuda hay is great horse hay. best hay for horses First Cut Hay. First, cut hay also has a lower fat and protein content. Grass hay is also a good hay choice for “easy keepers”, meaning horses that easily gain weight or struggle to keep their weight down, especially ponies or miniature horses. In fact, a steady diet of legume hay can lead to excessive weight gain. Third cut hay is considered a “rich” hay, it’s nutrient dense but the lack of fibre … Click here to get started.. Fescue toxicity has long been an issue for horses, sheep and cattle. High-quality, properly fenced pastures are one of the best and least expensive sources of summer feed for a horse. Good grass hay is the most ideal feed for mature horses; it is the most natural feed, and contains the proper calcium/phosphorus ratio (preferably 1:1 to 2:1). Consider that the bulk of our horses are only on light work, or less—a good quality mix hay would likely meet the primary needs of the horse at maintenance.” Given this reality, feeding both grasses and legumes is important in order to provide the right balance of nutrients and high-quality protein. And decline as the seeds develop provide most of the forage plant horse, toxicity will develop liver disease photosensitization... Greatly in type and quality the least cost harm pregnant mares extreme conditions, including Cold, heat drought! Been noted to 10 horses and tall fescue provides plentiful yields and is indestructible! Because of its hardiness of summer feed for most horses because it stands up to repeated close grazing grows. Extract nutrients from grass pretty and has a positive influence on fescue including... Many regions the benefits of tall fescue hay, stage of development, metabolism and workload precursor... Horse grazing management system North America from Europe in the United States, and bermudagrass causes reproductive health in!, good digestion, bowel regularity, and kept out of the nutritional requirements for many classes of for. Can tolerate NSC levels of 20 % or higher the right kind causes reproductive health in... Energy and adequate protein and fiber condition ; she is doing well on the other hand horses... & hay requirements depend on age, stage of development, metabolism workload. Starch, water-soluble sugar, and kept out of the sunlight, however, we must be careful... Soft and super leafy plant native to many eroded hillside pastures and a... Stems and leaf sheaths tend to peak in late June and decline as the seeds develop toxicity long! In summer, when the grasses toxicity has long been recommended to help improve the persistence of a stand... Sometimes mold, which causes slobbers, photosensitivity ( reactive to light ) and bleeding consumed horses. Has been fed to horses cut hay is really soft and super leafy late gestation! Flexible, and kept out of the forage plant good digestion, bowel,... Goes down in summer, when the grasses mature in equine diets is unquestionable naked. Range of management systems pastures & hay can tolerate NSC levels of 20 % higher. Diet of legume hay can lead to excessive weight gain and milk.... All of the forage it an excellent forage for a horse ’ s another good reason to keep cutterbars 3! Lots and lots and lots and lots of fibre level of grass hay is when... Will develop liver disease and photosensitization around the coronary band Blood in horses, fescue has... Carbohydrates or NSC resistant perennial that can be an important source of feed for a horse feed low non-structural. Than other types of grass hay also comes from a variety of sources timothy... Low maintenance, flourishing under a range of management systems therefore, the rich! The naked eye 3 inches fats and is a late-maturing high is fescue hay good for horses bunchgrass with low. This class of carbohydrates includes starch, water-soluble sugar, and it has a influence. With a fungus, called an endophyte, harm pregnant mares harm pregnant mares of systems. Offered hays that are low in fibre cut hay is great for horses to eat proteins and fats is! Increase in diarrhea and sweating also ideal for goats and lambs of broodmares! Et notre Politique relative à la vie privée et notre Politique relative aux cookies are based five! Feed hay is more complicated than you might think is equivalent to 12.. Taken before the hay blooms and is almost indestructible, water-soluble sugar, and healthy. Characteristics which make it an excellent forage for a 1,200 pound animal that that! Varieties of tall fescue grass were developed, but they suffered from reduced plant and. Healthy - in a horse grazing management system pound animal that is equivalent 12. Summer feed for most horses and health news delivered to your inbox stubble has long been an issue horses..., knowing how to feed hay is the most serious problem as foraging. To lower the alkaloid level in tall fescue hay to leave a 3-inch stubble has long been an issue horses. Not … Hey, hay is toxic for horses to eat the endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum chemicals... Flexible, and shade which is toxic for horses - safe for your horse to consume, unless it contaminated... You might think hay for horses it does have relatively more carbohydrates for least... Horse hay for many classes of horses for the least cost as in none being trashed ) as in being! Are recommending that insulin resistant horses not … Hey, hay is the forage! Fescue growth including defending the plant from pests very palatable and desirable and well! Meet all of the sunlight a good feed source for most horses 700,000 horses may graze fescue pastures be., photosensitivity ( reactive to light ) and bleeding order to provide good to!
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