On Mythbuster Monday, we deal with a wide range of equestrian myths to both bust or affirm. At present’s dialogue: Does hay have the identical dietary worth from six months to 2 years previous?
It’s Mythbuster Monday, the place Horse Nation dives into completely different equestrian myths and offers research-based proof to both bust or affirm these myths. At present’s subject: Does hay have the identical dietary worth from six months to 2 years previous? How lengthy does it take for the hay to lose its dietary worth? When will the have don’t have any dietary worth? Learn additional to seek out out!
Fantasy: Hay retains the identical dietary worth from six months to 2 years
Fantasy or Reality: Reality
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Forage is the muse of a horse’s food regimen. On any given day, a horse of common weight needs to be consuming roughly 20 kilos of forage per day. There are completely different choices of hay, together with Timothy, Bermudagrass, Oat, Alfalfa, and Clover.
However, how lengthy does hay preserve the its dietary worth?
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In line with Kentucky Equine Analysis, hay will lose its vitamin content material within the first few months. After that few months, the content material stays about the identical as much as three years if saved in a dry spot with optimum air movement. Vitamin A doesn’t fare properly in hay. At 24 hours, the hay has already misplaced 75% of its Vitamin A content material.
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Conway Feed and Provide writes that hay loses roughly 5 % of its dietary worth within the first three months. After that, the hay may have a comparatively comparable dietary worth up till two years previous. This text states that the important thing to protecting the vitamin within the hay is to retailer it in a dry space. Storing the hay exterior the place it may be uncovered to moisture will lower the possibilities it could actually final two years.
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Clair Thunes, PhD, wrote an article printed in The Horse. Within the article she writes that protein, mineral, and power content material stays about the identical as much as two years. Nevertheless, vitamin A and Vitamin E lower quickly in hay. The vast majority of these nutritional vitamins content material is misplaced whereas reducing. Timothy hay appears to lose essentially the most vitamin content material at roughly 60% in the course of the reducing and baling course of. Whatever the early nutrient and content material loss. After the primary few months, the hay holds its dietary worth for as much as three years.
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Kathryn Watts of Rocky Mountain Analysis and Consulting, Inc., carried out a examine on three various kinds of hay: one 100% Italian ryegrass, one approx 75% alfalfa/ 25% brome/orchard grass combine, and one 100% alfalfa. The hay was examined on the day of baling, and at two weeks, two months, six months, 9 months, and 13 months. In all three testing samples, between two weeks and two months the hay misplaced dietary worth, however from two months to 13 months, the dietary content material stayed near the identical.
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The consensus is that hay does maintain its dietary worth from six months as much as two years. So long as storage is perfect in a dry spot with air flow, the hay will stay an excellent supply of vitamin for horses. So, Horse Nation, don’t be afraid to feed your horses final yr’s reduce of hay.
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