Should We Prioritise Daytime Forage Over Large Haynets For Good-Doers Prone To Ulcer?
Horses and ponies should ideally be allowed constant access to forage. If this is not possible because your horse is a good-doer, it is important to NEVER feed less than 1.5% of the horse’s body weight in fibre on a dry matter basis.
Research by Husted in 2009 suggested that daytime forage deprivation may cause Equine Squamous Gastric Disease, whereas night-time restriction in the same horses may not. So, using this information it could be appropriate to suggest owners to prioritise daytime forage over large haynets at night for good-doers if you can't feed ad-lib.
- 80% forage between 7am and 7pm
- 20% forage between 7pm and 7am
MAINTAINING FIBRE INTAKE
When feeding the good doer look at ways in which the forage being fed can be made to last longer, such as
- Putting hay in a small holed haynet
- Putting different haynets around the stable/field to encourage browsing behaviour
- Soaking hay to reduce the calorie count whilst maintaining the fibre intake
If you are unsure about how much forage to feed take a look at our hay equation which shows the average body weight of different breeds allowing you to work out the 1.5% dry matter allocation. Alternatively please feel free to get in contact with our nutritional team on 01622 7187487, email nutrition@saracenhorsefeeds.co.uk or fill out FEED ADVICE FORM.
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