mandk
Well-Known Member
Considering feeding straw instead of hay to one of mine - Has anyone ever fed this and is there a certain type of straw you should feed?
Feeding Straw Instead Of Hay
- Thread starter mandk
- Start date
Mrs_Wishkabibble
Well-Known Member
My mare used to eat her straw bed. Ended up with impacted colic and a £2k vets bill - said it was the straw.
michaelj
Well-Known Member
Most horses eat their beds anyway, Its a case of making sure you have shaken the straw so that there are no clumps left I thought, Thats what I though the general impression was...
Google it!
Google it!
stencilface
High upon a hillside
Not oat straw!! Mine ate his bed a bit last year when we had some very good oat straw, and he went loopy!
eveshooter
Active Member
I found this on "t'internet". Hope it helps. XX
"Straw can be used to replace all of the hay if the diet is properly supplemented with extra protein and minerals: for example, free-choice straw supplemented with 5 to 7 pounds (2.2 to 3.2 kg) of a 16 per cent protein grain mix or 5 to 7 pounds (2.2 to 3.2 kg) of alfalfa. However, straw is best used to replace only a portion of the hay, which still significantly extends your hay supply. Oat straw is softer and tends to be more palatable to horses than wheat or barley straw.
When feeding straw, always make sure your horse has an adequate source of water available to reduce the risk of impaction colic. In addition, give the horse's digestive system time to adjust to the fibrous straw by gradually increasing the amount of straw in the diet over two weeks. Straw should not be fed to weanlings or yearlings because they do not have the digestive capacity or ability to utilize straw as well as mature, adult horses."
"Straw can be used to replace all of the hay if the diet is properly supplemented with extra protein and minerals: for example, free-choice straw supplemented with 5 to 7 pounds (2.2 to 3.2 kg) of a 16 per cent protein grain mix or 5 to 7 pounds (2.2 to 3.2 kg) of alfalfa. However, straw is best used to replace only a portion of the hay, which still significantly extends your hay supply. Oat straw is softer and tends to be more palatable to horses than wheat or barley straw.
When feeding straw, always make sure your horse has an adequate source of water available to reduce the risk of impaction colic. In addition, give the horse's digestive system time to adjust to the fibrous straw by gradually increasing the amount of straw in the diet over two weeks. Straw should not be fed to weanlings or yearlings because they do not have the digestive capacity or ability to utilize straw as well as mature, adult horses."
DBrasnett
Well-Known Member
I had the same problem as Stencilface. Mine was on shavings and when we moved yards we went onto Straw, nice good quality barley straw. She ate it and was loopy!!
Pep12
Well-Known Member
Despite the comment to the contrary above. Oat straw is the safest straw for feeding to horses. You will find that it is oat straw that they use to make all the lovely bagged chaffs we buy! I wouldn't feed any of mine barley or wheat straw having seen a very lovely horse go down with an impaction colic due to barley straw.
mandk
Well-Known Member
Hmm, the idea is for my 13yr old NF, who has come out of this summer fatter than she has ever been in her whole life..... just an additional idea to try and get as much weight off as poss before next spring.
Not sure if it s a good idea or not really........
Not sure if it s a good idea or not really........
mandk
Well-Known Member
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I wouldn't feed any of mine barley or wheat straw having seen a very lovely horse go down with an impaction colic due to barley straw.
[/ QUOTE ]
do you feed oat straw then? Or just in chaffs?
I wouldn't feed any of mine barley or wheat straw having seen a very lovely horse go down with an impaction colic due to barley straw.
[/ QUOTE ]
do you feed oat straw then? Or just in chaffs?
brighteyes
Pooh-Bah
I feed clean barley straw to bulk out the haylage ration, add more fibre and cut down calories. I don't bed the greedies on it though.
D
Donkeymad
Guest
If you introduce it slowly then your horse should become accustomed to it and not be any where near as likelyto get colic. oat straw is the tastiest and softest, but also has the most energy value.
Sit_Up
Well-Known Member
Used to feed barley straw instead of hay to lamanitic pony on vets advice, so that she got enough fibre.
Had to introduce it slowly to the diet as with any new feed, have also used it to bulk out hay ration when hay gets too expensive.
Had to introduce it slowly to the diet as with any new feed, have also used it to bulk out hay ration when hay gets too expensive.
mik
Well-Known Member
Hi, I live in Spain, Cadiz. All the locals feed straw (all types, mainly oat near me). The local andalucian horses are fed it from weanlings. My spainsh vet says he deals with so many impaction colics it drives him mad, and it is hard to get insurance for colic here. One lady I know who jumps spanish sports horses (mixed breeds) took her 2 nags to the sunshine tour at montenmedio this spring, for 2 weeks, there they were fed hay, when they returned to the stables, despite taking (SOME) care they both compacted and one died. PLEASE BE CAREFUL is all i would say and get a nutritionist or your vet to oversee the fibre content in the horses diet and to monitor the changeover. I import hay from germany. Good luck.