hayledge analysis?

[ElleSkywalker]

Finally got my fields mowed & bailed, but due to damp weather they had to be wrapped so now have hayledge.

I need to get it analyzed as although it was cut very late & was dried for 5 days so is basically wrapped hay, I want to know the sugar content of it, any suggestions of good places to send it?

Strawberry cupcakes to all

 

[Miss L Toe]

Curious as to what you intend to do with sugar analysis?
The fibre is used as the energy source by the horse, who is the best judge of hay.
I much prefer late cut hay for horses as it is high in fibre, and the owner can adjust the short feed to meet the needs of the work.
My boy is a bit hyper sometimes considering how little food he gets, so main thing is to make sure he gets no molasses or cereals or sugary treats.
Complex sugars are known as carbohydrates, in the gut they break down in to sugars. There are different sugars, including glucose sucrose and fructose. Fructose can ferment in the hind gut.
Haylage/wrapped hay, not a lot of difference sometimes, but don't feed for as long as possible as it may be too rich for the hindgut.

 

[ElleSkywalker]

Two of my horses are laminitic so the sugar/starch content will determine if I have to soak the hayledge or not

 

[Miss L Toe]

Yes, but how do you know what is acceptable and what is not, also there is no regular analysis which will identfy fructose.
If worried soak the hay and add Laminator [equimins] to the diet, feed Fast Fibre and non molassed Dengie lo alfa chaff.

 

[ElleSkywalker]

Bump

 

[oldywoldy]

I think Dodson and Horrell used to do Haylage analysis if you contact them they will get you to send a sample.

 

[Miss L Toe]

Better still, ask someone who has some knowlege, like the farmer to explain the grasses in the hay and whether it is good hay or poor hay.
Poor hay is ideal for young natives as it keep them busy without force feeding them for example.
Mouldy hay is always bad for horses, and dusty hay can lead to COPD.
Farmers have hay analysed so they can work out a maintenance ration for cows, above maintenance they have to feed a few pounds of concentrates per gallon of milk produced.

 

[criso]

I had mine done via forageplus but the company they used was Sciantec. They do various levels of analysis both nutritional and mineral.

 

[TGM]

Dodson & Horrell do a forage analysis service - details here:

http://www.dodsonandhorrell.com/nutrition-feeding-advice/forage.html

You are wise to get it analysed as studies have shown that even experienced horsemen are actually not that accurate in assessing nutritional content by eye - this is particularly important when dealing with laminitic animals as the soluble carb levels in hay and haylage can vary enormously.