Working out weight of forage/feed

M

mushroom

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 August 2010
Messages
333
Visit site
Please could you help me work out how much my horse should be eating.

Is it 2% of body weight to maintain weight? I think it's something like 75% that should be forage but does that include chaff? I have a standard bowel scoop with black handle - does anyone know how much that holds weight wise?

My horse is a good weight but I'd just like to know how much she's getting. I've got one of those hook weights. :)
 
I think it's about 1.5% of bodyweight for all forage for maintenance (grass/hay/feed)... of course it's impossible to say how much grass they're having unless you have none!

I literally weigh everything.....

So dig out a scoop of nuts, then chaff etc, tip it in a carrier bag and weigh it, same with the hay/haylage. Take a wedge, put it in a bag or tie bailer twine round it and weigh it with a spring balance.

I then write out a chart of what feed measures each pony is having morning and night.... though don't stick to it that rigidly if I'm honest. I feed based on how they're looking, and in winter give them as much hay as they'll eat.

I use the weights and measures more for setting my feed and hay budget!
 
p.s, the ratio between forage and hard feed depends on what work the horse is doing. Afraid I don't know the split.... most feed bags have that sort of info on the reverse
 
Depends how much work your horse is doing. The following is taken from this website: http://www.equi-analytical.com/PuttingResultsToWork/DryMatterIntakeTable.htm

Light work: Average DM Intake: 1.8, Range DM Intake: 1.35 - 2.25, %Forage: 65, %Concentrate: 35
Moderate work: Average DM Intake: 1.9, Range DM Intake: 1.58 - 2.25, %Forage: 50, %Concentrate: 50
Intense work: Average DM Intake: 2.3, Range DM Intake: 1.80 - 2.70, %Forage: 35, %Concentrate: 65

(Dry matter - DM - intakes are expressed as a percentage of body weight)

The weight of one of your scoops will vary from feed to feed. The feed bag may have a guide on the back, but your best bet would be to weigh it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top