Re: Hay Comparison

["Susan Garlinghouse" <suendavid@worldnet.att.net>]

The National Research Council publishes a book called Nutrient Requirments
for Horses that has AVERAGE values for many different feedstuffs commonly
fed to horses.  However, the only way to get accurate values to have your
own hay analyzed for about $35.  In a nutshell, here are the comparison
values between alfalfa and orchardgrass, respectively---crude protein 15-22%
vs 9-12%; digestible energy per kg, 1.9-2.2 vs 1.7 - 2.0; calcium 1.05-1.28%
vs .24-.26; phosphorus .22-.25 vs .25 - .27.

Hope this helps.  If it were me, I would just feed more of the bermuda
(better mineral profile in my book) and supplement with some beet pulp if
you can, and forget about the orchardgrass.

Susan G

----- Original Message -----
From: Claudia Provin <provincmk@fanninelectric.com>
To: ridecamp <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2001 12:33 PM
Subject: RC: Hay Comparison


>     Can someone give me, or tell me where to go for, a comparison of
> nutrients of various hays and their  relative feed value?   I had been
> supplementing my free choice bermuda with a cake of alfalfa; my supplier
has
> lost access to the alfalfa but can get some orchardgrass.    I'm
wondering,
> especially, how alfalfa and orchardgrass compare.  TIA
>
> Claudia
> Texas
>
>
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