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[RC] [RC] Cost of Hay - Kudzu - PattiScroll on down to the very bottom of this page, then look for #8: Good article. If NCSU will test basics and nitrates for $10, that's a steal!
Oat hay (and other small grain hays) are good forages - but can be pretty high in sugars and more susceptible to high nitrate levels when drought stressed
and, even if you're don't normally test your hay, would check these for nitrates for $5 at DairyOne http://www.dairyone.com/Forage/services/Forage/forage_Price_List.htm
Also need to watch for species that can develop high levels of prussic acid (sorghum, sudan)
http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/B1224.htm (this is also a nice general article on different pasture/forage species)
Peanut hay has a pretty good nutrition profile http://www.dairyone.com/Forage/FeedComp/Main_GetResults.asp
(but I have no idea what time of year it becomes available).
Ontario Dehy makes a variety of alfalfa, Timothy and "Timothy Balanced" (mineral balanced) cubes that can provide the total forage base.
http://www.ontariodehy.com/tab02-06.htm Available in a good part of the east and spotty in the rest of the country - but they're really helpful about locating dealers if you call.
And - as already mentioned, beet pulp makes a good hay extender at approximately 1lb beet pulp substituting for each 1-1/2 lbs grass hay (with the molasses rinsed off if you can't get plain beet pulp). Can substitute for 25-30% of the hay ration and shreds can be fed dry.
Triple Crown Safe Starch is a mineral balanced bagged forage which can also be used as a total ration.
Patti K
Vail AZ
-- ~ There are no Magic Bullets in Equine Nutrition ~ Desert Equine Balance Patti Woodbury Kuvik PO Box 759 Vail AZ 85641 DesertHorses@xxxxxxxxx http://DesertEquineBalance.blogspot.com http://DesertHoofPrints.blogspot.com
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