Hay forms the basis of all feeding. It provides nutrients such as crude fibre, sugar, protein and energy. However, it is not suitable for every type of horse. For horses with respiratory and dental problems, hay pellets are used as a substitute for hay. Find out if you should feed hay pellets as an alternative to hay and what the advantages and disadvantages are.
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What are hay pellets?
Hay pellets serve as a substitute for hay and can enhance the basic feed. The hay pellets are made from grass that has been mown at the optimal time. The mown grass is dried by a warm air process, then crushed and pressed into pellets.
Why feed hay pellets?
Due to this manufacturing process, the hay pellets are free of mould and irritant dust, making them a good base for horses with respiratory problems. For horses with dental issues, it might be difficult to grind the hay finely enough, therefore you should offer hay pellets, especially to older horses, to ensure that they continue to receive vital nutrients.
What are hay pellets?
Hay pellets can supplement the basic feed and act as a replacement for hay. The ideal time to cut the grass is used to create the pellets. The freshly cut grass is dried with hot air before being crushed and formed into pellets.
How to feed hay pellets correctly?
There are three different types of hay pellets. First, there are the green meal pellets. These consist of young, soft grass, which is dried and chopped. Besides there are the grass pellets, the grass of which is already a little older than the grass of the green meal pellets. The third variant is the hay pellets, which are made from finished hay. The pellets should have a high roughage content and a low crude protein content.
Hay pellets are a good alternative for horses that have respiratory problems or those that cannot grind the hay due to the condition of their teeth. However, as a general rule, hay pellets should not be considered as a basic feed substitute, especially for horses with healthy teeth. Due to the drying process, some vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids are lost and the feeding time is significantly shorter.
To feed dry or pre-soaked?
Even though many claim they can also be fed dry, hay pellets should always be fed soaked. Horses typically absorb a large amount of hay pellets rapidly since they are frequently consumed quicker than regular hay. Hay pellets have a considerable swelling effect, which causes them to swell up and immediately create pharyngeal blockage. These typically require a veterinarian’s help. Therefore, it is advised to feed the hay pellets moist at all times.
How do I feed hay pellets?
You should always feed hay pellets pre-soaked, because they swell up very much. Use 2-3 litres of warm or cold water per kilogram of hay pellets. Let the mixture soak for about an hour.
How many hay pellets should you feed?
The recommended ratio of hay pellets to water is as follows: Mix 1 kg of hay pellets with 2-3 litres of water. The mixture should then soak for about an hour, depending on the temperature. If it is a bit colder, this process will take longer than in warm temperatures. If the water is warmer, the soaking takes less time. To avoid fermentation in summer and freezing in winter, hay pellets should always be prepared fresh.
The basic rule is: 1 kg of hay pellets equals 1 kg of normal hay. So per 100 kg of your horse’s body weight you can feed about 1.5 kg of hay pellets. You can also mix hay and hay pellets. For example, if you feed your horse 10 kg of hay per day, you can replace about 3 kg of it with hay pellets.
In addition, the pellets should not be fed all at once, but in several rations spread over the day.
How do I feed hay pellets warm in winter?
Hay pellets are fed pre-soaked. You can pour warm water on the hay pellets so that they do not freeze. The mixture must then soak for about an hour. Depending on the preference of the horse, sometimes 30 minutes are enough. After that you can feed it to your horse.
Characteristics of good hay pellets
An important factor for good quality hay pellets is the production. If the feed bag states that the hay pellets come from natural meadows and the cutting time was carefully chosen, high-quality grasses and herbs should be included. In addition, these pellets should have a low fructan content.
Additives should not be used in hay pellets. Therefore, make sure that the hay pellets are free of additives such as sugar or molasses. In addition, they should be gently dried and dust-free.
What are the advantages of hay pellets?
Hay pellets do not contain irritant dust, which makes them particularly suitable for horses with respiratory diseases. In addition, softened hay pellets are easier to chew and process for horses with dental problems. Moreover, they have a high crude fibre content, which is necessary for the horses' digestion.
Feeding hay pellets: the Pros and Cons
Pros
Hay pellets are produced using the warm air process. Therefore, no mould or irritant dust can form. For this reason, hay pellets are particularly well suited for horses with chronic cough or asthma. In addition, hay pellets are particularly well suited for horses with dental problems. The softened hay pellets are easier to chew and consume. Older horses suffer more often from dental problems. Horses with dental problems can no longer chew hay which causes the body to not absorb the feed properly, causing the horses to lose weight.
Concentrated feed cannot be fed to solve the issue. Crude fibre is not present in concentrated feed. Crude fibre is crucial for proper digestion and stable gut flora. The large intestine breaks down crude fibre. As a result, fatty acids are created, which provide the horse with energy. Hay pellets include a lot of crude fibre. As a result, a hay-based meal lessens the load on the metabolism and improves the horses’ health.
Cons
The disadvantage of hay pellets is that vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids are partially lost due to the drying process. These are important for the horses. For this reason, hay pellets can not completely replace the hay intake.
Conclusion: What must be taken into account?
First of all, it should be ensured that the hay pellets can be fed dry and pre-soaked. However, the pellets swell up quite strongly and can thus cause pharyngeal blockages if fed dry. This is especially the case for those horses that cannot process normal hay due to dental or respiratory problems. Feeding dry pellets is only recommended for horses whose chewing activity is not impaired. In addition, the pellets should not be fed all at once, but in several portions throughout the day.
It is important that the pellets are kept dry at all times to prevent the formation of mould or dust. Besides, the pellets should have a high roughage content and a lower crude protein content. This depends on the time of harvest.
Michelle Breitenfeld works as a trainee in international marketing for ehorses after her studies in media management and journalism. She will give you the best tips about horses. You can reach her at m.breitenfeld@ehorses.de.
