Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Red Oat Hay?

> Now for the Red Oat Hay, what is the nutritional value to oat hay? That is
> my main concern. I too feel like Oat hay is next to straw, but have never
> fed it. Is it best to feed with something else? If the nutritional content
> isn't there, I don't want hay that is just a "filler" Susan Garlinghouse,
> where are you??
> amber


Sorry, been off on senior rotations. :-)

Red oat hay should have a similar nutritional content as any other oat hay.
In other words, roughly 9-11% protein, about 20% less energy than most
alfalfas (as most hays are), *usually* a balanced calcium-phosphorus ratio
without anything being in outrageous excess or deficit.  Good hay.  However,
those values can vary widely based on your individual batch, and if you've
filled your barn, then it would be worth $25-30 to get a sample analyzed.
Find a local feed mill and give them a call, they'll give you directions on
how to collect a sample (it's basically just a handful from several
different bales, assuming you don't have access to a bore sampler).  The
nutrients most likely to be out of whack would be calcium and phosphorus,
which is easily fixed with adding a little alfalfa, beet pulp or calcium
carbonate (limestone).  The energy might be a tad low for *some* very hard
working horses or hard keepers, which you can correct by adding a good
balanced grain mix.  I would not advise just adding straight grains, as
without additional calcium, those inherently add more phosphorus than
calcium and so will skew your minerals.  A good commercial mix will already
be ca:p balanced and so be a good choice IMO.

So, having said all that, let's discuss my fee.  Send me Strider immediately
and we'll call it even. <vbg>

(And congrats on having found such a good boy, he sounds wonderful).

Susan G



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