Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

> Not to feed it (straw) as their main diet, just to have something extra
> for them to nibble on all day without adding a lot more calories. Better
> than nibbling on sand or have no food in the tummy between meals, both
> of which are more likely to cause colic and ulcers, right?
>
> Kathy

Not always - I'd be more comfortable sticking with a low NSC grass hay.

Straw can provide calories (DE) similar to the lower range of DE in grass hays, and NSC (sugar/starch) as high as 16%, but generally has lower protein.
http://www.dairyone.com/Forage/FeedComp/disclaimer.asp

 

Oat straw can be high in nitrates.
http://cru84.cahe.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/pubs/EM4918E.html (downloadable pdf)

as can any small grain hay (oat, barley, wheat) grown in stress conditions (drought, etc.) 
http://www.animalrangeextension.montana.edu/Articles/Forage/Fall/Nitrate-toxicity.htm

This article indicates that nitrate accumulation in straw might not be a factor if the grain has matured adequately.
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/drought/fs6.htm . I might also be concerned that young/old/stressed animals might not have sufficient gut microbes for adequate digestion.

 

Patti K

Vail AZ