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Discussion on Minimum Roughage Required?

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Stacey Hirth
Member
Username: Hirth

Post Number: 9
Registered: 4-2000
Posted on Monday, Oct 13, 2003 - 11:47 am:   Edit PostPrint Post
I have a 3.5 year old Appendix Quarter horse that really plumped up between March and July. His daily feed was reduced to a couple handfuls of pellets and 5 flakes of moderate quality grass hay (my barn does not weigh feed). Since July he has gotten exercised five or six days per week. The weight had been coming off slowly.

Recently the barn switched to very high quality grass hay and my horse has started gaining weight again! I am concerned about cutting his hay down much farther and would like to know the minimum amount of roughage needed to prevent digestive problems.

I appreciate any advice. Thanks!
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Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro

Post Number: 9270
Registered: 1-1997
Posted on Monday, Oct 13, 2003 - 6:54 pm:   Edit PostPrint Post
It is not a certain number Stacey it is a continuum. Starting with 100% of his feed being forage and as you decrease its percentage of the diet and replace it with grain you have increased problems.

I realize your question is a little different since he is not receiving large amounts of grain. It is a odd thing as horses that receive too little food overall are loosing weight there are not many medical problems until they are quite thin. The problems that occur in cases where there is too little food tend to be behavorial: chewing, cribbing weaving as the horse looks for something to replace his normal activities. With what we know about the pathogenesis, you would expect an increase in gastric ulcers in this group but we do not see it.

The article on forage, » Care for Horses » Nutrition » Roughage and Forage for Horses, an Overview, has recommended ranges and minimums based on the horses weight. We highly suggest you try to maintain them.
DrO
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