|
|
Discussion on Hay/grass analysis
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
npo33901
|
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2011 - 5:37 pm:
What must I ask when ordering analysis of hay and grass (from the pasture) ?
They are asking me what do I want .
With the grass - they say - they will dry it first . Is this not strange ? Are not some properties lost by drying ?
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2011 - 6:25 pm:
Hello Anna,
Ask for the nutrients that are of interest to you but most labs offer a "general profile" that gives an accounting of the major nutrients of importance and maybe a place to start. The article on Nutrition Overview gives a general accounting of the major nutrients of importance to horses.
Concerning drying this is standard procedure so though there may be changes you will be comparing your results to the results obtained when nutrient experiments are done. The nutrition tables were calculated using this same techniques.
DrO
|
Member:
npo33901
|
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 16, 2011 - 12:57 am:
Thank you, Dr. O. I am now going to look up your articles.
|
Member:
npo33901
|
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 16, 2011 - 1:40 am:
Dr.O, As I don't know if this Lab is offering "general profile". It is one of the students who is taking the hay/grass to the University for testing. He is asking what I want ?
Crude protein
Crude fiber - digestable
- nondigestable
calcium
phosphorus
energy
Would this be OK for start ?
Would you add/suggest some more ? Like biotine, zink, copper, iron ?
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 16, 2011 - 7:52 am:
Biotin, a B vitamin, is largely made available to your horse through microbial action in the bowel and the minerals you list are in a trace mineral block so not critical in the hay. However vitamins A & E are derived from the horses feedstuffs.
Much depends on what tests your lab offers. If they offer a very complete profile you might consider breaking down the carbohydrates a bit different:
* nonstructural carbohydrates (sugars), if they can further feather out the nondigestible nonstructural carbs it might be of use.
* structural carbohydrates (fiber)
***digestible
***nondigestible
Many labs only perform a more basic analysis of forages, for more on this see HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Equine Nutrition, Horse Feeds, Feeding » Forages for Horses, an Overview.
DrO
|
|
|
