Hi Jean and all

Thanks for pointing us to this post. ECIR certainly agrees feeding straw may not be an answer and is not guaranteed to be appropriate. We'll need to change the subject line if discussion about the article continues, but there is a whole bunch incorrect in the Getty article. A quick review of top areas of disagreement: the need to keep them eating 24/7, NSC levels, fructan. You may know this, but I point out for others reading.

Regardless of equine type: horse, donkey or mule, ECIR recommend good quality tested hay. Tested low-calorie straw has been used by members when needed (see archive messages) but still needs total approach of testing and balancing the overall diet. This is contrary to a number of recommendations elsewhere but makes sense when looked at with a critical eye.

As Lorna has pointed out many members have found smaller hay net size to be helpful when it is a "chew time" issue.

Dr Kellon posted one of her straw reviews. I will add additional writing. Here's more on feeding donks.
https://drkhorsesense.wordpress.com/2022/07/11/how-to-feed-donkeys/
https://drkhorsesense.wordpress.com/2020/11/16/the-facts-about-feeding-straw/
from our archives
https://ecir.groups.io/g/main/message/274854

--
Nancy C in NH
ECIR Moderator 2003
ECIR Group Inc. President 2021-2022

HOW TO SEARCH THE ARCHIVES: https://ecir.groups.io/g/main/wiki/1993

Try 1/2" nets,Jean.

--
Lorna in Eastern Ontario
2002

I looked into adding straw also to keep my little IR mare content because she finishes her hay quickly even in a 1" hay net. Turns out, not a such good idea, especially oat or barley straw:

https://gettyequinenutrition.com/pages/feeding-straw-to-the-insulin-resistant-horse-may-be-a-mistake

--
Jean Hurrle
Illinois; 2022
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Jean%20&%20Shorty%20aka%20VG%20YSA%20Tstar

Dr. Kellon,

Understood. It seems to be helping the mule with her FFW and loose stools, actually, but she's only been getting the "dinner ration" for a couple days. Both get exercised as daily as we can, considering Wyoming winters.

--
Jodi
June 2018
NW Wyoming

Yankee Case History: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Jodi%20and%20Yankee

Photo Album: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=54386

 Feeding straw is trendy, with absolutely no solid scientific justification for it - or nutritional. If you feed it, it will have to be factored into the overall mineral balance of the diet and if it replaces any hay that can be a protein and vitamin issue. Big bellies or free fecal water may also be an issue.

BTW, it's normal for a mule or donkey to have a flat back.

The best way to control weight - and appetite - is lots of exercise.
--
Eleanor in PA

www.drkellon.com 
EC Owner 2001
The first step to wisdom is "I don't know."

Jodi,nets with 1/2" holes might be the charm. Maybe.

--
Lorna in Eastern Ontario
2002

Dr. Kellon,

Thank you for that - but most of those arguments don't really apply to Yankee - he gets extra protein already, and at the rate I planned on adding it, calories would not be an issue either. Your article does mention it's not as good as hay for helping them keep warm, which I am now taking into consideration, and was the main reason for adding it to Yankee's diet. Chew time was the other, as he needs so little to hold weight (he's getting a bit over 1.5%), and he's an expert at even 1" nets/pillows so a 3.5# bag lasts less than an hour. They get 3.5# 2x/day (breakfast, lunch), then he gets another 3.5# to himself for dinner plus an additional ~ 2# at dinner and/or before rides... then they get 5.5# overnight. The stalling and less shared hay has helped the mini mule lose a little, but not as much as I'd like - thus the barley straw experiment.

As for the (assumed IR) mini mule - it is a common part of feeding mules/donkeys from my understanding.  Calories are a concern, so I'll cut the straw ration down to half, as it's just to give her some chew time while in; before I got the straw, she was getting nothing but her supplements while stalled, and it was making her cranky listening to Yankee munch, lol. I'm only doing this over the winter, in the hope that missing one hay meal a day will help her lose a little weight by spring. She's not obese, no fat pockets, but does have a flat back. I can't keep them separate for most meals, I could put out a dozen bags and she'll still share each with Yankee until it is gone. I'll reevaluate in spring and decide if I need to do more/less at that time.

I've already set up a package for Equi-Analytical to get a carb pack on the straw, just to make sure it's OK for both of them, even though I'd guess it'd have negligible impact on Yankee based on the small amounts he'd get (and usually... none).

Appreciate the quick reply!

--
Jodi
June 2018
NW Wyoming

Yankee Case History: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Jodi%20and%20Yankee

Photo Album: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=54386

Personally, I don't recommend feeding straw https://wp.me/p2WBdh-gt .
--
Eleanor in PA

www.drkellon.com 
EC Owner 2001
The first step to wisdom is "I don't know."

I recently started feeding barley straw to the mini mule, since she is a little chubby (assumed IR but not tested)...

I have no experience with it, so was looking for advice. Right now I have only two bales as I wanted to make sure Miss Fussy (Red) would eat it ... she does, so I'm planning on testing it before buying more. It is pretty stemmy so I expect it is mature enough to be low in sugars. Most barley around here is destined for beer, if that helps.

I bring them in for evening feed, and she gets just her regular supps and barley straw while in.

Right now, the horse is mainly only getting the stemmy stuff left over, plus whatever ends up in his hay while making up daily nets. I am not lowering his hay amount, just looking at adding a bit of straw overnight to provide more chew time (and maybe warmth?)... same with the mini mule.

Looks like winter here is going to be brutal, we've already had multiple days below freezing, and nights below -10f...

Does barley straw help keep a horse warm the same way as extra hay does? Do I feed it at the same 1 lb for each -10f (I start at 10f since he is heavily blanketed)? ... not that I'll feed 100% barley when cold, unless advised to.

What % over his regular hay ration is safe?

Anything else I should know? I've already figured out it is too stemmy for his expert-level slow feed nets (1" hay chix and hay pillows) and bought a new bag just to feed straw from.

Appreciate any advice. Yankee seems to still be well managed, but since he grew in small patches of wooly hair over his hips for the second winter in a row, I'm thinking he might be one that needs a bump up on his Prascend for the rise. Haven't been able to get a vet out to test winter ACTH tho :(.
--
Jodi
June 2018
NW Wyoming

Yankee Case History: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Jodi%20and%20Yankee

Photo Album: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=54386