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pea/barley hay OK?
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A local farmer is selling a pea/barley hay. Not sure of the mix%. She described it as it being "tested at 15% protein. Peas are a legume much like alfalfa, barley is a grain like oats , when harvested before they are mature it makes great hay". Is this a good hay for an IR horse? She had it tested through Dairy One and the ESC is 5.6 and Starch is 1.1. Unknown if the test done was NIR or Wet Chem but I bet it was NIR. I've asked her for that information. I think the protein is a bit high but is that more or less important than the ESC/Starch? The average protein I have found and bought has been between 10-15% and so far it's been ok for Yoyo (7 years of testing). I'm also not sure if it's a good idea to keep changing up the type of hay I feed Yoyo each year. I try to find Orchard Grass or a mix of Orchard/Bluegrass but I have tried Teff, Timothy and straight Bluegrass. I didn't like the Teff or Timothy as both were pretty coarse. Luckily Yoyo has eaten everything I've put in front of him.
-- Ronelle and Yoyo 2015 Bend, Or, US |
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Hi Ronelle,
That protein would make my horse footsore. Even 9% protein will affect him. I passed on some low esc/starch hay that was just over 9% last summer because of this issue. It's my understanding that you can't lower protein by soaking hay. Have you noticed any correlation between protein levels and Yoyo subsequently being lame-ish? It's something to consider carefully, especially if you're going to be buying a large amount of it. As far as the pea/barley being ok for PPID/IR/EMS horses, I don't know. Hopefully somebody with more knowledge about it weighs in. Regards! Joy -- Joy and Willie (EC/IR) Nevada County, CA - 2019 ECIR Group Moderator Case history: Willie's Case History Willie's photo album: Willie's Photos |
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Hi Rondelle,
That's a legume-based hay and some EMS horses just don't do well on legumes (clover, alfalfa, peas, etc). I'd pass. Especially with the point Joy makes about protein. That's 2 strikes. -- Kirsten and Shaku (EMS + PPID) and Snickers (EMS) - 2019 Kitimat, BC, Canada ECIR Group Moderator Shaku's Photo Album Snickers' Case History Snickers' Photo Album |
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That sounds like a very low ESC and starch for a pea/barley hay. I'll bet it's NIR too. I'd look for something else.
-- Eleanor in PA www.drkellon.com BOGO 2 for 1 Course Sale Through End of January |
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Thank you all for your responses. I was suspect of this hay because it is a legume like alfalfa, but having never heard of it, I asked about it here. Yoyo hasn't been noticeably "footy" until this winter with lots of rain/snow and then super cold weather causing frozen uneven dirt in his pen. His current hay (Timothy with a spattering of Orchard Grass) has Protein at 6.7, ESC 7.4 and Starch at .6. While all that sounds good, it's texture is very coarse and I can't use hay nets. (I didn't realize just how coarse it was.) Honestly, I didn't realize the protein levels could cause hoof problems and was more concerned about the ESC and Starch. I will pay more attention it it from now on.
-- Ronelle and Yoyo 2015 Bend, Or, US |
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Sounds like Yoyo's current hay is over mature and at 6.7% protein it would benefit from supplementing it, actually. Perhaps you've addressed that in his diet already?
It can be hard finding the right hay...but at least you can supplement the low protein in your current hay, whereas you can't remove it from a high protein hay. -- Kirsten and Shaku (EMS + PPID) and Snickers (EMS) - 2019 Kitimat, BC, Canada ECIR Group Moderator Shaku's Photo Album Snickers' Case History Snickers' Photo Album |
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This is a great summary of what to look for in hay:
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Kirsten and Shaku (EMS + PPID) and Snickers (EMS) - 2019 Kitimat, BC, Canada ECIR Group Moderator Shaku's Photo Album Snickers' Case History Snickers' Photo Album |
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So I should be looking for protein of more than 6.7 but less that 15? I forgot to mention I am using up last year's orchard grass with protein at 14%, which is stored in my workshop and still super green. I have just under 1/2 ton. About 6-8 bales of the Timothy (my day to day stack) is there also. The workshop is where I put together Yo's daily hay into three meals and mix up his mash pans. I moved my hay production area there because it's enclosed from the weather and is heated for the winter, plus a water spigot inside. (When I moved here, I really liked the house and location, but the workshop stole my heart!) I'm feeding approx 1/3rd Orchard to 2/3rd Timothy for a total of 17 Lbs. Now that I know to pay more attention to the protein levels, next season I will do better. Right now I'm trying to contact a farmer that has Bluegrass hay from last summer that he says is low ESC/Starch and barn stored. He's an hour and 1/2 away, but if if it's "perfect", I'll do the drive.
-- Ronelle and Yoyo 2015 Bend, Or, US |
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Ronelle, I'm not sure where you got 15%. The linked post suggests hay with Crude Protein of 11% or less. My personal cutoff is 12% Crude Protein. Higher results in grass hay should to be checked for Nitrates. Some members have hay with higher protein and safe Nitrates, but that's usually the result of legumes in the hay -- alfalfa or other legumes.
-- Cass, Sonoma Co., CA 2012 ECIR Group Moderator Cayuse and Diamond Case History Folder Cayuse Photos Diamond Photos |
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