Can hay cubes replace hay?

Forage cubes can be fed just like hay, at a 1:1 ratio of the like hay type the horse currently consumes. For example, you would replace five pounds of alfalfa hay with five pounds of alfalfa cubes and adjust the amount if needed to maintain the animal's proper weight.

Are hay cubes as good as hay?

The nutrient levels found in cubes tend to be more consistent than hay. Alfalfa cubes are sold with a guaranteed minimum nutrient content. Reduced dust. Cubes have little dust and are therefore a good alternative to hay for horses with certain respiratory problems.

Can rabbits have hay cubes instead of hay?

Many rabbits also like timothy hay cubes (not alfalfa hay), which make a good treat. They are compressed hay, so they're good for him, and they are fun to chew.

Can hay pellets replace hay?

Hay pellets.

Forage that has been dehydrated, ground and cooked to make pellets can technically replace hay.

Are hay cubes good for horses?

Cubes made from a mixture of alfalfa and whole corn plants may also be available. We have used hay cubes as the sole source of fiber in several research studies at Rutgers with good results, feeding up to 12 to 15 lbs of cubes per horse per day.

Hay Cubes For Meat Rabbits...They Can't Waste Them

Can you feed hay cubes dry?

Hay cubes do provide some longer stems and are pretty consistent in nutritional value. Hay cubes can be fed dry, but only to horses with good teeth who don't have a habit of eating too fast.

What can I feed my horse instead of hay?

Partial or Full Hay Replacer For Horses

Hi-Fi Molasses Free, Meadow Grass with Herbs, Alfa-Beet, Alfalfa Pellets and Pure Grass Pellets can be used as partial hay replacers for horses of any age. All hay replacers can be fed from the floor or a large bucket rather than a net.

Can hay pellets replace hay for horses?

Like forage cubes, forage pellets can be fed just like hay, at a 1:1 ratio to replace hay. Forage pellets are the fiber choice for horses that have lost teeth or have poor dentition since forage pellets can easily be soaked in water to form a mash or slurry.

Can hay cubes cause colic?

Alfalfa cubes and pellets can cause colic.

And pellets are concentrated in alfalfa hay, increasing the risk of colic. A horse will likely eat all the alfalfa cubes they have available, but when fed alfalfa hay, they are picky and often waste some.

What can I use instead of hay for rabbits?

Grass is more nutritious than hay as hay is dried, causing some of the beneficial vitamins & minerals to fade over time. Just as their wild counterpart, a domestic rabbit will always opt to eat fresh grass over hay, and eat it with fervour too!

Can pellets replace hay for rabbits?

What are the basics of a good house rabbit diet? A rabbit's diet should be made up of good quality pellets, fresh hay (timothy, other grass hays, or oat hay), water and fresh vegetables. Anything beyond that is a “treat” and should be given in limited quantities.

Is compressed hay good for rabbits?

You can serve the compressed hay-cubes as they are. Rabbits have excellent teeth and good strength in their jaws. But hay-cubes are not a good substitution for grassy hay with long strands, it's a complement. They need “ordinary” hay as well.

Can you overfeed a pet rabbit?

Rabbits have sensitive digestive systems. Overeating can cause obesity and digestive problems which could lead to death. A rabbit's diet should consist of 85% grass hay, such as meadow, timothy, or orchard hay. The rest of the diet should be fresh vegetables, fruit, and pellets.

How much hay cubes should I feed?

So if you're feeding nothing but alfalfa cubes, you should feed 1.5 to 2 percent of the horse's body weight per day. If you're giving it in addition to hay and/or grain, the total of everything should add up to 1.5 to 2 percent of the horse's body weight.

Should hay cubes be soaked?

Hay cubes can be fed wet or dry. When first introduced it may be advisable to wet the cubes as the horse will have easier time biting off small chunks to chew at one time. As a horse becomes accustomed to eating them, they can typically be fed dry.

Is it cheaper to feed hay or pellets?

More Expensive

​Pelleted, cubed and chopped forage costs more per pound than baled grass hay.

Will alfalfa cubes put weight on a horse?

Alfalfa is higher in calories and protein than grass hays, which makes it an excellent choice to help to add weight to a thin horse. If your horse tends to be wasteful with his hay, he may eat more when offered alfalfa hay cubes or pellets.

How long do you soak alfalfa cubes for horses?

Soaked alfalfa cubes are easier to eat, and they contain more nutrients than grass hay. Before feeding an older horse, soak the cubes for 10 to 30 minutes, or until they're soft and soupy. If necessary, experiment with soaking methods and keep an eye on your horse's feeding habits to find its preferred consistency.

Do horses need hay if they have grass?

Many pleasure and trail horses don't need grain: good-quality hay or pasture is sufficient. If hay isn't enough, grain can be added, but the bulk of a horse's calories should always come from roughage. Horses are meant to eat roughage, and their digestive system is designed to use the nutrition in grassy stalks.

Do horses need hay everyday?

Response: An adult horse at maintenance will consume between 2 – 2.5% of their bodyweight in feed (hay and grain) each day. For example, a 1,000 pound horse fed a 100% hay diet would consume 25 pounds of hay each day.

Can a horse eat too much hay?

Horses can overeat grass, especially if the pasture is lush, but it is also easy to let a horse get too fat from eating hay. And, sometimes too little hay can mean a horse will lose weight.

Do you have to soak hay cubes for horses?

If the cube is not properly chewed, the horse can potentially choke. Most horses will properly chew forage cubes. However, for any horse that is new or naïve to forage cubes, tends to bolt their feed, or with poor dentition, it is recommended to soak the cubes in water prior to feeding them.

Should horses eat hay off the ground?

If the ground is grassy and relatively dry, consider feeding hay on the ground to mimic the way a horse naturally grazes. However, if your soil is sandy or gravelly, elevate hay off the ground when feeding via a hay net or manger, as horses can ingest sand or gravel which can lead to impaction colic.

What happens if a horse eats too much alfalfa?

Alfalfa hay can cause diarrhea in a horse that overeats it because the hay is rich and full of nutrients. Overeating alfalfa can also cause a horse to have excess gas, develop laminitis, and founder.