Can horses eat fertilized hay?

The consumption of too much nitrogen or potassium through fertilized hay or grass can be deadly. The solution is simple. The next time you are on a farm and you see a salt or mineral block (or even a salt rock, which are popular these days), please tell the owners to throw them away as they may be killing their horses.

Is fertilized hay OK for horses?

Whether or not a hay field is fertilized might be more important to the hay producer than to the hay purchaser. Fertilization might affect the nutrient content of the hay to some extent, but it might also be needed to keep the plants productive.

When can horses graze after fertilizing?

As a guide, 60 pounds or less of nitrogen applied per acre of pasture is considered safe. Sixty to 100 pounds of nitrogen applied per acre is marginal and may sometimes cause potential problems. If 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre is applied, horses should be kept from grazing until after a rain.

What kind of hay do you feed horses?

Grass Hay for Horses

Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass and timothy are all examples of common grasses used for hay. Benefits: Grass hay is lower in protein and energy than legume hay — but it's also higher in fiber, which can make it a good choice for many horses.

What fertilizer is safe for horse pastures?

Potassium sulfate (0-0-50): Potassium sulfate can be applied directly to pastures. It has a lower salt index than muriate of potash and also supplies some sulfur as a trace nutrient. Applying 100 pounds of potassium sulfate supplies 50 pounds of potassium per acre.

Horses Eating Hay

What is the best fertilizer for horse paddocks?

General feeds such as Triple 16 are hugely popular due to them delivering a balance of vital nutrients without promoting too much lush top growth that can be detrimental to horses that are prone to laminitis.

Should pasture be fertilized?

Generally, one acre of pasture for every two cows should be fertilized with N in early spring and never more than a third of the total pasture acreage. All applications of K should wait until the plants can utilize it better.

What kind of hay is bad for horses?

Clover and grass hay (different types of clovers like red, white, etc.) Prone to fungus. Protein and fiber-rich. However, they are prone to fungus, and red clover can cause excess salivation in horses.

Which hay is better for horses?

Timothy hay is one of the most popular hays fed to horses. It can be quite expensive, depending on whether it has to be shipped long distances. Timothy must be harvested in the pre- or early-bloom stage to ensure a high nutrient content.

How do you know if hay is good for horses?

Good quality hay should be bright green in color with little fading. A bleached, yellow, brown or black color may indicate aged hay, mold or poor storage conditions. Storage condition and age have a significant effect on vitamin content of hays.

Can horses go on pasture after fertilizing?

If you fertilize a field, is it necessary to keep horses off that field until it rains to prevent horses from getting sick? Ideally horses should be removed from newly fertilized pastures and be reintroduced to the pasture after a light rain. However, that may not be feasible due to housing space for the horse(s).

Is nitrogen toxic to horses?

Nitrates are compounds that can cause toxicity in horses by reacting and limiting a horse's oxygen in the bloodstream. Young growing plants and plants recently fertilized with nitrogen tend to be higher in nitrates. Signs of toxicity include difficulty breathing, weakness and bluish mucous membranes.

Should I fertilize my horse pasture in the fall?

Fall is the best time to fertilize cool-season pastures. If possible, try to fertilize by the end of October or early November. Pastures fertilized in the fall will be hardier throughout the winter and experience quicker growth when spring arrives.

What hay is best for older horses?

A reduction in fiber fermentation means that older horses receive less nutrients from forage resulting in higher quality forages being required. Alfalfa hay and good quality grass hays are preferable to stemmy and mature hays that have tougher fiber to ferment.

Is urea toxic to horses?

Urease activity in the equine cecum is ~25% that of the rumen, and horses may receive NPN as a feed additive. However, horses are more sensitive to urea than other monogastric species and dosages ≥4 g/kg can be lethal.

Should horses have hay all time?

Conclusion. Horses don't have to eat all the time, but having constant access to hay helps keep their digestive system working correctly. Allowing your horse to graze on pasture grass is safe and keeps them healthy. A healthy pasture provides all the nutrition horses need.

Is 2 year old hay good for horses?

If the hay was of good-quality when harvested and stored in a dry place with sufficient airflow, hay is likely suitable for consumption for two to three years. Keep in mind that hay, even premium forage, loses much of its vitamin content in the first few months of storage.

Is clover bad for horses in hay?

Clover can be a good feed source for most horses because it provides useful energy and adequate protein and fiber. You can use clover in hay or pastures. Clovers can sometimes mold, which causes slobbers, photosensitivity (reactive to light) and bleeding.

Why is alfalfa bad for horses?

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.

Is green hay bad for horses?

Green. Without question, the most desirable color of hay is bright green. Greenness indicates the hay was not subjected to any adverse conditions during curing or storage, thereby suggesting the forage is nutritious and free of molds. Green hay is often rife with carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, and vitamin E.

Why is rye hay bad for horses?

Rye grass hay has a significant amount of protein, around 8% to 9% on average, however, it can be dangerous for some horses. It contains high levels of fructans, which can be very detrimental for horses that are unable to digest it properly.

How long does it take for fertilizer to work on pasture?

Although P, K and lime can be added anytime, nitrogen fertilizer should be applied when pastures or hayfields will have the best opportunity to have a yield response. Usually a majority of the nitrogen applied as a part of commercial fertilizer is gone in 60 days.

How often should you fertilize a hay field?

Applying fertilizer just once, annually, would not add essential nutrients back into the soil at the necessary ratios after the hay has been harvested or the pasture grazed clean after a livestock rotation into it. On average, you can harvest around four tons of hay annually from each acre – in a decent growing year.

Is it OK to fertilize a pasture with cows on it?

Fertilizer is good for plants, but not good for cattle. Veterinarians have received reports of cattle fertilizer poisoning this spring.