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Cereal hays - The cereal hays (oaten, wheaten) are lower in calcium, energy, protein and vitamins than Lucerne hay. Cereal hays must still contain some grain in the head to be of good quality.

Pasture hays - Grass and grass/legume hays are usually intermediate in quality between Lucerne and cereal hays. They are a good source for the horse in work as long as they are harvested before the plants mature.

Feeds Used Primarily To Supply Protein

It must be remembered that most of the protein feeds are also very good sources of energy.

Soyabean Meal - (Solvent extracted) is one of the best sources of vegetable protein. It is 40%-50% crude protein with a high lysine content (higher than skim milk), however, the level of methionine is inadequate for efficient utilisation of protein in the whole diet. Raw soyabean must not be fed to horses. It contains a number of toxic factors, and must be cooked before feeding.

Cottonseed Meal - (Solvent extracted) would rank second to soyabean meal as a protein source. It is 38%-44% crude protein, but it is low in lysine and methionine. Cottonseed meal is palatable and is higher in fibre than soyabean meal. Its price (approximately half of soyabean meal) makes it an economic source of protein.

Sunflower Meal - (Solvent extracted) as a protein source is inferior to soyabean meal and cottonseed meal, but is still a good protein source. It is deficient in lysine but is a good source of methionine. 38% protein meal should be used (de-hulled) as meals below this level are inferior. It is also high in fibre.

Linseed Meal - (Solvent extracted) (33% protein) is of poorer quality than the above meals because of very low levels of lysine and methionine. Solvent extracted Linseed Meal is not as beneficial to the horse's coat as the old style mechanically extracted meal, as most of the oil has been removed. Linseed meal is not as palatable as the above meals. Whole linseed must be boiled to destroy toxic factors in the seed. Boiled whole linseed will help put a "gloss" on horses' coats.

Tickbeans (Horse beans, Faba beans) - contain only 25% protein compared to 33%-50% in the other protein supplements mentioned above. Low in fat and fibre, they are a good energy source. However, because of a very low level of methionine, the protein is not as good quality as the oilseed meals. Usually fed cracked.

Lupins - are similar to tickbeans in amino acid composition. They are a good energy source, but low levels of lysine and very low levels of methionine mean that the protein is not of good quality. Only the newer "sweet" varieties should be fed. Lupins can be cracked or soaked prior to feeding.

Full fat Soy - is whole soyabeans which have been heat treated to destroy the toxic factors. It is lower in protein and amino acids than soyabean meal but because of its high oil content is higher in energy.

Skim milk powder - (Spray dried) is high in all essential amino acids, and is an excellent protein source. It is also a good source of calcium, phosphorus and riboflavin. It should not be fed in large amounts (over 250g) to the adult horse.

Miscellaneous

Molasses - Stimulates appetite and is often a beneficial additive to encourage poor eaters. Molasses is a good source of energy and some minerals, but the small amount normally added to the diet of the horses is only to enhance palatability.

Working Out The Ration

When working out your horse's ration we must divide it into two sectors - Concentrates and Roughage - concentrates being the grain and grain by-products and roughage the fibre/chaff section. The feeding guide below shows an approximate balance of Roughage and Concentrate.

For some horses in work requirements vary greatly so remember that each horse is an individual, and must be fed accordingly.