Understanding your hay test results. I have these in a printable PDF at the bottom of the page.

 

CP: Crude protein- This is the protein level.  Depending on your horse’s age and job, the appropriate number is going to vary.

·       10 % - 12 % good - average adult horse

·       12% - 18% good – actively growing or actively working

·       15% and above is excessive for most horses.

·       below 10% - not enough and horses can lose muscle mass and impaired immune function, not healing from wounds, etc.

·       Alfalfa can be up to 22% protein.  The extra protein can tax the kidneys.

 

ADF: A measure of how digestible the nutrients are in hay.  The lower the value, the more digestible the nutrients. Below 45% good.

 

NDF: A measure of insoluble fiber.  In theory, the higher the NDF, the less a horse will eat. This is the fill factor, the faster the horse gets full and will not eat as much.  This is when they waste the hay and mix it up in their stalls. 65% and above the horse probably won’t eat it.

 

WSC: water soluble carbohydrates – A measure of sugar content in the hay.  (SUGAR!!!)

Starch: The level of starch in the hay.

We add the WSC % and the Starch % to get our NSC number (further down the page under the calculations section.)

This NSC number should be 10% or below for fat horses, pasture pets, insulin resistant, PPID and EMS horses.

Ash: This is the measurement after the hay is literally burnt.  This is what is left, dirt, rocks.  This % is how much dirt you are feeding your horse.   10% and below is good.

Calcium:

Phosphorus:

Both go hand and hand.  This number should be a ratio of 2:1 or 3:1. If it is an equal 1:1 ratio, you may need to include some alfalfa into the horse’s diet.  If this number gets too big of a gap in the ratio, it can cause bone abnormalities.  If the calcium is too high in the ratio, this can increase the risk of urinary stones.

NSC: 10% or below for history of laminitis, fat horses, pasture pets and insulin resistant, PPID and EMS horses.

 

Equine_DE: Digestible energy.  A measure of energy per pound of this hay.  This number enables us to calculate how many pounds per day of this hay you will need to feed.  (so, you don’t make your horse fat!)

 How to calculate the amount of this hay to feed your horse.

For a 1,000-pound horse the DE (digestible energy) requirement is 13.6 Mega Calories (Mcal) per day.

Here is the math equation for you.

Divide 13.6 by the Equine DE test result number to get how many pounds per day of this particular hay you should be feeding a 1,000-pound horse.

 

Example for this test result: 13.6 divided by 1.13 = 15.3 pounds a day.  That is 7.6 pounds in the morning and 7.6 pounds in the evening.   

 

In addition to feeding hay below is information on a ration balancer.

  • Triple Crown Ration balancer is what we recommend.  It is low in sugar and starch and safe for all horses and metabolic horses.  This is not a grain.  It is a vitamin and mineral blend.  Dr. Holt researched what the horse needs and searched all supplement products on the market.  This product was the most cost-effective and this particular ration balancer has everything your horse needs in it.  They have two kinds to choose from.

  • Triple Crown ration balancer 30% protein.  This is what to feed when your hay tests low in protein.  (anything 10% or lower in protein) Feed 1 pound a day.

  • Triple Crown Gold ration balancer 15% protein.  This is what to feed when your hay tests high in protein.  (anything 11% or higher in protein) Feed 1 pound a day.

  • This can consistently be found at Elenbaas Country Store in Everson.