Choosing high quality hay is important to the health of your horse…so make sure you do it right! Forage makes up between 50 to 90 percent of their diet so make sure you provide the right nutrients is high on the list. Hay plays a major role in this because it can make or break your horse’s overall health. Need some tips to ensure you make the right decision? Read six suggestions from Purina below!
- High stem-to-leaf ratio: look for more flat leaves in the hay and fewer round stems.
- Small diameter stems: small stems mean the plant was less mature when cut and provides higher quality.
- Few seed blooms or heads: indicates a younger, early maturity plant.
- Fresh smell and appearance: avoid musty, moldy or off-setting smelling hay, because it can reduce palatability and indicate poor quality.
- Cleanliness: Hay should be primarily made up of the harvested forages with little to no dust.
- Hay color: should be a bright green color with little fading.
Those are just a few of the basics of choosing high quality hay. It’s so important to learn how to pick a bale that’s going to provide the best results for your horse. You can apply these skills wherever you go and to any feed store you visit.
If you have any questions, give us a call or stop by Cherokee Feed. Stop by and pick up top-quality hay or feed that has built-in forage today!
