Feeding a Horse For $300

Horse Seminar Series 2004

Keith Vander Velde

Central District Livestock Specialist

Keith.VanderVelde@ces.uwex.edu

Feeding a Horse for $300• Assumptions

– 1. Feed 1,100 pound horse for 365 days and horse is used for pleasure riding-Light

activity

– 2. Horse Owner has area to store forage

– 3. Horse has access to 2-3 acres of pasture

– 4. Grain is purchased in bulk

Feeding a Horse for $300•

CONSUMPTION CONSUMPTION REQUIREMENTSREQUIREMENTS

% BODY WEIGHT CONSUMPTIONForage Concentrate Total

Mature HorseMaintenance 1.5-2.0 0-0.5 1/5-2.0

Young HorsesNursing foal, 3 months 0 1.0-2.0 2.5-3.5

Weaning foal, 6 months 0.5-1.0 1.5-3.0 2.0-3.5

Yearling foal, 12 months 1.0-1.5 1.0-2.0 2.0-3.0

Long Yearling, 18 months 1.0-1.5 1.0-1.5 2.0-2.5

Two Year old, 24 months 1.0-1.5 1.0-1.5 2.0-2.5

Keith Vander Velde

Feeding a Horse for $300• COMMON FEEDSTUFFCOMMON FEEDSTUFF

Alfalfa

% DM Mcal/# % Protein

90 .94 18

Brome 89 .80 11

Orchard 88 .85 11

Straw 91 .70 4

Oats 89 1.3 12

Corn 88 1.5 9

Keith Vander Velde

Maintenance RequirementsMaintenance Requirements

Mcal/day•16.4

Protein/day•1.4 pounds

Suggested Ration:

Alfalfa hay = 18 lbs.Or

Orchard grass = 20 lbs.

Keith Vander Velde

Growing Horse RequirementsGrowing Horse Requirements

Mcal/day•Yearling-19•2 yr. old-22

Protein/day•Yearling-14 % •2 yr. old 10 %

Keith Vander Velde

Pregnancy RequirementsPregnancy Requirements

Mcal/day•18.4 last 3 months•1 lb./day fetal growth

Protein/day•1.5 lbs. first 8 months•2 lbs.. Last 3 months

Keith Vander Velde

WORKING REQUIREMENTSWORKING REQUIREMENTS

Mcal/day•28-30

Protein/day•2.8 lbs.

Suggested Ration: Alfalfa = 20 lbs. Oats= 8.5 lbs.

Keith Vander Velde

Feeding a Horse for $300• Daily Needs-1100 lb Maintenance Ration

– Energy-16.4 Mcal/day– Protein-1.4 lbs/day– Trace mineral Salt-Free Choice loose

• Do not feed white salt in addition

– Hay Ration• Alfalfa/Brome Hay (.94 + .80)/2=.87 Mcal• Alfalfa/Brome Hay (18 + 11)/2=14.5 % protein• Need 16.4 Mcal 16.4/.87=19 lbs• Protein need 1.4 lbs-19 pounds of hay=2.75 lbs (exceeds needs)• Hay at $60 per ton is $0.03 per pound=feed 20 pound per day

20 lbs x $0.03=$0.60 per day x 365 days = $219

•

Feeding a Horse for $300• Daily Needs-1100 lb Maintenance Ration

– Hay more Expensive:• $300/365=$0.82 per day • If need 20 lbs per day you can pay $80 per ton maximum for hay if feeding

all hay ration in a year• Adding pasture grazing will reduce hay needs for 150 days or more per

year• Land charge for horse per grazing season is $60-$80 per season

– 3 acres at $25 in Sandy areas– 2 acres at $40 in better soils

• Grazing 150 days at $60 rent=$0.40per day or $12 per month• Grazing 150 days at $80 rent=$0.53 per day $16 per month

Keith Vander Velde

Feeding a Horse for $300• Daily Needs-1100 lb Maintenance Ration

– Hay plus Pasture• 150 days pasture at $12 per month= $60.00• 215 days hay at $0.60 per day=====$129.00• Trace Mineral Salt Mix 50 lbs/year = $6.00

• TOTAL ANNUAL FEED COST=$195

Feeding a Horse for $300

• Daily Needs-1100 lb Working Horse– Energy-28 Mcal/day– Protein-2.8 lbs/day– Trace mineral Salt-Free Choice loose

• Do not feed white salt in addition

•

Balancing a Rationworksheet meeting requirementsNeeds: MC ProteinWorking Horse 28 2.8Brome Hay .80 11%(feed 15 lbs) = (15x.8)= 12 Mc (15x.11)= 1.65 STILL NEEDED 16 Mc 1.15 lbsOats provides 1.3 Mc 12% Need 16Mc 16/1.3= 12.3 lbs of oats 1.47 protein

12.3 oats x 12% =1.47

Ration = 28 Mcal energy & 3.13 lbs protein

Feeding a Horse for $300• Daily Needs-1100 lb Lactating Mare

– Energy-28 Mcal/day– Protein-2.8 lbs/day– Trace mineral Salt-Free Choice loose

• Do not feed white salt in addition

– Using the example sheet calculate a ration

•

NURSING REQUIREMENTSNURSING REQUIREMENTS

Mcal/day•28

Protein/day•12.5 %•3 lbs.

Suggested Ration: Alfalfa= 20 lbsOats= 8 lbs