Hay forms the basis of most domestic equine feeding. It provides nutrients such as crude fibre, sugar, protein and energy. However, it is not suitable for every type of horse. For horses with respiratory and dental problems, hay pellets are increasingly used as a substitute for hay. In this article, find out if you should feed hay pellets as an alternative to hay and what the advantages are.
Table of Contents
What are hay pellets?
Hay pellets serve as a substitute for hay and enhance our ability to healthily feed certain horses. Hay pellets are made from cut meadow grasses, as is the case with hay. The mown grass is dried by a warm air process, then chopped, crushed and pressed into pellets.
Why feed hay pellets?
Thanks to their manufacturing and storage process, hay pellets don’t contain the mould and irritant dust levels that are typical of hay, making them a good base for horses with respiratory problems.
For horses with dental issues who find it difficult to grind and digest hay, the hay pellets are essentially chopped and easily digestible, meaning they’re suited, especially to older horses and help ensure they continue to receive vital forage based-nutrients.
What are hay pellets?
Hay pellets can supplement the basic feed and act as a replacement for hayFreshly cut grass is dried with hot air before being crushed and formed into pellets.
How to feed hay pellets correctly?
There are three different types of hay pellets. First, there are the green meal pellets. These consist of young, soft grass, which is dried and chopped. Then there are grass pellets, made with grass which is a little more mature than the grass of the green meal pellets. The third variant is the hay pellets, which are made from finished hay. All pellets should have a high, or 100% forage content.
All forage pellets, and even hay, should be fed as part of a balanced diet, where macro- and micro-nutrient requirements are considered, which in most cases requires a nutritional balancer that guards against deficiencies. This is especially important when the diet is largely hay or pellets, because the drying and storage process means some nutrients can deteriorate compared to the fresh cut grass.
To feed dry or pre-soaked?
Pellets can be fed dry in small quantities for a bit of crunch and as a treat, but for forage replacement diets they should always be fed soaked. This is because horses can eat a large amount of hay pellets very rapidly, and much quicker than regular hay. Hay pellets are very dry, so they have a considerable swelling effect once they are rehydrated. If a large quantity are rehydrating inside the horse, they can swell up and cause digestive disturbances, which in a worst-case scenario may require a veterinarian’s help. Therefore, it is advised to feed hay pellets in a soaked form at all times when fed at a reasonable quantity or when they used to as a part/full hay replacement.
You should feed hay pellets pre-soaked. Use 2–3 litres of warm or cold water per kilogram of hay pellets, or as directed by the manufacturer. Let the mixture soak for about an hour, or until it is a consistent smooth texture without any hard/dry pieces.
How many hay pellets should you feed?
A generally recommended ratio of hay pellets to water is as follows: Mix 1 kg of hay pellets with 2-3 litres of water. The mixture should then fully soak in about an hour, depending on the temperature. If it is a bit colder, this process will take longer than in warm temperatures. If the water is warmer, the soaking takes less time. To avoid fermentation in summer and freezing in winter, hay pellets should always be prepared fresh.
The basic rule is: 1 kg of hay pellets equals approximately 1 kg of normal hay, or sometimes a bit more depending on how dry the hay is. So if you are feeding a horse with weighed/restricted forage, you can generally replace 1kg of hay for 1kg of pellets, and should feed with multiple meals rather than all at once. If the horse does not require a restricted diet, then a forage option should always be available.
How do I feed hay pellets warm in winter?
You can pour hot or warm water on the hay pellets. Depending on the temperature and type of pellets, sometimes 30 minutes are then enough to produce a warm fully soaked forage mash. Make sure the temperature is not too hot to be safely fed, and then you can feed it to your horse.
Characteristics of good hay pellets
An important factor for good quality hay pellets is the production. If the feed bag states that the hay pellets come from natural meadows with high-quality mixed meadow grasses and herbs, this suggests a healthy and nutritious pellet. In addition, the macro-nutrients should be stated and allow for the best type of pellet to be chosen based on what best suits the horse.
For most horses, hay pellets are best fed free of additives such as sugar or molasses. In addition, they should be gently dried and dust-free.
What are the advantages of hay pellets?
Hay pellets do not create irritant dust in the way hay does, which makes them particularly suitable for horses with respiratory diseases. In addition, soaked hay pellets are easier to chew and process for horses with dental problems. Moreover, they have a high crude fibre content, which is necessary for the horses' digestive health.
Feeding hay pellets: the Pros and Cons
Pros
Hay pellets are produced using the warm air process, which helps prevent mould and irritant dust from forming. For this reason, hay pellets are particularly well suited for horses with chronic cough or asthma. In addition, hay pellets are particularly well suited for horses with dental problems. The softened hay pellets are easier to chew and consume. Older horses suffer more often from dental problems. Horses with dental problems can no longer chew and digest hay effectively which causes the body to not absorb nutrients from it properly, and in some cases can causeing the horses to lose weight.
Concentrated feed cannot be fed as the only solution, because it cannot provide the amount of – crude fibre a horse needs. Crude fibre is crucial for healthy digestion and stable gut flora, as well as for their psychological health. The large intestine breaks down crude fibre. As a result, fatty acids are created, which provide the horse with energy. Hay pellets include a lot of crude fibre.
Conclusion: What must be taken into account?
First of all, it should be ensured that the hay pellets are fed soaked when fed to replace hay, or in any significant quantity, because of how they swell when rehydrated. This is especially the case for those horses that cannot process normal hay due to dental or respiratory problems. Feeding dry pellets is only recommended for horses whose chewing activity is not impaired. In addition, for restricted/weighed forage rations, the pellets should not be fed all at once, but in several portions throughout the day.
It is important that the pellets are kept dry at all times to prevent the formation of mould or dust. The best type should also be selected, based on the nutrient information on the label and careful consideration of the individual horse’s needs.
Explore Thunderbrook’s full feed range
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Michelle Breitenfeld works as a trainee in international marketing for ehorses after her studies in media management and journalism. She will give you the best tips about horses. You can reach her at m.breitenfeld@ehorses.de.
