How Bad is Old Hay?

Q:

Where I had my horse, the people had this bright idea of feeding 20 year old hay to my horse. Within 3 days she was really sick, and as summer went on she lost weight and over winter she lost even more. What did she get from that hay. There is another horse showing signs, but not as drastic, but he is also skinny.

No matter how much feed we feed, grain, hay, they did not gain, they seemed to lose more weight. Please help.

Where I had my horse, the people had this bright idea of feeding 20 year old hay to my horse. Within 3 days she was really sick, and as summer went on she lost weight and over winter she lost even more. What did she get from that hay. There is another horse showing signs, but not as drastic, but he is also skinny.

No matter how much feed we feed, grain, hay, they did not gain, they seemed to lose more weight. Please help.

A:

Fundamentals are always important to examine when dealing with a group of thin horses. The feed program is certainly one area to focus on. Twenty-year-old hay is a bad choice - mold content will be high and nutritional value will be down. Forage is the basis of any equine feed program. The equine digestive system is "designed" to digest forage. To function in a healthy manner and promote "good" digestive system microbes, good forage is essential. Grain, a concentrated soluble carbohydrate, can provide added calories to a diet but, if fed in excess, can cause problems (disrupting gut flora, gastric ulcers). Fat supplements are a healthy choice to provide extra calories for thin horses. Numerous high fat supplements are available with added vitamins and minerals.

Another concern is parasite management. Internal and external parasites "steal" nutrients away from the host and their presence literally damages the host (e.g., small strongyles larvae migrate through and damage the lining of the intestines). If parasitism is high, a lot of the feed is going to the parasites and not to the horse. Internal organs damaged by the presence of the parasites won't process food as well. External parasites suck blood, causing anemia, plus itching and inflammation, which is irritating and drains the body of needed protein.

Housing and density of horses are concerns. Is there adequate shelter to protect them from harsh weather? Is there excessive competition for food because of crowding?

It is advisable to discuss the situation with your veterinarian. Start with a phone call conversation. Likely this will lead to an veterinary visit to investigate further in order to collect more information in an effort to discover problems and suggest solutions.

~Dr. Dave Sauter, Kulshan Veterinary Hospital

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