Hay cubes consist of dried forage, such as alfalfa, that is formed into 1.25” wide x 2.5” long rectangular pieces. To make a cube, Standlee Premium Products first grows the forage plant to the proper stage of maturity, and then cuts, dries and bales the forage into conventional bales for storage.

How are hay cubes made?

The hay is fed through the cuber A machine called the cuber forms the hay into cubes, which are then cooled and dehydrated still more. The resulting formed and cooled cubes have approximately 12 percent moisture in them, enabling them to be stored for a long time without molding or losing their nutritional content.

How much alfalfa to feed a horse per day?

Horses can normally eat 1.5-2% of their body weight in hay, which equates to 18-24 lbs. of hay per day. The quality of the hay will determine how much is needed and if supplemental grain should be added. Good alfalfa can be 18-20% protein and 55% TDN or energy.

What are hay pellets?

  • Hay pellets are hay that have been ground and processed with heat and steam. It basically just changes the form of the hay. …
  • The most important difference is that a horse eating baled hay will drink more water. …
  • A 1991 study compared horses that were fed long-stem alfalfa hay vs alfalfa pellets.

What is the difference between alfalfa and hay?

One of the biggest differences between alfalfa hay and grass hay is the protein content. On average, alfalfa hay has much higher levels of protein, ranging from 15% to 21% depending on when the alfalfa was cut. This is much higher than the protein levels of grass hay, which typically contains 10% or less protein.

How many hay cubes should I feed my horse?

Cubes made from a mixture of alfalfa and whole corn plants may also be available. We have used hay cubes as the sole source of fiber in several research studies at Rutgers with good results, feeding up to 12 to 15 lbs of cubes per horse per day.

How long can you soak hay cubes?

Soaked alfalfa cubes are easier to eat, and they contain more nutrients than grass hay. Before feeding an older horse, soak the cubes for 10 to 30 minutes, or until they’re soft and soupy. If necessary, experiment with soaking methods and keep an eye on your horse’s feeding habits to find its preferred consistency.

Do hay pellets have to be soaked?

Pellets MUST be soaked before feeding

, as they expand considerably when mixed with water. Shreds can be fed dry or soaked.

Are grass nuts good for horses?

Grass is essential for your horse’s well-being, providing a nutritious range of naturally occurring micronutrients, energy and protein. Provide an excellent source of fibre, to help support good digestive health. … The fibre in grass nuts supplies a source of slow-release energy which helps provide stamina.

What are hay pellets used for?

Traditionally hay or hay pellets are used as feed for cattle, rabbit, sheep, etc.

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Can you soak hay pellets overnight?

I have found alfalfa pellets need to be soaked in between five and six hours to fully break down. In the winter months, I soak them overnight so they are ready to be fed the next day. However, this is not possible during the warmer months in Arizona due to pellets getting hot and molding while being soaked.

Why is alfalfa bad for horses?

Excess protein, like excess energy has been implicated as a cause of developmental orthopedic disease in growing horses. 3. Alfalfa hay contains too much calcium and/or magnesium a. The high calcium level causes a high calcium:phosphorus ratio which may contribute to developmental orthopedic disease b.

Can horses graze on alfalfa?

Alfalfa can be grazed as a single-species or mixed with grass. Red or white clover doesn’t regrow well when grazed by horses, so it’s best to mix with grass. Alfalfa and red clover can be appropriate pasture species for horses diagnosed with metabolic disorders.

Can horses founder on alfalfa?

Alfalfa hay can cause horses to founder and develop laminitis due to the excess nutrients provided by the high quality hay if too much is fed. If switching from grass hay to alfalfa, generally less alfalfa is required to provide the same nutrients present in the grass hay.

Is hay as nutritious as grass?

Mixed Hays and Balanced Nutrition Hay from grass and hay from legumes tend to complement each other as livestock feed because they provide a balanced diet. Grasses tend to have half or less the amount of protein than hay from legumes while grass has a higher amount of fiber and has a more appealing flavor.

Can you eat hay?

Hay is edible for humans. It just is not as digestible for humans as it is for other animals like cattle. Some upscale restaurants serve food with hay in it. It can be used as a flavoring component in food or as a presentation component or garnish.

What is the most nutritious hay for horses?

Timothy hay is one of the most popular hays fed to horses. It can be quite expensive, depending on whether it has to be shipped long distances. Timothy must be harvested in the pre- or early-bloom stage to ensure a high nutrient content.

Are hay cubes bad for horses?

The nutrient levels found in cubes tend to be more consistent than hay. Alfalfa cubes are sold with a guaranteed minimum nutrient content. Reduced dust. Cubes have little dust and are therefore a good alternative to hay for horses with certain respiratory problems.

Will alfalfa cubes put weight on a horse?

Alfalfa is higher in calories and protein than grass hays, which makes it an excellent choice to help to add weight to a thin horse. If your horse tends to be wasteful with his hay, he may eat more when offered alfalfa hay cubes or pellets.

Can alfalfa cubes cause colic?

Alfalfa cubes and pellets can cause colic. And pellets are concentrated alfalfa hay, which also increases the risk of colic. A horse will likely eat all the alfalfa cubes they have available, but when fed alfalfa hay, they are picky and often waste some. … Overeating alfalfa leads to obesity and colic.

How do you turn hay into pellets?

  1. Cut the hay into powder. Sometimes the hay is in bales, but sometimes it is not. …
  2. Dry the hay powder. The hay, especially fresh hay, always contains too much moisture, which is not suitable for pelletizing directly. …
  3. Pelletize. …
  4. Cool the hay pellets.

Are alfalfa pellets good fertilizer?

Alfalfa Pellets act as a slow-release fertilizer that is an excellent source of nitrogen. … When soaked, alfalfa will decompose rapidly, creating heat which will help the rest of your compost to decompose with a higher nutrient level due to the use of the alfalfa.

How do you make pellet feed at home?

  1. Step 1: Make a Premix. The premix is later on added to the whole grains. …
  2. Step 2: Crush Whole Grains. the corn and the peas. …
  3. Step 3: Mix Premix and Crushed Grains. …
  4. Step 4: Press Raw Materials into Pellets by Pellet Mill Machine.

What does alfalfa pellets do for horses?

What are pellets used for? They can be used to add calories to your horse’s diet because they are forage-based. Calories that are based on forage do not cause the problems caused by starch and high sugar feeds like grains. Alfalfa pellets provide calories without adding the ‘hot’ factor.

Can horses eat rice straw?

For all that it Is well worth while to utilize rice straw for feeding farm animals, especially horses and mules. If they have been on alfalfa hay, it may be necessary to get them pretty hungry before they will eat it, or it may be ‘chopped and fed with some molasses or grain feed to get them to eat it.

What can I feed instead of hay?

  • Bagged chopped forage. It can replace all of your horse’s hay, if necessary.
  • Hay cubes. Chopped cubed hay (usually alfalfa or timothy or a combination) is another 100-percent replacement. …
  • Hay pellets. …
  • “Complete” feed. …
  • Beet pulp. …
  • Soybean hulls.

What is the best hay replacer for horses?

Hi-Fi Lite, Hi-Fi Senior, and Pure Grass can all be used as a full hay replacer by simply replacing weight for weight with the hay. Hi-Fi Molasses Free, Meadow Grass with Herbs, Alfa-Beet, Alfalfa Pellets and Pure Grass Pellets can be used as partial hay replacers for horses of any age.

What does pink mash do for horses?

Pink Mash® is cereal and molasses free, extremely low in starch and sugar and can be safely fed to any horse or pony. Pink Mash® can also be fed to partially replace hay or haylage in the diet when needed. Pink Mash® is useful and effective to help maintain and restore hydration.

Do you have to soak grass pellets for horses?

To reduce the risk of choke when fed as the sole feed without chopped fibre alongside and for those that struggle to chew please soak Grass Pellets prior to feeding – as a pure fibre pellet, at times the Grass Pellets can absorb lots of water and swell.

Can hay pellets be fed dry?

The pellets can be fed dry, but many horses prefer them to be soaked in water and fed as a mash. For young horses, old horses, and those with dental issues, soaking the pellets first may be a necessity.

How much hay pellets do you feed a horse?

Feed by weight. A general rule of thumb with hay is to feed a horse 1.5 to 2.5 percent of their body weight daily. For an average 1,000-pound horse, this is 15 to 25 pounds of hay a day, although of course this can change depending on the amount of activity the horse gets.