How many acres of hay will feed a horse?

Do horses eat the same amount of hay each day?

Imagine you are in charge of an eight horse barn. The horses are all average sized and get the same amount of exercise each day. To make things easy for you, they eat the same amount of hay each day as well. It is summer and time to order in more hay. How much should you order? Let’s play around with ratios to find out.

How much hay do I need to feed my horse?

If you are feeding only hay, then an average-sized horse on a moderate workload will need to eat at least 25 pounds of hay a day. For a four-month winter, then, you will need about 6,000 pounds of hay. Assuming that you’re getting round bales that are around 750 pounds,…

How big is a square of hay for a horse?

Small squares average at 30 to over 75 pounds (some get to be 100 pounds), and their dimensions are typically 36″ to 40″ long (some longer, depending on the baler) by 18″ wide by 18″ tall. Do horses need more hay when it’s cold?

How often do you feed a bale of hay?

I dump one bale every 2 weeks roughly. I do supplement with some fat because I have one very old mare, and once an easy keeper, she isn’t any longer. If you are working the horses during the winter, you might supplement, or if the winter is turning super harsh, then supplement. I feed a plain clover mix bale.

How do you get a horse to eat a round bale?

Don’t just drop a large round bale in the middle of a field of horses and expect they’ll all be able to eat from it. Pecking order dictates that the horse lowest on the totem pole won’t get as much to eat as the bully.

What is the size of a horse hay bale?

Standard sizes are 5 feet wide and 6 feet in diameter or 4 feet wide and 5 feet in diameter. Most horse owners use square bales because they are uniform, take less storage space, are easy to stack and handle. Hay bale density plays a role in its weight.

Are round or square bales better for horses?

Hay for horses comes in many forms, but the two most common are round bales and small square bales. Both have significant advantages as well as challenges and can be a source of quality forage for horses when managed correctly. In this two-part series, we will explore round and square bales and how to best utilize each.

What happens if you leave round hay bales outside?

The bacteria that can cause botulism prefer moist conditions, so round bales left out in the dew and rain provide an ideal environment for bacterial growth. In addition, when not handled properly round bales can be more prone to moisture penetration that leads to mold, which is a significant colic risk.

What are the different sizes of hay bales?

The most common sizes of hay bales are square and round. Since square bales are much smaller, they will be cheaper than larger round bales. Though some people set the price per bale, others price hay by weight. Some of the most common varieties of hay include alfalfa, Timothy, bermudagrass, and oat.

What is horse hay made out of?

Hay bales are made from many different types of vegetation. But the most popular horse hay is made from bermudagrass, alfalfa, and Timothy. Timothy and bermudagrass are classified as grass hay, and alfalfa is legume hay. Grass hays typically are ten percent protein, where alfalfa is twenty-eight percent protein.

What is the best grass hay for horses?

Grass hay most closely mimics the horse’s natural diet of prairie grass, and for easy keepers in light work, it’s all they need to stay fat and happy. Types of grass hay vary across the world, but in the US, timothy hay is by far the most popular.

What are the different types of hay?

There are two major categories of hay in which the different types of hay can be placed: legume hay and grass hay. Instead of being cut from grass, legume hay is made out of fibrous legumes – members of the pea and bean family. The most common types of legume hay are clover and alfalfa.

What is hay for horses made of?

Hay is made from grass, legumes or cereal crops that have been mowed, cured and baled. The type of vegetation from which hay has been made can vary based on location, availability and preference of the horse owner. Let’s take a look at grass hay and the different varieties available.

What is long stem hay for horses?

Hay can be long-stemmed in hay bales, or come bagged in cubes, or pellets. Many horse owners feed grass hay or straight alfalfa or a combination of grass and alfalfa to their horses. Grasses commonly used as hay are brome, orchard, and timothy. Long stem hay is the traditional baled hay.

How many square bales are in a bale of hay?

The amount of square bales that equals a round bale depends on the size of each. There are approximately thirty two-string square bales of hay equals one large 5’x6′ diameter round bale. How long does a square bale of hay last one horse?

Are square bales better than round bales for horses?

Plus, moving around round bales requires equipment such as a tractor with a hayfork and a facility in your pasture to keep the hay dry while allowing your horses access to it. Overall, square bales are better than round bales for horses.

Should I buy square or round hay bales for my horse?

Square hay bales are small enough to put in the back of a car whereas round bales need larger equipment. Whichever you decide, be sure to inspect the quality of the hay before purchasing, remembering that hay takes up the majority of your horse’s diet. Sharing is caring!

Are round bales cheaper than square bales?

Round bales, therefore, are a good option in many situations for providing free access to forage. Round bales: Are typically cheaper than square bales, pound for pound. Reduce labor, as they can be put out once a week instead of tossing individual portions multiple times a day.

Do horses need Hay all year round?

Having horses comes with a lot of responsibilities, one of which is providing them with feeding hay bales. whether your horses need hay all year or just during the winter months is based on the lifestyle of your horse.

How are hay bales picked up from the field?

Unless the farmer has a square bale picker, all bales must be picked up off of the field by hand and stacked in storage by hand. Round hay bales are much larger in size, weighing in at about 1400lbs. The only way to move a round bale is by tractor.

What happens if you dont feed hay to a horse?

The only change is that there won’t be as much dust floating around to irritate eyes and respiratory passages as the horse eats. On a warm day, dampened hay that is not eaten within a few hours may begin to mold. Feed small amounts at a time and remove damp hay that has not been consumed to avoid this problem.