Proper nutrition is essential for maintaining a horse’s health, supporting growth, and ensuring optimal performance. However, feed costs can be a significant expense for horse owners, especially those managing young, growing horses that require high-quality nutrition. Balancing cost efficiency with proper growth and development is crucial.
Practical strategies to reduce feed expenses while ensuring horses receive the necessary nutrients for healthy growth. Topics include optimizing forage use, selecting cost-effective concentrates, managing feeding efficiency, and alternative feeding strategies.
Table of Contents
1. Maximize Forage Utilization
Forage (hay, pasture, and haylage) should be the foundation of a horse’s diet, as it is the most natural and cost-effective feed source.
A. Prioritize High-Quality Pasture
- Rotational Grazing: Dividing pastures into smaller sections allows grass to recover, improving yield and nutritional content.
- Soil Fertility Management: Regular soil testing and fertilization promote better grass growth, reducing reliance on purchased hay.
- Weed Control: Eliminating toxic or low-nutrition weeds ensures horses consume only beneficial forage.
B. Choose Cost-Effective Hay
- Test Hay Quality: A forage analysis helps determine nutritional value, allowing you to supplement only what’s necessary.
- Buy in Bulk: Purchasing hay in large quantities (e.g., by the ton) often reduces costs compared to small bales.
- Alternative Forages: Consider less expensive options like grass hay mixed with alfalfa (rather than pure alfalfa) for non-working horses.
C. Reduce Hay Waste
- Use Slow-Feed Hay Nets: These minimize waste by preventing horses from pulling out and trampling hay.
- Feed in Clean Areas: Providing hay in feeders or elevated racks reduces contamination and spoilage.
2. Optimize Concentrate Feeding
While forage should make up most of the diet, growing horses often need additional concentrates (grains, pellets, or balancers) for proper development.
A. Feed According to Actual Needs
- Assess Body Condition: Use the Henneke Body Condition Score (BCS) to determine if a horse is underweight, ideal, or overweight. Adjust feed accordingly.
- Follow NRC Guidelines: The National Research Council (NRC) provides nutrient requirements based on age, weight, and activity level. Overfeeding wastes money.
B. Choose Economical Feed Options
- Commercial Feeds vs. Straight Grains: Commercial feeds are balanced but often more expensive. Mixing oats, corn, or barley with a vitamin-mineral supplement can be cheaper.
- Pelleted vs. Textured Feeds: Pelleted feeds typically have less waste and can be more cost-effective in the long run.
- Bulk Purchasing: Buying feed by the ton rather than in bags reduces cost per pound.
C. Use Supplements Wisely
- Targeted Supplementation: Only provide supplements (e.g., lysine for growth, biotin for hooves) if forage and concentrates lack specific nutrients.
- Avoid Over-Supplementation: Unnecessary additives increase costs without benefits.
3. Improve Feed Efficiency
Ensuring horses absorb and utilize nutrients efficiently reduces the amount of feed needed.
A. Feed Small, Frequent Meals
- Horses digest small meals more efficiently than large ones. Splitting daily rations into 2-3 feedings improves nutrient absorption.
B. Soak or Process Grains (If Needed)
- Soaking oats or pellets can enhance digestibility for older horses or those with dental issues, preventing undigested waste.
C. Regular Dental Care
- Annual dental check-ups ensure proper chewing, which maximizes nutrient extraction from feed.
D. Parasite Control
- Internal parasites compete for nutrients, reducing feed efficiency. Follow a strategic deworming program based on fecal egg counts.
4. Alternative Feeding Strategies
Exploring unconventional but effective feeding methods can further reduce costs.
A. Use Beet Pulp as a Fiber Substitute
- Beet pulp is an affordable, high-fiber feed that can partially replace hay in some diets (soaked before feeding).
B. Incorporate By-Product Feeds
- Wheat bran, rice bran, and soybean hulls are inexpensive and provide energy and fiber.
C. Grow Your Own Feed (If Possible)
- Small-scale farming of oats, barley, or alfalfa can reduce reliance on commercial feeds.
5. Monitor Growth and Adjust Accordingly
Regularly tracking a horse’s growth prevents over- or underfeeding.
A. Weight Taping and Growth Tracking
- Use a weight tape monthly to monitor growth trends. Adjust feed if weight gain is too rapid (risk of developmental disorders) or too slow.
B. Adjust for Seasonal Changes
- Horses need more calories in winter (to stay warm) and less in summer (if on good pasture). Adjust feed amounts seasonally.
Here are ten frequently asked questions on how to reduce feed costs while maximizing horse growth, complete with detailed answers that balance economics with equine health.
1. How can forage quality help me save money on grain?
Answer: High-quality forage is the cornerstone of cost-effective feeding. Digestible, leafy, and clean hay provides more calories and protein per pound than stemmy, mature hay.
- Cost-Saving Benefit: A young horse on excellent alfalfa or grass mix may meet most of its energy and protein needs for growth from forage alone, drastically reducing the amount of expensive concentrate/grain required. Think of forage as the foundation; the stronger the foundation, the less “supplemental” grain you need to build on top of it.
2. Is it really worth it to do a hay analysis?
Answer: Absolutely. A hay analysis (available through agricultural extension offices or private labs for a reasonable fee) is one of the smartest investments you can make.
- Cost-Saving Benefit: Knowing the exact nutritional profile of your hay prevents you from over-supplementing or under-supplementing. For example, if your hay is already 14% protein, you don’t need an expensive 16% protein grain; a lower-protein, calorie-dense feed would be more efficient and cheaper.
3. My horse is a “hard keeper.” Should I just feed him more grain?
Answer: Not necessarily. Before increasing grain, which can be expensive and increase the risk of developmental orthopedic diseases (DOD) in growing horses, rule out other issues.
- Cost-Saving Strategy:
- Dental Check: Ensure his teeth are floated so he can chew and digest efficiently.
- Parasite Control: A heavy parasite load steals nutrients.
- Add Fat: Instead of more grain, add a cup of vegetable oil or a high-fat stabilized rice bran. Fat is a highly digestible, safe source of calories that doesn’t cause the sugar/starch spikes associated with grain.
4. Are there any “cheap” feed additives that actually work?
Answer: Yes, but “cheap” should be evaluated based on effectiveness.
- Top Cost-Effective Additives:
- Salt & a Mineral Block: Non-negotiable and inexpensive. Proper mineral balance is crucial for every bodily function, including growth.
- Vegetable Oil: An inexpensive source of concentrated calories for weight gain.
- Beet Pulp: A fantastic, inexpensive source of highly digestible fiber that acts like a “super-forage,” providing safe calories without the starch of grain.
5. How does how I feed impact my costs?
Answer: How you deliver feed can lead to significant waste.
- Cost-Saving Tips:
- Use a Hay Net: This can reduce hay waste by up to 50%, especially with small-hole nets. The hay you buy goes into the horse, not on the ground.
- Feed Small, Frequent Meals: This mimics the horse’s natural digestive pattern and improves the efficiency of nutrient absorption compared to one or two large meals.
6. Is buying the cheapest bag of feed a good way to save money?
Answer: Almost never. Cheap feeds often have low-quality, poorly digestible ingredients and high filler content.
- Cost-Saving Perspective: You will have to feed a much larger volume of a cheap feed to achieve the same nutritional result as a smaller amount of a high-quality, concentrated feed. In the end, the “cheap” feed often costs more per serving and results in more manure (undigested waste).
7. Can I substitute pasture for hay, and how does that help?
Answer: Yes, well-managed pasture is the most natural and cost-effective feed source.
- Cost-Saving Benefit: Every day a horse is on good pasture is a day you aren’t feeding hay. Invest in rotational grazing and good pasture management (fertilizing, dragging, reseeding) to maximize the number of grazing days per year.
8. Does my growing horse really need a “special” expensive feed?
Answer: It depends on your forage. A “special” growth feed is formulated with a precise balance of amino acids (like lysine), minerals (especially calcium and phosphorus), and vitamins that are critical for proper bone and muscle development.
- Cost-Saving Strategy: If your forage is mediocre, a balancer pellet is the most cost-effective solution. These are concentrated, low-intake pellets that provide the vital protein, vitamins, and minerals without the extra calories from grains. You feed only 1-2 lbs per day, making the bag last a long time.
9. How does routine health care save me money on feed?
Answer: A healthy horse utilizes feed efficiently. Simple, preventative health measures have a huge return on investment.
- Direct Links:
- Dental Care: Poor teeth mean poorly chewed hay, leading to undigested feed in the manure—literally throwing money away.
- Parasite Control: Worms compete for nutrients and damage the gut lining, reducing absorption.
- Vaccinations: A sick horse will not grow well, regardless of how much you feed it.
10. Should I buy hay in bulk to save money?
Answer: Yes, if you can store it properly. Buying hay by the truckload (a ton or more) directly from a farmer is almost always cheaper per bale than buying it a few bales at a time from a feed store.
- Caution: Proper storage (dry, covered, off the ground) is essential to prevent mold and spoilage, which would waste all your savings and could make the hay dangerous to feed.