Saturday, March 11, 2017

Quality Assessment Before Hay Delivery CT

By Brenda Johnson


In most cases, horse owners think that hay appearance determines its value. Others source for information from friends and other farmers. Here are varied opinions when it comes to making choices. There are people who think that timothy is very essential in horse diet. Others place emphasis on the quality of alfalfa. Most horses feed on forage. It is good for farmers to consider quality and composition before Hay Delivery CT.

These animals depend on plants for their survival. Their larger digestive capacity is in lower gut, colon and cecum. Colon and cecum have natural microorganisms which assist in digestion. Their digestive tracts are similar to those of sheep and cattle. The horse is specifically designed to eat and digest forages. These animals do not have many behavioral vices and digestive upsets.

Dry matter should be equal to one percent of its body weight. Forages are the best feeding options during growing seasons. Many people make use of hay because of limited acreage, low productivity of pastures, rainfall variations and need to keep the animals in restricted settings. Farmers should have economical and convenient ways of finding feeds.

Food rations are more economic when their primary component is hay. It provides the animals with enough nutrients. Its value is determined by its nutritional components. Feed appearance is not enough in determining its quality. Its nutrient composition ought to match with daily horse requirements. This means that the owner will not have to incur the cost of buying other supplements. This is considered as an economical ration.

The nutritional value is determined by forage quality. Quality also affects the rate of consumption and overall health. Quality can be compromised by many factors. It is advisable to consider all factors instead of limiting your choices on color. Other factors are storage conditions, variety, leafiness, forage species, maturity stage and harvest conditions. Confirm whether the feeds have foreign objects, weeds and pests. They may interfere with forage quality. Buyers should take their time observing before making choices.

Vitamin A precursor will always be high in the green plants. Beige color indicates that there is leaching of major nutrients. This mostly happens in rainy seasons. You should not be misled by color. Sometimes very bright and green weeds have little nutritional value. Always focus on many factors which determine plant quality. Mature plants have flowers on them.

It is easier to digest immature grass. Animals easily consume them. That is why many horse owners go for this option. Forage species matter because they determine its composition. Legumes are more rich in proteins that the grasses. There are species which are not suitable for animals. In some species, there is high level of anticoagulant. This can affect blood clotting ability.

Insects may be responsible for reduction of forage quality. Beetles contain toxins. They severely irritate the urinary and gastrointestinal tracts. This is a common problem in droughty conditions. It is good for buyers in CT to explore fields of grass that they want to buy. Some weeds can be toxic. They eventually affect quality. It is good to inspect fodder for presence of molds and dust. Musty odor is an indication that molds were left to grow.




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