Tdove - 2015-09-03 10:58 AM
hoofs_in_motion - 2015-09-03 10:16 AM
For horses that have issues with tying up...a low starch, high fat diet is the way to go. Stay away from sugary hay (alfalfa), and sugary grain.
Actually, Alfalfa is one of the lowest starch hays and feeds. Here is a chart showing average NSC % in various feed sources. Note that Rice Bran is higher in starch than alfalfa. Both Rice Bran and Alfalfa are commonly given to horses with PSSM and RER. Even then, not all horses that tie up or have tied up benefit from a severely low starch diet.
Oat Hay......................22.1%
Barley Hay................. 20.4%
Alfalfa Hay................. 11.3%
Bermudagrass Hay.......13.6%
Grass Hay.................. 13.8%
Alfalfa Pellets.................9.3%
Alfalfa Cubes................10.2%
Grass Pasture...............12.1%
Rice Bran.................... 21.2%
Oats............................54.1%
Corn............................73.3%
Barley..........................61.7%
Beet Pulp......................12.3%
Wheat Bran.................. 31.1%
Soybean Hulls................. 6.3%
Wheat Middlings.............32.0%
Soybean Meal ................16.2%
*Values are from Equi-Analytical Laboratories, Ithaca, NY, reported on dry matter basis. - See more at:
http://www.triplecrownfeed.com/articles/horsenutrition-carbohydrate...
I would be interested in seeing what winwillows opinion is on the analysis
I wonder what cutting of alfalfa, as all the nutritionists vets I speak to say alfalfa has more NSC then grass hay.