Common questions about roughage nutrition

How do I handle too little or too much protein in roughage?

We can all agree that providing our horses with the best possible roughage is the goal, but sometimes we may come across roughage with either too little or even too much protein. What should we do in those cases?

We have the answers!

We often receive various inquiries regarding what to do if you have roughage that either lacks protein or contains too much protein, and we thought we'd address the most common questions we receive.

I bought roughage this year that was harvested at the same time as last year. Then the nutritional values should be the same, right?

This is a common misunderstanding that the harvest contains the same nutritional values because it was harvested at the same time. In our elongated country of Sweden (as an example) temperatures and weather conditions vary greatly. There are many factors that determine this, so you cannot rely on next year's harvest having the same nutritional values. Protein in roughage is created in two different ways. Legumes are a source of protein and are sometimes found in the grassland. The protein value they provide can vary from year to year depending on when the heat arrives and the plant starts to grow. Another way protein comes from is through grass varieties - it is related to nitrogen uptake. If you have fertilized less or if fertilization has been later than usual and nitrogen has not been taken up, there will be less protein. It also depends on the weather, a cold year where the heat arrives late means that nitrogen turnover is slower, and if you harvest at the same time as the previous year but it was a warmer spring, there may be less protein in the roughage.

How do I compensate for my roughage if it doesn't have enough protein?

Hay pellets are a great supplement for roughage lacking in protein. Another excellent supplement is alfalfa, which also contains more protein per kilogram than hay pellets. You can add 1-2 kg of alfalfa per day. There are many different types of "protein boosters" on the market.

Alfalfa

Alfalfa is a good source of protein as well as many minerals since its root network reaches deeper into the soil than grass and grain. The calcium content in alfalfa is high, but when calcium comes from a plant like alfalfa, it does not affect phosphorus uptake in the same way as when it is fed in synthetic mineral form. Alfalfa is bound to proteins and is therefore absorbed as protein molecules, which do not block the calcium/phosphorus channels in the intestinal wall and thus do not hinder phosphorus uptake. It also works well for young horses and pregnant mares.