Issue # 9 - October 2009 |
In this issue: Lucerne : Friend Or Foe? Bugs in your Feed? Equus now available in the Eastern Cape "Cool" Customers Join us on Facebook In our next issue |
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Lucerne Hay : Friend or Foe? Lucerne hay enjoys a varied reputation amongst horse people, with some using it as a highly valued component of their horse's diet and others avoiding it with an almost religious fervour. But who is correct? Most experts in the field of equine nutrition today endorse the traditional view that Lucerne as a roughage should be used in moderation and should rather be fed in combination with grass or oaten hay in order for the total roughage component to be at a ratio of about 3: 1 - i.e. 75% Grass or Oaten hay to 25% Lucerne hay. This ratio serves merely as a guideline but you will always be on the safe side by keeping your Lucerne portion below 50% of the total roughage component. This newsletter article endeavors to shed some light on the advantages and risks associated with feeding Lucerne. Lucerne Hay - What is it? Lucerne hay is made from the Lucerne plant (Medicago sativa), a temperate perennial plant which originated in the Middle East. The Lucerne plant is a legu- minous plant species, meaning that it belongs to the family of plants that produce seed pods and have nodules on their roots that are capable of taking inert nitrogen from the atmosphere and converting it to organic nitrogenous compounds that are available to the plant. The Lucerne plant may be cut to make Lucerne hay at various times during the plant's life cycle, but is most commonly cut at the 10% flowering stage. Lucerne hay, when it is produced and stored correctly is commonly green in colour and should, on closer inspection, contain a high percentage of leaf material and fine stems. Lucerne hay that has been weather damaged or baled when too dry will be dull green to brownish in colour, and will commonly contain a high percentage of stems and a much lower leaf content. The Nutrient Profile of Lucerne Hay Lucerne hay is a high protein forage and also contains more energy than grass hays like Teff and Eragrostis. Lucerne also contains high concentrations of Calcium and Magnesium and, when fresh, also vitamins A and E. Lucerne is however typically low in Phosphorous and depending on where it was geographically grown, contains varying concentrations of other macro and micro minerals. The table below shows an abbreviated nutrient profile of early bloom Lucerne hay in comparison to grass hay and oaten chaff. |
Main Advantages of Lucerne The main advantages from a nutritional point of view are: High Protein content Good quality Protein High fibre content High content of most minerals High Vitamin content especially when fresh and green Fair digestibility Mostly very palatable. Risks and important aspects to be aware of! 1) Variation in Quality One of the important factors to consider is the huge variation that can exist between various batches of Lucerne. The table below shows the variation in one study done using four different cuttings over a short period of only 30 days. |
Lucern Hay |
Grass Hay |
Oaten Chaff |
|
| Digestible Energy (MJ/kg) | 9.37 |
7.5 |
7.32 |
| Crude Protein (g/kg) | 180 |
95 |
86 |
| Calcium (g/kg) | 12.8 |
5.0 |
2.9 |
| Phosphorous (g/kg) | 1.9 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
| Calcium : Phosphorous Ratio | 6,7 : 1 |
2,3 : 1 |
1,3 : 1 |
| Magnesium (g/kg) | 3.1 |
1.9 |
1.5 |
| Note the very wide Ca to P ratio of Lucerne in comparison to the other hays. | |||
Table 1 |
| Variations in Lucerne Analysis | ||||
Protein (%) |
Fat (%)
|
Fibre (%)
|
Lysine (g/kg)
|
|
| Sample 1 | 23 |
17.5
|
25
|
11.8
|
| Sample 2 | 21 |
19
|
30
|
10.8
|
| Sample 3 | 16 |
17
|
40
|
10.1
|
| Sample 4 | 16 |
13
|
38
|
7.9
|
Lucerne (Medicago sativa L. var. Palava), harvested at four successive dates over a 30-day period was evaluated for chemical composition on a dry matter basis in the Czech Republic (Czech J. Anim. Sci., 53, 2008 (12): 499505) |
||||
Table 2 |
The table shows that between various cuttings Protein content can vary by 43% and
the fibre content by 60%. It is also important to note that the Protein quality can be hugely affected with the lysine value dropping by 50% from 11.8g/kg to as low as 7.9 g/kg. The digestibility was also determined and reduced by 56% towards the last cutting. Other studies shows that Lucerne grown in alkaline soils can have magnesium levels of up to seven times as high as the normal levels, again emphasizing the problems and risks involved with variations in composition. Even with the large drop in values Lucerne remains a very nutritious fibre but this does partly explain why it is not recommended to use Lucerne as the sole source of fibre. 2) Imbalance in the Phosphorous to Calcium Ratio. Most people are aware that Calcium is an essential nutrient and mineral in the development of a strong and healthy bone structure. The increased requirement for dietary Calcium in the nutrition of pregnant mares, young and growing horses (especially if in training), is well known by most owners and trainers. It is not so commonly known however that the ratio of Calcium to Phosphorus in the diet is as crucial as the inclusion of Calcium itself. It is also important to understand that certain foodstuffs contain Calcium and Phosphorus in forms that are unavailable to the horse. This is because certain chemicals in feeds such as oxalates and phytates bind Calcium so that the horse cannot digest it. Calcium is not only involved in structural components of the body such as teeth and bones, but is also extremely important in its dissolved form for processes such as muscle contraction, blood clotting and as a messenger molecule in cells within the body. So important is its role that the body keeps the amount of dissolved Calcium between strictly controlled levels through a process known as homeostasis. The body regulates the dissolved Calcium levels by drawing on Calcium in the bones in times of need, and by ensuring that excess Calcium is deposited in the bones in times of good supply. A hormone called the para- thyroid hormone regulates this homeostatic process. Parathyroid hormone in conjunction with vitamin D help to keep the balance of Calcium to Phosphorus in the bones in a ratio of around 2:1. Why is Lucern's high Calcium content a disadvantage? When horses are fed Lucerne as the sole roughage, Calcium is supplied well in excess of their daily requirements. For example, 5kg of Lucerne supplies 70g of Calcium, which is more than twice the daily requirements of a 400kg horse at hard work. In response to this large and continuous supply of Calcium in the diet, the body will adjust its calcium-regulating hormone levels accordingly - the Calcitonin responsible for storing Calcium will increase, and levels of parathyroid hormone will decrease. From the body's point of view, there is no need to maintain high levels of a Calcium-mobilizing hormone when excess Calcium is consistently provided in the diet. This supply-and-demand concept can become a problem during strenuous events. Since Calcium is required in large amounts for muscular contractions, plasma Calcium levels gradually fall as the duration and intensity of exercise increases. In response to falling plasma Calcium levels, the body calls upon parathyroid hormones to mobilize more Calcium from its storage depots in the bone. However, because the body has become accustomed to having excess Calcium available from the diet, it can happen that the concentration of parathyroid hormones is too low to adequately supply stored Calcium quickly enough to meet the sudden high demand. In other words, there are not enough workers available at a moment's notice to move Calcium from storage into circulation. As a result, plasma Calcium levels may continue to fall, increasing the likelihood of metabolic problems such as Tying Up and Thumps. 3) Other Mineral Deficiencies. It also must be kept in mind that Lucerne hay is not a complete feed and will more often than not contain insufficient concentrations of trace minerals, in particular Copper and Zinc, to support sound musculoskeletal development. Zinc is essential in bone, cartilage and hoof formation. Deficiency can result in reduced appetite, retarded growth, dry thickened skin and hair loss in severe deficiencies. Copper is required for the development of bone, joint cartilage and connective tissues but also plays a role with metabolic and tissue anti-inflammatory enzymes. Deficiency can result in lameness in growing horses as well as anemia. To which horses can Lucerne hay be fed? Lucerne hay may safely be fed to all classes of horses; however, due to its high protein and relatively high energy characteristics, it must be fed to horses in controlled quantities to prevent problems that may be caused by excess energy and protein in the diet. The suitability of Lucerne hay for different classes of horses is discussed in more detail below: Growing horses When feeding Lucerne to growing horses, the amount fed should not exceed the growing horse's energy requirements. Growing horses fed energy in excess of their requirements have a much higher chance of suffering from developmental orthopaedic diseases including osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). Feeding protein in excess of the growing horse's protein requirements does not appear to be detrimental as the protein can be utilised as a source of energy. Moderation seems to be the key, and again, a mixture of other hay and Lucerne (+/- 3:1) will keep you on the safe side. Pregnant and Lactating Mares When feeding the pregnant mare Lucerne hay, care must be taken not to exceed her energy requirements which will then cause her to become overweight. Conversely, Lucerne hay alone will not be capable of meeting the early lactation mare's energy requirements and her Phosphorous and trace mineral requirements will also not be met by a diet based mainly on Lucerne hay. Depending on pasture conditions, mares need to be fed a good quality concentrate to maintain body condition throughout lactation. As with growing horses, excess protein in the diet of pregnant and lactating mares does not appear to be harmful, however, it is an unnecessary waste of this relatively expensive feed component and should be avoided if possible. Performance Horses in work or training With performance horses, as with growing horses and pregnant mares, Lucerne must be fed in moderation. Unlike the above classes of animals, excess protein in the diet of working horses, particularly those that are stabled, can be detrimental to their health and performance. Excess protein intake will increase urinary ammonia production, which may in turn cause respiratory problems for horses confined to the stable and can contribute to dehydration due to water loss through increased urine production and excretion. Excess protein also increases the amount of heat produced during the digestion and utilisation of feedstuffs. A diet which contains protein in excess of the horse's requirement can increase the horse's water and electrolyte loss through sweating and can contribute to hyperthermia, and decreased performance or endurance capacity. Does excess protein directly affect performance? Almost certainly. Although there are no scientific studies which specifically examine the effects of an all-Lucerne diet, there is significant evidence that diets with excess Protein are detrimental to endurance-type exercise. Dr. Sarah Ralston, PhD, DVM, (dACVN) has observed in both endurance and three-day event horses that as protein content of the ration increased, so did metabolic failure. Michael Glade (PhD), in observing feeding practices and racing performance in Australian Thoroughbreds, observed that horses ran slower as the protein content of the ration increased over requirements. And finally, many horse owners report that grouchy, temperamental, "hot" horses become calmer, steadier and more con- sistent performers when excessive Protein is removed from the ration. It is important to understand that these effects are not as a direct result of feeding Lucerne, but can result from feeding too much Lucerne. They can be avoided by ensuring that a horse's protein requirement is adequately met but not unnecessarily exceeded. It is important to keep in mind here the big variation existing between Lucerne batches and again this explains why it is advisable to use a grass or cereal hay in conjunction with Lucerne hay. Spelling or Idle Horses Lucerne hay can play a role in the spelling or non working horse's diet, and will help to supply these horses with good quality protein and calcium in their diet. However, due to its high energy content in comparison to other forages, Lucerne hay is generally not suitable as the sole source of roughage for this class of horse as it can encourage excess weight gain. Ponies Ponies may be safely fed Lucerne hay, but again it must be fed in moderation because it can easily lead to ex- cessive weight gain in ponies, particularly those that are easy keepers. Feeding too much Lucerne hay may there- fore predispose ponies to laminitis which can occur when ponies become overweight. Lucerne hay is particularly useful in the diet of aged ponies. As horses and ponies age, they lose some of their ability to digest fibre and protein. Feeding them an easily digested fibre and high quality protein source in the form of Lucerne hay will allow them to maintain bodyweight, particularly during winter. Moderation again, however, is important. Some Quality Considerations The Lucerne plant's stage of maturity when cut, its weathering and handling during harvest/drying and the length of time it is stored prior to being fed will all affect Lucerne hay's energy, protein, vitamin and mineral content. Thus, when including Lucerne hay in a horse's diet, it is important to assess the Lucerne's stage of maturity and quality, before feeding it. Care should be taken to ensure that the hay does not contain mould or dust which will make the hay unpalatable and may contain fungal spores capable of causing heaves, coughing and bleeders or mycotoxins which could result in abortion or death. Poor quality Lucerne hay is typified by: low leaf content high levels of foreign matter large variations in moisture content high leaf loss poor shelf life dustiness musty smell Making quality hay is dependent on producing Lucerne of the correct moisture content at baling time. If it is too dry, the hay will be stalky and dusty with low leaf content which means low food value and poor value for money. If too wet, however, the hay will heat during storage and become mouldy, shortening the storage life. Excessively mouldy hay can also induce colic in horses. Take into consideration that a heavy bale is not necessarily a quality bale, as the weight can vary widely with moisture content, and could be a sign that the Lucerne was too moist when baled. Conclusion Lucerne is a valuable feedstuff for horses and is capable of providing them with energy, high quality protein and often much needed lysine and calcium. Lucerne hay has to be used correctly in the diet, however, to realise its full benefits. Typical problems due to excess energy and protein are very real possibilities when Lucerne hay is not fed in moderation. These problems are not, however, as a direct result of feeding Lucerne hay, but rather, as a result of feeding too much energy and/or protein in the form of Lucerne hay. Another definite risk involved with feeding too much Lucerne is the Calcium to Phosphorous imbalance. Using grass hays in conjunction with Lucerne hay to fulfill the horse's roughage requirement will help to avoid some of the problems associated with feeding excess Lucerne hay and will additionally, in most instances, reduce costs considerably. |
Bugs in Your Feed? Nobody wants to see weevils or any insects in their horse feed and this is an occurrence which is often very upsetting to horse owners. Grain feeding insects will, however, always be with us and the best we can do is control them. Bugs are very seasonal (like flies) and tend to come and go given the environmental conditions. It is not uncommon to find weevils even in the stringently monitored human food supply chain and breakfast cereals are often affected! Most grain feeding insects are especially active when crops are being harvested and most feed manufacturers have very stringent control programs which aim to interrupt the life cycle of an insect before it is completed. The life cycle of most species is between four to six weeks; in the case of Psocids it can be as short as 14 days. It is important to know that grain feeding insects are not dangerous or harmful to the horse at all if accidentally eaten, but they will eventually attack and break down the composition of the feed if allowed in the feed for too long. It is thus important to take action to prevent the specific bugs from multiplying! There have been reports recently of several infestations in the Western Cape of Psocids, better known as Dust Lice, Bark Lice, or Book Lice. This infestation has a lot to do with the moisture conditions (likely to appear soon in all coastal areas) and this newsletter will attempt to shed some light on these unwanted visitors to your feed room and how to deal with them. Psocids are not very common in the dryer parts of the country where weevils (to be discussed in a later newsletter) are much bigger threat. Psocids Psocids are small (1- 2 mm) soft-bodied insects found in warehouses, food manufacturing premises, granaries and museums, as well as domestic and retail premises. They can live for about six months and in that time the female may lay up to 200 eggs. The name 'lice' is misleading as they are not related to the true or parasitic lice. Some have four delicate wings but they do not readily fly. Most have either vestigial wings or none. They infest organic matter such as stored food, plaster, leather, woodwork and paper/books. In domestic premises they are often found infesting damp surfaces, such as bathrooms and newly plastered walls. Where can they be found? Most of the +/-900 species live out of doors, their natural habitats including crevices in bark, fences, and walls (especially among lichen or moss), and birds' nests. Only four species are common in buildings where they are widely distributed, breeding in damp situations. They are often found in new or reconditioned houses feeding on fungi on the surface of new plaster (up to 1500 gallons of water is used in the construction of a new house or store - this takes a lot of drying out). Here, they may enter packets of foodstuffs, often penetrating to the contents where, given sufficient time and adequate moisture content, they can breed large numbers, causing weight loss and severe deterioration of the food. How do they get in? Dust Lice rarely infest food products at the point of manufacture. A more likely scenario is that nymphs and adults occur on the outside of pallets containing food products and between boxes and bags of food on palletized cargo. Dry animal food is more susceptible since many packages are not "air-tight" and exhibit small openings which permit entry. Book Lice are often attracted to stored products contaminated by mould on the packaging or the food itself. What do they eat? They feed on fragments of animal and vegetable matter, particularly on fungi and lichens. Indoors, they feed on minute moulds and mildews scarcely visible to the human eye, which grow on wallpaper, book-bindings, leather, upholstery and various foodstuffs. Are Psocids harmful? No. They do not carry disease and pose no threat to health. How to get rid of Psocids A combination of fumigation and the use of a residual insecticide is the most effective. The simplest and most certain method of eradicating Psocids from a feed room is to ensure that it is so dry that the minute moulds and fungi, which serve as their food, cannot grow. Look out for local damp patches. Coopers Environmental Science has a Bayer product called Responsar EW which can be sprayed as a service spray and Quickphos aluminum phosphate tablets in 90g or 1kg packs to fumigate the horse feed. However, re-infestation is likely to occur unless the damp conditions are remedied and old bags of foodstuff are removed. Ensure that any insecticide is used safely. Read the label and follow any instructions carefully. Dust Lice do not like direct sunlight and it will help to put all your bags of feed outside in the sun for the day. Should you be dealing with a severe infestation, you can fumigate your feed bags under an airtight tarpaulin with Quickphos tablets after which they should remain covered for a further 7 days by which time the infestation will have been eradicated and the feed will be safe to feed to the horses again. For any queries, contact the Coopers Environmental Science representative in your area; |
| Gauteng / NW Province |
Leon Nel | 082 339 5591 |
| Pretoria / N.Province/ Mpumalanga | Ian Brown | 072 445 6656 |
| Free State / N. Cape | Johan Lotriet | 084 207 9964 |
| NW Province / Vaal Triangle | Andre Gindra | 078 344 6166 |
| KwaZulu Natal | GreameMarkham | 082 296 2663 |
| Eastern Cape | Wesley Swanepoel | 082 458 2842 |
| Western Cape | Mark Ensin | 082 901 9696 |
"Cool" Customers I cannot tell you how pleased I am with the change that I've seen in my 7 year old mare since changing over to Equus Cool n Perform. She went from a crazy, unpredictable, nervous and unsafe horse to an absolute dream. I had lost faith in her completely but have regained trust in her again. I changed her feed slowly and let her stand for over a month, got back on her this week and it was as if she had gone for schooling! She was perfect. Thank you for an amazing product! Regards Julie Craig ------------------------------ I changed my mare over to Equus Cool 'n Perform about two months ago and I want to SHOUT OUT TO THE WORLD WHAT AN AMAZING CHANGE IT HAS MADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She went from an unpredictable, nervous, unwilling horse that shied for nothing and everything all the time to a relaxed horse that I can canter ahead of other horses without any hesitation I can't tell you what a difference it has made. Best thing I could ever do for her. By happy hacker on www.horsejunction.co.za |
