Hay Shortage and Feed in Western Australia

Don’t despair! There are multiple options.

Hay

While there are shortages of hay in stock feeders already, many continue to have measured supply and if those of us bulk buying modify our sense of panic and use the hay we are able to buy carefully, this will go some way to stretching out supply until next season’s hay becomes available.

We can all help by following some simple processes:

• When changing sources or types of hay, try to introduce them slowly over a 14-21 day period.   This will help minimise the risk of colic and any alterations in behaviour.  You can include straw up to 20% of your horses fibre intake, mixing it into existing hay over three weeks UNLESS your horse has a history of colic or ulcers, which will be an indicator that straw is a no-go. 

• Feed out your hay in hay nets – and consider double netting for fatties or those who forget to chew as they eat. This not only reduces wastage, but also protects your horse from taking in sand with any hay eaten from the ground, helping you get the maximum out of each bale of hay you have, while your horse enjoys maximum benefit from the hay you can source.  For fussy or slow eaters, hay bags or nets with larger holes may be more appropriate. 

• Weigh your hay to ensure that you are not giving them too much.  An average 500kg horse being fed 2% of body weight is 10kg of hay per day, while a good doer might only need the minimum amount of 1.5% of body weight which would be 7.5kg per day.  Old fashioned hanging fish scales or luggage scales will help you maintain the correct amount of hay.

• With round bales there's huge potential for wastage. Ensure you place them on plastic pallets  or rubber matting, net the round bales and then protect them with a hay hut of some sort. Again, you’ll be amazed at the extended life you can get from one round bale with this protection – and almost zero wastage! 

• Please be mindful of the risks that only a horse can discover around shoes, hay nets and any opening small enough for a hoof.

While there may be limited hay supplies in and around Perth, hay is being advertised further south, with meadow hay rolls being advertised in the Dardanup area. It may be that you will need to band together with your friends, club or agistment centre to pay for a truck to collect a bulk load to share.

Having said that, small Rhodes bales are starting to come into the Perth market from up north, so the supply of Rhodes hay may suffer less interruption than other hays.

Chaff

Although it’s had less attention, the supply of chaff is far more likely to become scarce as the shortages continue. With that in mind, many are looking to see what alternative options are available*:

• Hygain Fibressential

A product widely available throughout WA, Fibressential provides a chaff alternative, which can also be wet down to a mash for those oldies short on teeth, while providing a fibre alternative to ensure balanced fibre intake if/when chaff becomes hard to find.

• Lupin Fibre Cubes

Locally made by Thompson & Redwood, Lupin Fibre Cubes can be fed as an alternative to chaff and can also be fed damp to create more of a mash. Either way, it offers another way to maintain fibre levels in your feeds throughout any shortages.

• Mortons Golden Fibre

Another option that can help provide fibre in your horse’s diet, Golden Fibre Feed adds bulk fibre and is dust free and palatable.

• Multicube

A Victorian company, Multicube has been advertising widely its chaff alternative Hay Cubes. Available in Pasture Hay Cubes (Clover, Rye & Oaten), Teff & Lucerne Hay Cubes, Lucerne Hay Cubes and Lucerne & Oaten Hay Cubes, all are a good quality alternative to chaff in your horses diet. Multicube recommend soaking the Hay Cubes over a 14 day introductory process (1:1 ratio water to cubes) for an hour for cold water until softened. Volume is based on the weight of the horse/pony you are feeding.

• Lupin Fibre Boost - a newly released product by Thompson & Redwood.

A complete, grain-free fibre mash that is low in sugar and starch and enriched with superior vitamins, minerals, pre and probiotics. This quick-soaking super fibre cube forms a nutritious mash suitable for all horses and ponies. Made from local quality lupin hulls to provide cool, low-fizz energy and with pre and probiotics to promote gut health and function.

Both the Lupin Fibre Cubes and Lupin Fibre Boost can be used as chaff replacers.

Thompson & Redwood in conjunction with Jill Davies from Feed Your Steed Equine Nutrition has published a great blog article on managing your hay - https://thompsonandredwood.com.au/feeding-horses-during-drought.

Thanks to Jill Davies who has assisted in producing this blog article.  With thanks also to Thompson & Redwood for permission to link their article.

* Please follow manufacturers directions on usage for all equine feed products