This publication offers valuable tips and research for safely evaluating, purchasing, and storing hay for horses.

Stocking rates provide information on how many horses a pasture can carry (feed) in a month. The type of pasture will influence stocking rates. A pasture planted with orchardgrass and some alfalfa will produce 2 to 5 ton/acre/year of forage. Tonnage produced is dependent on rainfall, species of plants, soil type, fertilization, and management.

Forages as hay or pasture make up the significant share of the daily intake of a horse. Horses are natural grass eaters with front teeth suited for biting off the grass. The molars chew and grind bulky feed, such as hay and coarse grains. A mature horse that is not working hard will eat 1.5 to 2 pounds of air-dry feed per 100 pounds of body weight. That would be 15 to 20 pounds of hay daily for a 1,000-pound horse. In Iowa, horses will require about 2 tons of hay per head per year, plus summer pasture. When meeting nutrient requirements, carefully consider forage quality and nutrient content.

A mare’s gestation or pregnancy is approximately 340 days (11 months). Special attention must be given to the diet of the pregnant mare from conception to foaling. During the first eight months of pregnancy, the foal does not gain much weight. In fact, the fetus at the seventh month may only weigh between 8.8 and 16.5 pounds. Many mares are able to obtain enough calories and protein from high quality forages such as alfalfa/grass hay mix.

Completely updated and revised, this guide provides a general pasture management reference for livestock producers, agriculture advisers, teachers and students. The color publication covers practices to increase production and returns by improving management of grassland.

Updates and replaces PM 1713 PM1713

This educational document is a collaborative project between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Food Security and Public Health (CFSPH), Iowa State University to provide a brief introduction of basic animal husbandry and nutrition. This material is intended for readers with little background in livestock production. The information will focus on some customary management and husbandry practices in commercial production facilities for swine, cattle and poultry. In addition, information is included on horses, sheep and goats.

Relevant Equine Intensive Nutrition Software includes:

• Total mixed ration (TMR) program that allows for evaluation and formulation of protein, energy, vitamin and mineral requirements of horse rations across multiple stages of production
• Based off of the 2007 NRC Nutrient Requirements of Horses
• Written in MS Visual Basic and uses MS Excel as the user’s interface to operate
• Least cost formulator can be used or rations can be entered manually
• Extensive feed library – Up to 220 feeds
• Multiple feed libraries can be created which allows a user to assign a feed library to a farm
• Comprehensive appendixes

This product is delivered in a zipped file. Zipped files should not be downloaded to phone or tablet devices. For best results, download zipped files to a laptop or desktop computer. For tips on how to open zipped files, please visit our FAQ page.

To assist loading the software onto your computer, a one page installation instructions PDF has been created.

Horse Facilities Handbook provides guidance on how to create a safe and sound environment that will respect a horses' uniqueness and provide convenience and safety for both horse and handler.

Topics include

• Site planning
• Design and construction of stables, paddocks, and other outdoor and indoor facilities
• Manure management
• Storage
• Fencing
• Utilities
• Fire protection

This book is a combined effort of extension engineers, animal scientists, and equine specialists at major U.S. universities.