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Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition

   Welcome to my forum. 

Here you will find more than 6 years of questions and my answers. It is searchable and offers a great deal of information. 

Currently, I am discontinuing new questions. This may change in the future, but in the meantime, please know that It has been a true pleasure serving you. 

Take a look at my Nutrition Library and Tips of the Month for a variety of answers on selected topics. Be sure to sign up for my monthly e-newsletter, Forage for Thought

I also have a growing number of recordings on "Teleseminars on Nutrition Topics that Concern You" as well as the new, Spotlight on Equine Nutrition Series -- printed versions of favorite teleseminars.

And finally, look for my articles in a variety of local publications and online newsletters, as well as the Horse Journal, where I am the Contributing Nutrition Editor.  

 

All the best,

 Dr. Getty 

 



Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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Pastures

as with the increasing drought need for feed and so forth as well as income on my property i was wondering whether horses can graze barley as it is growig and or soy beans as there growing??

Where are you from? Victoria Australia

How did you locate this forum? webpage

Re: Pastures

Hello Gavin,

Thank you for writing about this important issue. Barley, before it starts to seed, is fine for horses. Once it does start to seed, however, you would be risking too high a starch intake and barley is not very well digested, so this could lead to colic, and even laminitis.

Soybean foliage is a problem because it tends to become easily infested with blister beetles. These insects are highly toxic and even one bug can kill a horse. And, if the soybeans have developed, this is also not a good idea to feed because raw soybeans contains a substance (called a trypsin inhibitor) that diminishes protein digestion in horses.

All the best,

Dr. Getty