Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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Dr. Getty
Charlene,
I have my hay tested at Equi-Analytical www.equi-analytical.com. You can go on the web page and request a sample bag and forms. You need a hay tester, they are expensive, so I go to my local co- op and borrow theirs. They are hard to use but you need one to get a good sample. You need to sample at least 6-8 bales of hay. Their site explains alot of this.
NSC is Non Structured Carbohydrates or the total of sugar and carbs/starch, they now do it a different way.
Now the test is ESC(simple sugars) and starch the combo of these 2 should be below 10% if possible some horses can tolorate 12% or more but the rule of thumb is 10%. My hay is from the same hay grower and I contract a years worth, it is always below 11%. I get the trainer test which has everything you would need, the ESC,starch, WSC, minereals,protein,Digestiable energy,lysine,acid detergent fiber,neutral detergent fiber,non fiber carohydrates,potassium, etc. the cost is $49.00, they will email the results right away.
I have my hay tested each batch,so I can taylor my horses vit/min etc.
My last test was: ESC-8.5% starch 1.4% total 9.9%. With a relative feed value of 159.
Hope this helps you!
Della
Where are you from? WI
Hello Michelle, Della, and Charlene! Where are you from? Bayfield, CO
Lots of good information posted here and thank you, Della, for your description of the benefits of a low Starch diet and hay analysis.
Michelle... I am delighted to hear how well your horse has done on a low starch diet. Purina has finally gotten on the low starch bandwagon and it is a pleasure to recommend their Wellsolve products. It is fortified with vitamins and minerals, but if you are not feeding it according to directions, you may want to add a supplement to fill in the gaps.