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
Hello Billy,
I generally use the "as fed" column when evaluating diets because that is a more true estimation of what the horse is actually eating. If you weigh your hay and give your horse 25 lbs each day, for example, then the amount of minerals consumed would be calculated based on what he is actually eating -- 25 lbs (which includes the water content). He is not eating 25 lbs of dry matter.
Good question!
All the best,
Dr. Getty 
Author of Feed Your Horse Like A Horse
On several occasions I have tested my hay and used the "As Fed" column to determine nutritional intake. But for the first time I have tested a pasture and have a question. The "As Fed" column has much lower numbers than the "Dry Matter" column and I know that is because of the watering down of the "As Fed" side because of moisture. My question is: when calculating nutritional intake, would I use, in the case of pasture testing, the "Dry Matter" column instead of "As Fed". Thank you.
Billy
Where are you from? Bayfield, CO