Hay Vs Chaff - Which One Should We Feed Our Horses?

May 9

2 min read

In the realm of horse care, there's a crucial yet often overlooked aspect: the relationship between saliva production and gastric health.

One of the biggest keys to horse health is roughage access and the health reliance on their digestive systems. To uncover the secrets of their optimal well-being, let's explore which is better: hay or chaff.

Let's start with saliva

The unsung hero in the equine digestive journey. Picture this: an average horse produces approx. 35 - 40L of saliva every day, a vital fluid crucial for lubricating food during chewing. But its importance goes beyond mere lubrication. Saliva kickstarts digestion even before food reaches the stomach, thanks to enzymes that begin breaking down carbohydrates. Additionally, saliva acts as a natural buffer, neutralizing stomach acid to protect delicate gastric tissues and lowering ulcer risk.

Now, let's zoom into the equine stomach – a bustling hub where digestive magic happens. Horses are prolific acid producers, churning out roughly 50 - 60L of gastric acid daily. This acid is indispensable for breaking down food, especially fibrous material like hay and grass. However, maintaining a delicate acid balance is crucial; excess acidity can lead to gastric discomfort and ulcers, common issues among equines. This shows the importance of saliva production to help buffer acid. So which roughage source produces the most saliva?

Enter the Hay vs Chaff debate

While both provide valuable roughage, they differ significantly in their impact on gastric health.

Hay, with its long strands and fibrous texture, demands prolonged chewing, promoting saliva production and aiding digestion. On the flip side, Chaff, with its finely chopped consistency, offers convenience but at a potential cost. Its shorter strands require less chewing, leading to reduced saliva production and compromised stomach buffering.

So the key point for optimum equine care

Prioritise longstem roughage, aiming for at least 1.5% of your horse's body weight in forage daily. For a 500kg horse is approx. 7.5kg of hay per day (if no pasture access).

This ensures a steady supply of fibrous goodness, supporting optimal digestive function and safeguarding gastric health. However, equine well-being extends beyond dietary choices. Factors like hydration, exercise, and stress management also play pivotal roles in maintaining digestive harmony.

By understanding equine digestion and embracing nature's wisdom, we can nurture our equine companions to thrive, one mouthful of hay at a time. So, next time you see your horse grazing contentedly, take a moment to marvel at the saliva produced to help buffer the rising stomach acid production, working to help lower the risk of ulcers and ensuring optimum digestion.

Special Note: If you want to discover more about ulcers in horses and ways to help lower the risk we have a podcast Episode 47: All You Need To Know About Ulcers