Barley Fodder for Horses? Need advice from nutrition folks!

[Tara Flewelling]

I have been researching feed options and there has been a bit of publicity around growing fodder mats as an efficient food source for horses and other animals.  There are several companies specializing in building some fairly expensive, but compact units that grow fodder mats from seed to feed in 8 days.  Once the initial unit is paid for, there does seem to be potential of good savings, but what about the ramifications of feeding a nutrient dense feed source?  It seems the most popular fodder mats for horses consist primarily of barley and sometimes some sunflower thrown in.  What are the pros and cons of this kind of feed?  Young plants, root and all, would that be too much sugar?

Thanks!

Tara

Safe, Sane, Smooth & Sound!  www.foursquarehorse.com

[Diane Trefethen]

Like humans, horses can have allergies and barley is certainly one grain that
causes reactions. If you want to feed barley, try adding barley to your horse's
rations for a month or so to see how s/he tolerates it.

You can google:
horses barley allerg
for more info.

[Bonnie]

Hello Tara,

I have been looking into this too. You can actually build your own
system or start small with a few trays and add more trays later and
pumps and stuff.

here is a link to a good home made system.
http://pacapride.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/barley-fodder-sprouting-trials-continued-new-flood-and-drain-tray-system-installed/

This blog gives some good info and a contact number/email where you
can ask for a nutritional analysis.
http://farmtek.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/frequently-asked-questions-the-fodder-pro-feed-system/

Here is the source for the small home made systems trays.
http://store.amhydro.com/13-in-x-40-in-Black-Multi-Purpose-Growing-Tray-p/91021.htm

My concerns are how high the sugars content will be too. Other than that,
I am not too worried. I do not have any really easy keepers and all my
horses are fine eating grass all year round even some fairly high
sugar grasses.

I have had some trouble finding a source for barley so I am going to
try using oats. Farm Tek says you can use oats, but the protein won't
be as high. I am hoping to start sprouting this week. For my first
trial, I am going to use el cheapo kitty litter pans ;-) if things go
well, then I will expand to a larger system. I may eventually invest
in one of the systems from Farmtek if things go well.

I will also be using the fodder for my goats both the meat goats and
the milk goats. My chickens and ducks will also get some. Our beef
calf will be eating the fodder too. Hopefully I will be able to cut
way back on feed and hay with the fodder. Only time will tell.

There are some people using the fodder for horses. Some people say the
horses won't eat the roots, but other people have horses that eat the
whole biscuit.

I have found a seed company that is about an hour and a half away that
carries barley for $15 for 45 lbs. I haven't called to see if the
seed is treated or not.


--
Best regards,
Bonnie mailto:bon...@b4boots.com
http://www.b4boots.com
check out our blog at http://www.b4boots.com/w

[endurancehorsemt]

Fodder is meant to supplement hay not completely replace it, right? There was an article in TrailBlazer magazine a few months back (will find it somewhere in moving boxes!) and I think it said horses still need the roughage of hay. The system they talked about seemed quite expensive. I believe it also said it can take as much as 30-45 minutes a day in maintenance. Something to take into consideration if time is money.

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[Bonnie]

Hello endurancehorsemt,

Yes, you still have to feed a small amount hay for roughage, but you can replace
a lot of the hay and almost all grain/feed with the fodder.

Last winter, I spent about an hour and a half each day stuffing 19 small
mesh hay nets a day ;-) 35 minutes will be nothing at all! I also
had to spend time retrieving hay nets, putting hay nets out and
snapping them down into the feeders.

I am not saying that the fodder systems are for everyone. They are
quite popular in Australia. I have been doing research on it for a
while. I think it could be an answer for people in drought situations
and if you think about how much you are spending on hay and feed
spreading the cost over several years for a system could make a lot of
sense.

--
Best regards,
Bonnie mailto:bon...@b4boots.com
http://www.b4boots.com
check out our blog at http://www.b4boots.com/w

> trial, I am going to use el cheapo kitty litter pans if things go

[Barbara Moulton]

I have been thinking the same thing- There is a guy in Kuna ID that bought a "box" from Sun Roads Farmory and can produce up to 18 biscuits a day-  I wanted to go see it this summer but never made it over there.  My horses ( 2) are on dry lot and I want them to have some fresh feed not just hay and pelleted  feed and beet pulp all the time- and I hate the constant hay scramble.  Kuna guy says his horses.  I think love it and are looking good he is also feeding a few head of roping cattle some goats and pigs- I am trying to write a grant for our school to buy one that my special ed kids could use and I would biscuits from them He sent me pictures to my work email and I wiull send you them if you like. Barbara ps where are you at  I found a hydroponic unit MUCH lesss expensive that the fancy self contained unit but need to think and remember where- small unit made 90 lbs per day and was something like 2999.00 vrs 15000 for the fancy rig in a self contained trailer. --- On Sat, 9/29/12, Tara Flewelling <g8dh...@hotmail.com> wrote:

[endurancehorsemt]

Thanks Bonnie, good to know, I think a lot of people are going to be looking into this with all the drought. We found and bought our hay for this winter (phew) but I see people still out there looking and the prices are crazy. Our local farmer could ship it elsewhere for a lot more money but  sold to locals for $150/ton - the most I've ever paid but I know others are paying much much more. I sure hope we have more rain next year!

I like the idea of growing fodder just because it looks so beautiful! Too busy this year but I may check it out another year. 

Karen