Pasture has the potential to provide
1. The horses nutrition
2. A Safe exercise area
Potentials rarely achieved, often neglected

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All information given here is believed to be correct but the author cannot be responsible for any consequences of it's use.

Pasture Management
for
Horses

by Denis Lindsell
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Conservation

Conservation

Conservation is the process of preserving excess production of plant material in the summer, for use in the winter months.

Please select an item from the menu below side.

Summary-

Pros & Cons

Hay

Can be produced in small quantities.
Relatively safe.
Nutrient content of good hay is suitable for horses.
May be dusty
May be poor quality

Silage

Economical to produce in large amounts.
With experience, a high quality product can be produced.
Dust free.
Energy value suitable for most horses in work.
Risks of clostridia.
Not convenient to feed to horses.
Energy content too high for some horses.

Big Bale Silage

Can be produced in smaller quantities than silage.
Transportable.
Dust free.
Energy value suitable for most horses in work.
Risk of clostridia.
Energy content too high for some horses.

Haylage

Dust free.
Energy value suitable for most horses in work.
Risk of clostridia.
Energy content too high for some horses.

Feeding values

	DM (%)	DCP (%)	ME (MJ/KgDM)
Hay	85	4-12	7-9
Silage -leafy	20	14	10
Silage -Early fl.	25	8	10
Haylage	50	14	11

Conclusion

All these methods of conservation require skill but hay is probably the safest

Ideally, the makers of silage or haylage should be highly experienced at making the product, and have a good understanding of the requirements for horses.

Preferably, silage or haylage products should have been tried out on someone else's horses.