WITH poor growing and harvesting conditions leaving hay in short supply in many parts of the country, horse owners have been warned to prepare for a possible shortage this winter.

Waterlogged fields in many areas are adding to the problem which is already of particular concern in parts of the west and north-west but the midlands, midwest and border counties are also hit.

Demand for hay is seeing prices rise to €50 a bale in some areas so increased costs could be a factor for many horsepeople this winter.

Teagasc equine specialst Wendy Conlon had some timely and practical advice in the face of early housing and compromised conditions for saving forage earlier in the year.

“This issue is becoming a prevalent one in the west and northwest of the country in particular, but forward planning in all cases to meet projected requirements is important. Take action now to prevent significant challenges towards the end of the housing period in 2018,” she advised.

Forage-saving tips include:

  • Downsize numbers if this is a relevant option for you
  • Ensure that there is limited or no wastage of existing forage reserves
  • Use adequate and appropriate rodent control, particularly where there is wrapped haylage
  • Ensure bale wraps aren’t perforated for whatever reason, leading to spoilage
  • Use feeders rather than feeding loose forage, a portion of which inevitably becomes trampled/inedible and thus wasted.
  • Supplement with concentrate feeding at appropriate feeding rates to ensure body condition is maintained.
  • Remember a horse requires 2-3% of its body weight per day in forage and some horse don’t do well on supplemental feeding (suffering from excess body condition, gastric ulcers etc).
  • Healthy horses winter well so ensure care of feet, teeth, parasite control and keep on top of mud rash/rain scald etc.
  • Rugging older horses should help prevent loss of condition
  • Take early action to prevent issues before they arise.
  • It is important horses have a suitable place to lie down and rest, and adequate shelter.
  • Ensure that adequate forage reserves are in place to fulfil requirements, also in the circumstance where the housing season may be extended longer than expected in the spring period; it is advisable to budget beyond expectation

    • This week the IFA called on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to launch its planned fodder relief scheme now. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Chief Veterinary Officer Robert Huey also advised on the increased risk of liver fluke, clostridial disease, pneumonia, lameness and general ill-thrift.(See www.farmersjournal.ie/fodder for our sister paper’s free fodder calculator).