“The Rest of the Story…Cost of Feeding Horses”

Mindy Hubert,Small Acreage Field Specialist

SDSU Extensionmindy.hubert@sdstate.edu

605-394-1722

Many acreage owners are also new to Horse Ownership

Many New Acreage Owners:

• Migrate from urban areas / areas of higher rainfall• Have little (if any) grazing mgmt experience• Assume 5-10 acres will last “all year” or “ all

summer”– unfamiliar with Western SD stocking rates

So…why are Stocking Rates important?

Because: they are directly related to the Cost of

Feeding HorsesHigher stocking rates now= buy more hay later!

Stocking Rate Review:

= The amount of land allocated to a grazing animal for a specific length of time

• 1 cow/calf pair = 1 AU• 1 adult horse = 1.25 AU– Due to horses’ grazing behavior

(trampling, constantly grazing)

• Stocking rates vary drastically:o Region to region

o Many new acreage owners come from areas of greater rain fall

o MN/eastern SD: 1 horse/ 0.8-1 acre /montho Western SD: 1 horse /2.5-4 acres/ month

o (3.5x more acres needed!)

o Year to year

Stocking Rate Review

New Acreage Owners Often:• Don’t realize they have over-stocked until excessive

damage has occurred

Overgrazed Properties: Why do we care?

•Less grass=more runoff=more mud

•Invasion of weedy species

•Erosion, weed infestation and

manure runoff affect other

properties downstream and

downwind

•Less snow/moisture is retained

•Unattractive

• Potential lower property value

(neighboring properties also)

Prevention of Over-stocking is KEY..and cheaper in the long run!

Prevention:• Informed Real Estate Agents = Informed new

Acreage owners• Upfront knowledge of year-round costs of horse

ownership– Hay purchases (especially during drought years)– Fencing– Weed Control

• Team effort by us: Real Estate Agents SDSU Extension, NRCS, County Weed & Pest,

Conservation Districts + more

Review: Growing / Grazing Season

• Usually May-September in SDCool (May-June, Sept.) Warm (July-August)

What About After Grazing Season?• Horses/livestock should be removed from pastures once ½

of total annual forage production is removed …

How can you accurately estimate annual production?

What About After Grazing Season?• … and placed in a Sacrifice Paddock

Paddocks are prone to mud and weeds, so think about location/drainage before building

6+ months on average (Nov-April)

How Much Hay Do they Need?

• Depends on hay quality and horse’s activity level• Hay Quality:– Protein/Energy, etc.

• Activity Level:– Leisure– Performing/Lactating

How Much Hay Do they Need?• Usually 2-2.5 % body weight per day (dry

matter-DM)• 1000# horse will consume ~25# of hay per

day (DM)• MONITOR horses for rib fat

o should be able to see last 1-2 ribs

What is Hay Going to Cost?• Depends on many factors:– Size/type of bale– Unit cost (per bale or per ton)– Quality– Volume– Where purchased

Bale Size• Small squares vary locally; 2012

prices:– $3 to $8/bale ($100-$250/ton)– $11-$16 in Texas (>$500/ton)

• Large Rounds=$60-120/ton– Delivery is usually required (~30/Ton

more)– Need a tractor to handle

Small Square Bales1 adult Quarter Horse consumes about 900# of hay per month (45% of a ton):

o 900#/50 # square bale = 18 bales/month$54 /horse/month @ $3/bale

$144 /horse/month @ $8/bale$600/horse on average / 6 months

$1200/horse/year

Large Rounds

• Round bales are currently $60 - $120/ton (does not include shipping) o Alfalfa costs more than grasso Horse eats about ½ a ton per month

$30-60/horse per month $270/horse/6 months $540/horse/year

Where to Purchase Hay

• Neighbors/ranchers• Feed Cooperatives (highest prices)• Check newspapers

Reduce Hay Costs By: • Purchase hay in large volumes for discounts• Maximizing forage production

– Acreage owners should not begin grazing until most grasses have 3-4 leaves in the spring

– Rotational Grazing• Makes horses graze less desirables

• Extending Grazing Season Take Half, Leave Half Graze 50-75% of time if possible

horses will eat and trample out of boredom

Considerations When Purchasing Hay:

• Quality of Hay for horses ( important consideration)Most horses get by on quality grass haymold blister beetles (lethal)

• Refer to SDSU Extension

Considerations When Purchasing Hay:

• Small acreage owners:– Equipment to handle hay– Time– Waste (more with round bales)– Financial

Quiz Time!

Question :• You are listing a 5 acre property in the Black Hills. A

couple with 2 adult quarter horses asks you how long it “will last their horses”. The suggested stocking rate for the area is 3 acres/AUM (.33 AUM’S/ac). What do you tell them ?

1 horse = 1.25 AUM’s; 2 quarter horses= 2.5 AUM’s

2.5 AUM’s * 3 acres/AUM=7.5 acres needed/month

5 acres available ÷ 7.5 needed = .67 month (almost 3 weeks)

1.5 months if graze 50% of the time

Will need to feed hay the rest of the year (approx. 10-11 months)

Take Home Pointers

• Acreage owners need to understand their pasture

limitations & plan for hay expenses

• Maximize existing pasture to minimize hay purchases

o Sacrifice pen, rotational grazing

• Purchase hay in large quantities if possible

• Work with neighbors