Effect of hay nets on horse bodyweight, body condition score, hay usage, and dental health in mature adult horses.
Authors: DeBoer M, Keener L, Layeux-Parks J, Schueller O, Johnson L, Martinson K
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Hay Nets and Equine Health Outcomes Hay nets are widely adopted to extend feeding time and minimise waste, yet their effects on overall horse health remain poorly characterised. DeBoer and colleagues conducted a two-year crossover trial with 13 mature horses, alternating between ad libitum hay fed with nets (4.45 cm openings) and without, whilst measuring bodyweight, body condition score, hay consumption, incisor length, and dental pathology at yearly intervals plus monthly rostral oral cavity scores via digital imaging. Horses fed without nets consumed significantly more hay, gained more weight, and developed higher body condition scores (P<0.05), whereas no statistically significant differences emerged in incisor wear patterns, bevel formation, rostral oral cavity scores, or the prevalence of dental abnormalities between treatments (P>0.05). These findings suggest that the common concern about hay nets compromising dental health—presumably through altered chewing mechanics or bite patterns—is unfounded in mature horses, whilst confirming their utility as a practical management tool for weight control and resource conservation on dry lots. For practitioners managing horses prone to obesity or wasteful feeding habits, hay nets appear to offer metabolic benefit without sacrificing oral health, though individual assessment remains warranted for horses with pre-existing dental disease.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Hay nets can be safely implemented to reduce hay waste and manage bodyweight/body condition without compromising dental health
- •Horses consuming hay from nets did not show increased dental wear or abnormalities, addressing a common concern about restrictive feeding practices
- •Consider hay nets as a practical management tool for mature horses where feed efficiency and weight control are priorities
Key Findings
- •Horses fed without hay nets had significantly greater bodyweight, body condition score, and hay usage compared to horses fed with hay nets (P<0.05)
- •No differences were observed in incisor length, incisor bevels, rostral oral cavity scores, or dental abnormalities between NET and CON treatments (P>0.05)
- •Hay nets with 4.45 cm openings effectively reduced hay waste and helped control bodyweight without negative impacts on dental health over a 2-year period