Where Are We Now? Feeds, Feeding Systems and Current Knowledge of UK Horse Owners When Feeding Haylage to Their Horses.
Authors: Moore-Colyer Meriel, Westacott Amy, Rousson Lucile, Harris Patricia, Daniels Simon
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Obesity remains stubbornly prevalent in UK horses despite advances in nutritional science and feed formulation tools, prompting Moore-Colyer and colleagues to investigate what owners actually do when feeding their horses and where knowledge gaps exist. Their 2023 survey of 1,338 UK horse owners revealed significant disconnects between best practice and on-the-ground feeding: whilst 84% of owners added concentrates (cubes or coarse mixes) to their horses' diets, only 30% balanced these with forage-only feeding strategies, and alarming proportions—88%—had never conducted forage analyses despite their critical importance in energy management. Haylage adoption appears hampered by practical and knowledge barriers rather than disinterest: among non-users, 66% lacked confidence in feeding methodology, 68% worried about aerobic spoilage (mould and heating), and 79% found standard bale sizes impractical, yet only 11% of all respondents regularly weighed their horses to objectively assess condition or energy balance. These findings underscore urgent need for targeted education on ration formulation fundamentals, interpreting forage analyses, strategic hay–haylage interchangeability for weight management, and the non-negotiable role of body weight monitoring in preventing obesity. For practitioners advising clients, this research highlights where owner understanding breaks down and suggests focusing initial conversations on practical barriers to haylage use and establishing basic weighing protocols before addressing more complex nutritional concepts.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Most horse owners lack knowledge about haylage feeding, storage, and spoilage prevention—targeted education on practical haylage management could improve adoption and forage quality control
- •Forage analysis is underutilized despite being essential for accurate ration formulation; promoting its value and accessibility may help owners better manage obesity through improved energy matching
- •Body condition and weight monitoring are critical gaps in practice; encouraging regular weigh-ins and condition scoring would provide owners with objective data to adjust feeding decisions
Key Findings
- •67% of UK horse owners fed hay as the only forage, while 36% fed haylage and hay specifically to manage energy intake
- •88% of owners did not perform forage analyses, with 74% not seeing the need and 16% unaware the service existed
- •66% of non-haylage feeders were unsure how to feed it, 68% worried about aerobic spoilage, and 79% cited unsuitable bale sizes as a barrier
- •Body weight measurements were rarely performed by owners (11%), indicating limited monitoring of energy balance