Social Icons

Pages

samedi 26 décembre 2015

Pros And Cons Of Hay Nets For Horses

By Martha Barnes


When hay nets first hit the scene, they were frowned on by many owners as an unnatural way of feeding forage. Tying hay up high was seen as counterproductive for animals which grazed on the ground. There was also the fear that the horse would get more dust in eyes and nostrils. However, hay nets for horses are necessary in some scenarios, and the designs have changed to make feeding hay safe and practical.

Originally the only kind of net available had a drawstring top, with long cords that pulled the top tightly closed. The cords were then used to tie the net up high. The openings in the net allowed the animal to pull one mouthful of hay out at a time. Many horse owners felt that feeding at eye level was unnatural and also might cause the horse to breathe in more dust. They preferred to put hay on the ground.

However, there were scenarios when a net was useful. If a horse was tied in a stall, the tie rope would be dangerously long if the animal had to feed off the ground. Hanging forage in a bag kept the rope short and safer. When moving animals in a trailer, using a net provided forage during the trip - and at the destination if horses were tied to the trailer.

Today there are many types of forage bags for many different uses. Mini bags can hold one flake of hay, while the extra large ones can fit around an entire 3-wire bale. There are even mesh covers for the huge round bales designed to be fed in fields or paddocks.

The mesh covers cut down on the speed of consumption and the amount of hay wasted. If horses grab big mouthfuls, much will be dropped and trampled underfoot. Additional design features help owners control how forage is presented and how much will be consumed. One of the recent innovations is the slow-feeder bag.

'Slow-feeder' nets are a relatively new design which horse people have enthusiastically welcomed. These bags have opening of only one to one-and-a-half inches. The horse is forced to nibble rather than grab, which makes the amount of forage that hits the stomach at one time similar to grazing. Greedy animals are kept from massively over-indulging, making it easier for owners to control their weight gain.

Experts say that the horse should have a constant supply of forage to digest. However, owners who keep hay in front of their animals 24/7 have to worry about over-eating and weight gain. A slow-feeder bag can solve the problem. There's no need to limit the amount of hay given, since the bag does the work for you.

This steady feeding is more natural and satisfying to a horse. Veterinarians say it cuts down on the incidence of ulcers and other digestive upsets. Some people hang several nets in a stall or a paddock, so the horse will move around in a natural way. Some nets are designed to be hung low on a fence or in a stall, allowing the horse to feed with its head down. Check out online product descriptions and endorsements to learn more.




About the Author:



Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire

 

Sample text

Sample Text

Sample Text

 
Blogger Templates