Apart from hay, chaff is one of the most popular forms of forage for horses. Although it has a long history in Polish horse feeding, many owners and riders today are sceptical about adding it to their horse's menu.
To protect the stomach from acid, feed alfalfa chaff (around 200g, a loosely filled scoop or two handfuls) 30 min before training, competition or transport. This places no burden on the digestive system and creates a mat that buffers acid splashing against the stomach walls. Chaff for horses is also an excellent addition to forage, particularly when hay quality is poor. In such cases, simply add extra basic chaff such as Hartog Grass Mix.
Store them in a dry, shaded place away from pests. Chaff is also easy to transport as well as store, which matters particularly for horses that travel frequently to competitions.
However, remember that every horse is different and needs an individual approach to feeding. Before introducing chaff, consult an equine nutrition specialist at VETfactory. Horses' nutritional requirements vary according to age, weight and activity.
It is therefore important to adapt the quantity and quality of chaff to your horse's individual needs.
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What is chaff for horses?
So what exactly is chaff? It is short-chopped forage made from dried grass, usually young green shoots harvested during the growing season. It often contains added herbs or straw. Some commercial chaffs include added vitamins, minerals or oil. Molasses-free chaffs for horses such as Spillers Fibre Light Molasses Freeare excellent for horses whose sugar intake you want to reduce. Feeding chaff offers many health benefits, making it an attractive choice for any horse.Composition and nutritional properties
Above all, chaff for horses is rich in fibre, benefiting the digestive system. Added to concentrates, it also extends eating time, increases saliva production and encourages more thorough chewing. A horse takes around 40 minutes to eat 1kg of forage (chaff), compared with just 10 minutes for the same weight of concentrates.Alfalfa chaff - when should you choose it?
Chaff for horses, especially alfalfa-based options such as Spillers Alfalfa-Pro or Hartog Lucerne Mix Digest is an excellent choice for horses with gastric ulcers. Alfalfa has strong alkalising properties that buffer stomach contents, making alfalfa-based chaffs particularly suitable for horses with gastric ulcers. Acid secretion from glands in the glandular part of the horse's stomach continues around the clock. Secretion increases with exercise or stress.To protect the stomach from acid, feed alfalfa chaff (around 200g, a loosely filled scoop or two handfuls) 30 min before training, competition or transport. This places no burden on the digestive system and creates a mat that buffers acid splashing against the stomach walls. Chaff for horses is also an excellent addition to forage, particularly when hay quality is poor. In such cases, simply add extra basic chaff such as Hartog Grass Mix.
What should guide your choice of chaff?
Chaffs for horses are also excellent sources of safe, slow-release energy. For horses needing to gain muscle mass or receive extra calories, consider adding a protein- and oil-rich chaff such as Spillers Conditioning Mix. Another advantage of chaff for horses is its long storage life. Chaffs with added oil can be safely stored for around 4 months, while those without it often have a shelf life of up to 12 months from manufacture.Store them in a dry, shaded place away from pests. Chaff is also easy to transport as well as store, which matters particularly for horses that travel frequently to competitions.
However, remember that every horse is different and needs an individual approach to feeding. Before introducing chaff, consult an equine nutrition specialist at VETfactory. Horses' nutritional requirements vary according to age, weight and activity.
It is therefore important to adapt the quantity and quality of chaff to your horse's individual needs.
Choose chaff for your horse at VETfactory!
To sum up, chaff for horses is a valuable feed product that can provide a nutritious food source. It is rich in fibre and other nutrients, keeps well and is easy to transport and store. However, before introducing chaff into your horse's diet, consult an equine nutrition specialist to adapt feed quantity and quality to individual requirements.Get in touch!
