03/07/2024
Lowe Farms Fodder Update 🌾
Limited Hay Supply: Due to a delayed start this season, new hay won't be available for another four months. As a result, existing hay supplies are expected to deplete quickly. To help manage this, we’re limiting purchase quantities and, in some cases, restricting sales to ensure our regular customers can keep their stock fed for as long as possible.
We WILL run out of hay before we have new seasons available, but we WILL NOT run out of chaff. We feel its important to keep our customers informed, and give options going forward to manage feed requirements.
Feeding Options to Keep Costs Down and Animals Healthy:
🌱Chaff Usage: Chaff remains a cost-effective alternative to compressed hay, with less wastage per kg.
🌱Daily Roughage Needs: Horses require 1% of their body weight in roughage daily to maintain gastrointestinal health (e.g., a 500kg horse needs 5kg of hay, chaff, or pellets per day).
🌱Barley Straw Benefits: Allowing horses to chew on barley straw during the day increases saliva production, which is beneficial for their health.
🌱Hydration Tips: Place water and feed close together to encourage drinking, reducing the risk of colic and impaction when feeding barley straw.
🌱Chaff Type: Rough or long-cut chaff is preferable to fine-cut chaff as a hay substitute because it encourages more chewing.
🌱Special Diet Options: For horses with laminitis, EMS, or Cushing's, we offer low-sugar diet options like Fat Pony Chaff, which contains less than 12% NSC (non-structural carbohydrates).
🌱Stretching Hay Supplies: Blend hay with our feed-grade barley straw in a hay net to extend hay usage and get more value for your money.
🌱Reducing Sugar Content: To lower the sugar content of any chaff, mix our barley straw chaff with cereal, lucerne, or meadow chaff. Barley Straw Chaff contains only 7% NSC.
Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding during this challenging period.
📞 For any inquiries, feel free to contact us at 0472 700 100.
Disclaimer: For horses with health issues, please consult your veterinarian for advice on feeding and care.
Best regards,
Darren, Megan, and the Farmgate Fodder Team
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