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Discussion on Poatssium in grass hay
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New Member:
sand53
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 - 12:27 am:
a friend of mine told me that by soaking hay/Alpha for ten to fifteen minutes reduces the levels of potassium? Is this true and if so is it healthier to feed wet soaked hay as opposed to dry hay?
Thank you!
Sandy
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Member:
tbhack
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 - 6:31 am:
Hi Sandra, the short answer is yes. And they don't like eating it to start with, but get used to it. Also not feeding lucern or other things high in potassium will help and then I usually think high potassium upsets the Ca and Mg balance, so may need to fee Magnesium (which should be organic and I think have boron... or something that sounds like this!... to help its takeup). For the more accurate information go to the bottom of this website and you will find articles under the "diet" section, there has been a lot of research done in New Zealand on potassium issues, pastures, etc.
https://www.horsemanshipnz.com/
Hope that helps! Enjoy the journey  ... I recently did lots of learning in this area!
Kate
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 - 7:48 am:
Whoa guys, assuming a healthy horse there is no problem with the potassium content in alfalfa hay. Not only does soaking forages reduce potassium, a important nutrient itself, but could reduce other important minerals and nutrients.
DrO
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 - 12:56 pm:
Dr. O.. i wet down the hay this time of year as it is very dry outside and the hay slightly dusty from being kept near the arena.. does that effect the nutriants...??
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
gwenyth
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 - 4:21 pm:
Thank you Dr. O!
I am so tired of "expert websites" telling us we have to soak hay.
Wonder when they will realize that in 90% humidity that not might be a really wise thing to do in the summer. Plus a reduction in nutrients as you state.
Nancy
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 - 5:01 pm:
Hello Ann,
Lightly wetting the hay just prior to feeding it is not likely to leach out many nutrients but it is not likely to greatly effect the amount of dust inhaled either. There are studies that have found such procedures did not decrease the amount of mold spores found in tracheal washes. For more on this see the management topic in HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Respiratory System » Heaves & Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
DrO
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New Member:
sand53
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 - 7:37 pm:
DR O
Thank you so much for the quick reply, but would like to add another question on this subject. I live in Arizona, (Scottsdale), and currently the grass hay mostly comes from Yuma AZ. I was told that the grass hay in Arizona has exceptionally high levels of Potassium and by soaking in water for ten/or so minutes brings down the P/levels. The water here in Arizona also has high levels of Potassium so does it defeat the purpose when the hay is soaked in well water that also has high levels of potassium? And by soaking does this help to reduce colic incidents as was told by me, researched by a local vet in this area who promotes soaking the grass and Alpha hay?
I really like this site, learning so much from all the feed back on many subject matters concerning equine health!
Thank you!
Sandy
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New Member:
sand53
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 - 7:56 pm:
Thank you Kate for your feedback on soaking hay and potassium levels.
Checked out your web site... Good info,and may join but as of right now am content with Horseadvice.com. It's great to have options to look up equine subject matters.
Sandy
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 1, 2010 - 5:42 pm:
Sandra, without knowing the levels we cannot begin to guess at an answer to the differential results of soaking. If this continues to bother you you should have the hay and water tested so that you know exactly what you were dealing with. But consider before you go to all this trouble if the water is suitable for human consumption, I doubt it is a problem to the horses even using it to soak the hay and I have never heard of nutritional problems with high potassium (abbreviated K) levels in hay unless you have a HYPP horse perhaps. As long as the horse has adequate water the kidneys can deal with very high nutritional levels of potassium. Horses have grazed forages that are 4% potassium by dry weight.
As to soaking alfalfa to reduce colic, if the horses are getting too much of a nutrient they are not use to it might. A easier solution would be to just reduce the amount of alfalfa in the diet.
DrO
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Member:
cometrdr
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 8, 2010 - 5:43 pm:
Sandra - i lived in N Scottsdale with my boys (two Geldings) for 2 years, never soaked hay. I did however maintain a strict feed in bucket over matts routine. The Matts to this day are swept ever day to get the dust and DG (Decomposed Granite or sand) off them so that is not ingested with the Bermuda hay. but to this day my boys get Bermuda free of choice all day long - and knock on wood so far the due diligence is working - that and monthly weeks worth of Psyllium in their diet.
My horses do not like wet hay - so they would never eat soaked stuff anyway. Here in Prescott (where I am now)we still get Blythe hay and love it.
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New Member:
sand53
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Posted on Friday, Jul 9, 2010 - 7:49 pm:
Hi Muffi,
After reading your post went down to the pens this morning and moved the rubber mats (that were just hanging out serving no purpose), to each horses feed spot. Noticed the horses do push some of the hay off the mats tho over all does make a difference. Thank you for motivating me to make good use of the mats!!!
I've been wanting to trailer my horses up to Prescott to go riding? What kind of horses do you have? I am new to HA and simply love all the information/advice given on the site.
I have three arabians, one paint. My husband rides the paint. I have tried to add photo's to my profile but for some reason get turned down telling me the photo size is too big and need to adjust the size, (which i don't know how to do?).
It was a neighbor friend of mine who was soaking her her hay of which I questioned and wanted to get feed back if the practice was beneficial to the horses? Personally, (because it's so dry here) I simply wet a towel put over the hay for ten minutes before I feed. The hay is first put into the cart which is then transferred by Qwad down to the pens. During the day they are fed on the ground, (now on rubber mats, ha!), afternoon fed in barrels in their stalls then back out in the pens on the mats at dusk.
l will keep the mats swept for the purpose of using them.
I live out toward Rio Verde off Dynamite behind Granite Mountain, (you may be familiar?), where trail riding is excellent!
Thanks again for the great advice!
Sandy
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Member:
gramsey1
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 10, 2010 - 7:41 am:
Hi Sandy,
At the top of the discussion on the left side of the screen is a menu with a tab "help & information". One of the selections has help with uploading images.
https://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/2/66556.html
I have has some success with the little used print screen feature on PCs.
This link will take you to a discussion that may help.
https://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/4/349435.html
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