What haylage is suitable for laminitcs? Can haylage cause laminitis? We’ve asked our nutrition expert from Bishop Burton College to answer common questions on Feeding Haylage To Laminitic Horses and explain the importance of forage to minimise Laminitis.
What is Laminitis?
Laminitis is a painful condition involving a metabolic disturbance that has manifested locally in the foot. Specifically, it is an inflammation of the laminae. Laminae are structures inside the hoof wall which help hold the pedal bone in place.
Due to the weight-bearing nature of the hoof, this inflammation is extremely painful. It is usually identified by lameness. In more severe and untreated cases it can result in a dropping/rotation of the pedal bone, which can even penetrate the sole of the foot.
How does it come about?
Unfortunately, native ponies and other good doers are more prone to developing Laminitis. Their bodies evolved to survive on harsh moorlands over winters when good grazing was scarce and so became highly effective in metabolising fibre. Therefore, the lush pasture often provided at farms and livery is too rich for them and contains much higher sugar levels than their systems can manage. Some of the more problematic sugars are complex structures called fructans which plants like grass use to grow - hence why paddocks in spring can cause laminitic episodes.
For these native types, hard feeds that are high in sugar will also have an impact.
Feeding Haylage To Laminitics
The main rule when feeding laminitics is - avoid high-sugar feed and forage.
Your haylage sugar content should be lower than 10%. If you are concerned, seek advice from your vet.
What Haylage Is Suitable For Laminitics?
At Baillie Haylage, we analyse and batch code all of our haylage meaning it is all fully traceable, from field to your horse's mouth! This means you can feed your laminitic horse or pony with confidence.
Baillie Haylage High Fibre, Traditional Parkland Meadow, or Meadow Grass are all 4-7% sugar and suitable for laminitics.
Can Haylage Cause Laminitis?
Any high-sugar diet can cause laminitis, this can be through hard feed or forage.
However, if you are careful about the haylage you feed and where it comes from, then haylage should not cause laminitis. Baillie Haylage is full analysed and BETA NOPS & FEMAS accredited, making us a trusted source of low-sugar haylage.
For further advice on how to deal with laminitis, read our 'Managing Laminitis' blog.
