The Science of Haynets - Real Benefits and Considerations

Haynets are a common site in horse barns, but have you ever thought about why there are there? Are they stressful for horses? Do they have nutritional benefits? Do they really work to reduce waste? We’ll answer these questions and more in this episode, and talk about where the research came from.Cover Art Photo: iStock, Anja JanssenLinks to research and more information:Extension Horses Fact Sheets: 5 Benefits of Slow Feed Hay Nets - https://horses.extension.org/5-benefits-of-slow-feed-hay-nets/ Extension Horses Fact Sheets: Do hay nets impact horse health? https://horses.extension.org/do-hay-nets-impact-horse-health/ DeBoer, et al., 2024. Effect of hay nets on horse bodyweight, body condition score, hay usage, and dental health in mature adult horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Vol. 136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105051 Glunk, E., et al., 2014. The Effect of Hay Net Design on Rate of Forage Consumption When Feeding Adult Horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Vol. 34, pp. 986-991 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2014.05.006 Glunk, et al., 2015. The effect of a limit-fed diet and slow-feed hay nets on morphometric measurements and postprandial metabolite and hormone patterns in adult horses. Journal of Animal Science. Vol. 93, pp. 4144–4152.https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2015-9150Ivester, et al., 2014. Environmental Exposures and Airway Inflammation in Young Thoroughbred Horses. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Vol. 28, pp.918-924. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12333Locke, et al., 2023. Effects of prolonged hay net feeding on equine behavior. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Vol. 124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104529