Unlock Your Horse’s Health with Feed Testing: a discussion with Cassy Streeter and Kimberley Detmers

Episode Highlights:Equi-Analytical was launched in June 2004 in response to the equine industry's need for specialised hay and pasture testing. Known for its robust NIR technology calibrations, Equi-Analytical licenses these globally.Equi-Analytical's launch in Australia will benefit the local equine market by reducing testing turnaround times for some services.Hay might be tested for many reasons such as to choose the best feed, or to assess the available feed to determine if supplementation may be required to meet your equine’s nutritional needs. Many metabolic health issues in horses, such as Cushing's Syndrome or Insulin Resistance, can be greatly improved by managing their diet.Hay corers help ensure accurate forage testing by collecting representative samples. They are available for purchase through Feed Central, or to borrow through some nutritionists, pony clubs, and rural stores. In the lab, samples are ground to a 1mm particle size, with only 60ml used for analysis at Feed Central. This highlights the importance of accurate in-lab and on-farm sampling given the small amount tested from potentially large sources.The Feed Composition Library on the Equi-Analytical website is a useful resource to compare forage test results with typical grass and hay profiles, providing a helpful starting point for understanding the numbers.Nutritional requirements will vary based on individual variations such as breed, age, and workload.After testing, it's best to take the results to a vet or nutritionist for advice for your circumstances. Alternatively, you can use nutrition software like FeedXL to import the data and identify dietary needs yourself.