Changes in proportions of dry matter intakes by ponies with access to pasture and haylage for 3 and 20 hours per day respectively, for six weeks

Cool season pastures can contain substantial amounts of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). (NSC = water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) + starch). Over consumption of NSC by grazing equids has been linked to the development of laminitis. To reduce the risk, equines prone to laminitis commonly have restricted periods at pasture, being in stables or dry lots for the remainder of the day, with access to varying amounts of conserved forage e.g. hay or haylage that is low in NSC. However, intakes of pasture during periods of restricted grazing time have been little studied. The aim of this study was to determine the relative dry matter intakes of pasture and haylage by ponies allowed three hours grazing time per day and ad libitum access to haylage for the remainder of the day, monitored over six weeks.