Hay cubes for horses: soaking, quantity and ration

When are hay cubes a relevant question?

Forage cubes are a topic especially when eating long hay causes difficulties. The animal nutrition overview names horses that chew poorly as a possible target group. The reason for the chewing problems and the suitability of the alternative must be clarified ¹.

• Note which problem you want to solve with the change.
• Record whether hay is to be replaced or the existing amount supplemented.
• With dental or swallowing problems: first discuss the findings and the suitable consistency with your vet.

• Understand forage as the foundation

How do you prepare the cubes?

Read the instructions before the first batch. AGROBS recommends always soaking its Wiesencobs (meadow grass cubes) and states 1.5–3 litres of water per kg. According to the manufacturer, warm water shortens the soaking time; the actual duration also depends on how tightly they are pressed. These manufacturer details describe the preparation of this product, not superiority over other feeds ².

• Portion the dry cubes using scales.
• Use a clean container and add water according to the product instructions.
• Allow them to swell sufficiently and check for remaining hard pieces before feeding.
• Only offer fresh, hygienically sound portions and remove leftovers ¹.

Why does the quantity before soaking count?

A worked example for documentation, not a feeding dose: you weigh out 500 g of cubes. Under the manufacturer's instructions mentioned, 0.75–1.5 litres of water would be used for this. The filled bucket then weighs considerably more but still contains the nutrients of the 500 g of starting feed. Your feeding log therefore lists the quantity of cubes and the water separately ².

The dry starting quantity is not automatically the analytical dry matter: dry feed also contains residual moisture. To compare with hay or haylage, you need the same reference basis and the matching analysis values. A kilogram of wet mash is not a usable unit of comparison for a hay bale ³.

• Understand analysis values and reference bases

Do the cubes replace hay or are they added?

Go through both options explicitly: how much hay is dropped, how many cubes are added, and what is actually eaten? For the ration assessment, the nutrient contributions of all components are combined. Changes in forage can therefore also alter the mineral and protein balance ³.

• Record hay, haylage, pasture and cubes separately.
• Use current product values instead of an arbitrary average for all grass cubes.
• Mark unknown intake and missing analysis values.
• After a change, also check the current mineral feed.

What needs to be clarified when hay is completely replaced?

The forage supply and the distribution of feed intake belong together. The gastric guideline explicitly treats forage quantity and gaps between meals as different aspects. A large soaked portion therefore does not yet answer the question of how the horse is supplied over the rest of the day ⁴.

• Discuss suitable portions and feeding intervals with your feeding adviser.
• Document leftovers and actual intake.
• If complete hay replacement is necessary, or with dental problems or weight loss, the change should be made with specialist support.

• Systematically investigate a lack of weight gain

Key takeaways

• Note the dry starting quantity; the added water is not additional feed dry matter ³.
• Do not transfer one product's water quantity and soaking time to other cubes without checking ².
• Plan forage supply and gaps between meals across the whole day, even with a soaked meal ⁴.

Frequently asked questions