Estimating forage intake and quality

Free-access intake

The MSD Veterinary Manual gives the average maximum daily dry matter intake of horses as usually 2–2.5% of body weight, and recommends at least 1.5–2% of body weight in forage dry matter a day ^[1]. Its requirement tables estimate maximal intake at 2.5–3% of body weight in dry matter ^[1].

The planner's default of 2% is the lower end of that average maximum ^[1]. Change it in Settings, or per plan, if your horse eats more or less.

Hay quality varies

Agriculture Victoria lists average crude protein, as % of dry matter, with common ranges: lucerne hay 20 (16–25), pasture hay cut mid-season 11 (8–16), oaten hay 8 (5–10) and grass hay 8 (5–10) ^[2]. It warns that the only way to be sure of a batch's value is to have it tested ^[2].

Agriculture Victoria uses 85% dry matter for hay bales of every size ^[3].

Feedipedia's averages show lucerne hay far richer in calcium than oat hay: 16.8 g/kg DM ^[5] against 4.7 g/kg DM ^[4]. Phosphorus is closer: 2.6 g/kg DM ^[5] and 2.0 g/kg DM ^[4].

Pasture through the year in south-west WA

In a 2025–26 study on six south-west WA properties, annual pasture (mostly annual ryegrass) had 11% crude protein in November as it matured and dried off ^[6]. In April, before new growth, the samples were dry feed from the previous season, with 6% crude protein and 77% NDF ^[6]. In May, after the autumn break, new annual pasture had 30% crude protein and 38% NDF ^[6].

Dry matter swung from roughly 87% in the April dry feed to roughly 17% in the May green feed, read from the study's chart ^[6].

Energy

Australian feed tables give metabolisable energy (ME) for cattle and sheep ^[2]. Feedipedia also reports ME for ruminants, separately from other species ^[4]. Neither is digestible energy (DE) for horses, so the reference profiles leave DE blank and plan DE totals show as incomplete ^[2][4].

See also dry matter, crude protein, ndf, calcium.