Nutrition Questionnaire

*How to weigh feed:

Just a guide if you don’t already weigh all the feeds. If any questions/concerns, please feel free to ask for clarification.

A wide variety of scoops are often used to measure feed provided to horses. Even if the scoop volume is known (e.g. 1.5 Litre scoop), the weight of the measured feed varies depending on its density. For example, a scoop of a dry pellet can weigh 700gms, whereas a scoop of muesli feed may weigh 900gms or a scoop of whole oats may weigh 400gms. The same rule applies to hay – if you provide one flake/biscuit of hay, the weight of that flake will vary with the type of hay, the average size and weight of the bale and each flake, and the hay maturity and cutting. These weight differences are very important when trying to accurately assess the number of calories and key nutrients the horse is receiving.

Convenient methods for weighing feeds may include either 1) a hook scale, like those used for weighing fish or luggage, or 2) a flat platform scale. The hook scale can be used for both feed and hay. For feed, you can hang an empty bucket or bag on the scale to measure feed within. For hay, you can hang a haynet or hay bag off of the scale and place the hay within, or if no bag is used, you can wrap the bundle of hay with twine and suspend the hay by the twine from the hanging scale. Just remember when recording the weight of the feed or hay that the starting weight of whatever receptacle you used is accounted for. If the scale is electronic, you can place the receptacle on the scale first and then hit “tare”, which will zero out the scale before weighing the feed.

The flat platform scale can also be used for both feed and hay. For feeds and cereals, use the scoop or a bucket as a receptacle. First, weigh the receptacle first and either note the weight of the container or press “tare” on the scale if electronic. Then, fill the scoop/bucket with feed and weigh again. If the scale is not electronic, be sure to subtract the starting weight of the scoop/pail from the final weight of the scoop/bucket plus feed, so that only the weight of the feed is provided. To weigh hay on a flat platform scale, you can use a piece of rigid cardboard or wood to make a larger platform space to place the hay on. Also be sure to zero or account for the weight of the platform before placing the hay on top.