Equine Health Benefits with Haygain Steamers

“There is long-standing and broad consensus in the equine nutrition world that a forage-forward diet is best for almost any horse.” Haygain stands by this principle and has produced top-of-the-line Haygain nutrition equipment that enables horse owners to feed theirs horses in a way that closely mimics how mother nature intended them to process their food. However, forage can be a source of respirable particles, dust, that can pass through the larynx and ciliated airways leading to respiratory disease.

Particles like dust, mold, bacterias and other allergens can easily be nudged around while the horse eats which increases a heavy concentration of airborne particles in the surrounding environment. Hay is especially known for this due to the horse literally being nose deep into their meals throughout the day, and can be even worse when a horse tugs and yanks on hay from a hung haynet in their stall or trailer. Nonetheless horses do have a natural defense mechanism that fights off typical stable dust. Mucus and cilia within the respiratory tract move larger particles up through the tract and out of the nostrils, but smaller particles settle in lower airways. 

Those tiny microns can cause inflammation and trigger excess mucus that leads to Equine Asthma, mild to moderate Inflammatory Airway Disease to having actual Equine Heaves. Studies show an alarming stat that 80% of the worldwide horse population will either have or will have respiratory problems. There was clearly a need and a demand for change when it comes to equine nutrition. 

Haygain is a patented high-temperature steaming process and is currently the only scientifically proven method to significantly reduce respirable particles in forage! Reducing dust “in our horses’ environment is the number-one veterinary recommendation for preventing and/or managing respiratory problems.” Haygain steaming reduces up to 99% of these respirable particles while tripling the moisture content in dry hay, it has now become the standard of care in equine respiratory health.

Soaking VS Steaming 

Even the best hay contains microns like bacteria, mold, yeast and fungal spores. These unwanted particles can’t be eliminated by soaking, watering, rinsing or wetting the forage. Soakings dampens down 90% of dust particles while steaming reduces particles by 98%. Soaking also dramatically increases bacterial content, for example a 10 minute soak has a 150% increase in bacteria. Steaming forage also improves hygiene and palatability while retaining its nutrients - soaking does the complete opposite. 

 Which Haygain Hay Steamer Do I Need?

It depends on how many horses you wish to feed and how much you need to feed them. As an example, a 1102 pound horse requires 19 lbs of hay.

FAQS 

Q : Is the hay heavy to lift after steaming? 

A : Steaming does not affect the weight of hay

Q : How much water will be needed in order to steam ? 

A : Usually 4 - 4.5 liters of water per cycle

Q : Do I need to let the hay cool down before feeding? 

A : Steamed hay cools down very quickly. It can be fed shortly after the initial release of steam from the chest.

Q : How long can the hay be stored for before feeding ? 

A : For at least 24 hours after steaming. Haygain Hay Bags keep the steamed hay fresh and clean!

Q : Does steaming reduce sugar content ? 

A : Only slightly, if significant sugar reduction is desired the latest research suggests a 9 hour soak followed by a 50 minute steam to reduce sugars but maintain quality - it also depends on hay quality.