Slow Feeding Bags Boost Livestock Health
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Feed bills drop and horses get healthier with slow feeding hay bags from Natural Alternative Grazers (N.A.G.). The net bags are designed to simulate day-long grazing that horses would do naturally. The bags were developed by a life long horse breeder involved in showing, racing and natural equine health care. She says they work equally well for sheep, goats, llamas and other grazing animals.
“I’ve seen too many horses only fed once or twice a day,” says Mandy Blais, N.A.G. “That’s why 80 percent of horses in stables and show barns end up with ulcers. They get meds, and that soothes the stomach acid, but it isn’t a cure.”
Slow feeding produces saliva to buffer the gastric acid constantly released in the stomach. She explains that slow feeding also reduces cribbing, colic and other health problems.
“We use 1/4-in. wide, soft braided nylon netting that horses won’t get caught between their teeth, like finer strands do,” says Blais. “It is knotless, as they can get knots caught in teeth too. It is also seamless, with 1/4-in. braided string that won’t loop around a leg. A ring at the bottom can be used to secure the bag to a fence.”
Blais warns that netting or net bags should never be left where shod horses can step on or into the netting. However, hay bags can be left on the ground for unshod horses, providing them with exercise and distraction as they push them around a paddock to get at the hay inside.
Blais says the N.A.G bags, which are available in a variety of sizes, are ideal for enclosing large round and square bales as well as smaller bales. They reduce waste and discourage over eating.
N.A.G. bags are projected to last 5 to 6 years under normal use with periodic hosing down. She notes some horses are more aggressive with the bags. Her bags vary in price from $34.95 for one that holds 5 flakes of hay off a big square bale to $225 for one that can hold a 1,200-lb. square bale. A bag that will hold a single small square bale (up to 85 lbs.) is priced at $54.95.
Blais also makes custom-sized bags. She will soon be introducing a hay bag that can be mounted over a stall, paddock or window with one side open to the outside. She hopes it will promote slow feeding in stables.
“Workers will be able to walk by and pitch hay into the bags without stopping to untie and tie,” explains Blais. “The hay drops to the bottom, and as the horse eats it, the bag collapses.”
To see how N.A.G Bags work, watch a video of horses using various size bags at www.farmshow.com.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Natural Alternative Grazers, 2620 Otter Lake Road, Armstrong, B.C., Canada V0E 1B4 (ph 250 308-6208; slowhayfeeders@live.ca; www.slowfeeder.com).
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Slow Feeding Bags Boost Livestock Health LIVESTOCK Feeding Equipment Feed bills drop and horses get healthier with slow feeding hay bags from Natural Alternative Grazers N A G The net bags are designed to simulate day-long grazing that horses would do naturally The bags were developed by a life long horse breeder involved in showing racing and natural equine health care She says they work equally well for sheep goats llamas and other grazing animals “I’ve seen too many horses only fed once or twice a day ” says Mandy Blais N A G “That’s why 80 percent of horses in stables and show barns end up with ulcers They get meds and that soothes the stomach acid but it isn’t a cure ” Slow feeding produces saliva to buffer the gastric acid constantly released in the stomach She explains that slow feeding also reduces cribbing colic and other health problems “We use 1/4-in wide soft braided nylon netting that horses won’t get caught between their teeth like finer strands do ” says Blais “It is knotless as they can get knots caught in teeth too It is also seamless with 1/4-in braided string that won’t loop around a leg A ring at the bottom can be used to secure the bag to a fence ” Blais warns that netting or net bags should never be left where shod horses can step on or into the netting However hay bags can be left on the ground for unshod horses providing them with exercise and distraction as they push them around a paddock to get at the hay inside Blais says the N A G bags which are available in a variety of sizes are ideal for enclosing large round and square bales as well as smaller bales They reduce waste and discourage over eating N A G bags are projected to last 5 to 6 years under normal use with periodic hosing down She notes some horses are more aggressive with the bags Her bags vary in price from $34 95 for one that holds 5 flakes of hay off a big square bale to $225 for one that can hold a 1 200-lb square bale A bag that will hold a single small square bale up to 85 lbs is priced at $54 95 Blais also makes custom-sized bags She will soon be introducing a hay bag that can be mounted over a stall paddock or window with one side open to the outside She hopes it will promote slow feeding in stables “Workers will be able to walk by and pitch hay into the bags without stopping to untie and tie ” explains Blais “The hay drops to the bottom and as the horse eats it the bag collapses ” To see how N A G Bags work watch a video of horses using various size bags at www farmshow com Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Natural Alternative Grazers 2620 Otter Lake Road Armstrong B C Canada V0E 1B4 ph 250 308-6208; slowhayfeeders@live ca; www slowfeeder com
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