Roughage as a foundation
Here you can read about roughage and dry matter - in brief
What is roughage?
👉 Roughage is what the horse is created to live on.
It keeps its digestion going and calms the body.
Therefore, horses need roughage almost 24 hours a day.
The four types of roughage are:
- Hay
- Wrap
- Grass
- Straw
Often one or two of them are fed – for example, wrap and straw, or hay and grass.
The best thing is a combination so that the horse gets both nutrition and enough to chew on.
What is dry matter (DS)?
Roughage consists of two things:
- Water
- Dry matter (DS) – this is the part without water.
👉 It is the dry matter from which the horse gets energy, protein, fiber and minerals.
- Fresh grass contains a lot of water – that's why it weighs a lot, but doesn't always provide that much nutrition per kilo.
- Hay and straw are almost dry – therefore there is more nutrition in every kilo.
In short: A kilo of roughage is not always the same – it depends on the water content.
How much roughage should a horse have?
👉 A horse must have a minimum of 1.5 kg of dry matter (DM) per 100 kg of body weight per day.
It is the absolute minimum the body needs.
Many horses can tolerate and benefit from more.
This is how much a horse weighing 100 kg should have:
- Hay (80–85% TS): 1.8–1.9 kg
- Wrap (50–70% TS): 2.1–3.0 kg
- Grass (20–40% DM): 3.8–7.5 kg
- Straw (80–85% TS): 1.8–1.9 kg*
*Straw provides almost no nutrition – but lots of fiber and chewing time. Good for frugal horses that can't get too many calories.
👉 Example: A 500 kg horse = multiply the numbers by 5.
Wrap: 2.1–3.0 kg × 5 = 11–15 kg per day
Quality – what should you look for?
- It should smell fresh and green.
- No dust, mold or mildew
- Good texture – neither too rough nor too soft
- A mixture of several grass species provides better balance
Forage analysis and why it is important
What is a roughage analysis?
A forage analysis is an examination of your hay or wrap.
The sample is sent to a laboratory, which measures how much of, for example:
- Sugar
- Protein
- Energy
- Minerals
The result gives you precise figures on what the roughage contains – instead of just guessing.
Why do a roughage analysis?
Roughage is the horse's most important feed, and therefore it is important to know the quality.
With an analysis you can:
- See if there is enough protein to cover the horse's needs
- Check that the sugar content is not too high – especially important for frugal horses
- Know if there is a need to supplement with extra feed or supplements
👉 An analysis makes it much easier to create a feeding plan that suits your horse exactly - and avoid giving too much or too little.
Important focus points in the roughage analysis
Sugar and frugal horses
For horses that tend to become overweight, the sugar content is extra important.
- Sugar should be below 5–7% of dry matter .
- If it is higher, the horse gets too much energy → risk of obesity and metabolic problems.
👉 That's why the sugar percentage is often the first thing you look for in an analysis.
Protein – the body's building blocks
A horse needs approx. 150 g crude protein per 100 kg body weight per day .
👉 If it is to be covered solely by roughage (1.5 kg DM/100 kg), the roughage must contain approx. 10% crude protein in dry matter .
If there is too little protein, it can manifest as:
- Missing muscles
- Matte fur
- Lower resistance
👉 Therefore, The protein percentage is just as important as the sugar percentage .
It is he who determines whether the roughage can stand alone – or whether you need to supplement.
Example: roughage with 6% protein
If your horse only gets roughage with 6% protein, it needs approximately 125–130 g of soy meal per 100 kg of body weight per day to meet its needs.
Protein requirements of other horse types
- Young horses (growing) : need 2.5–3.5 g protein/kg body weight → approximately 17–20% more than adults.
- Breeding animals (pregnant or lactating mares): significantly higher needs, especially in the latter part of pregnancy and during lactation.
Microminerals – the small but important pieces
Roughage rarely covers the horse's vitamin and mineral needs. Therefore, you should always supplement with a vitamin and mineral supplement.
At Regulator Complete we have 3 different supplements, Every Day Happy, Peak Performance or Supreme Minerals, each of which has its own dosage schedules.
Find them here
In order to use the Regulator Complete dosing schedule for Normal dosage of vitamin and mineral supplements – such as Every Day Happy, Peak Performance or Supreme Minerals – and at the same time ensuring that the horse is covered with microminerals, the roughage should contain approximately the following minimum values (dry matter basis):
- Copper: 4–5 mg/kg
- Zinc: 20–22 mg/kg
- Manganese: 40–50 mg/kg
- Iron: 100–110 mg/kg
Note: Only 10–15% of the iron from roughage is absorbed by the horse.
When should you adjust up?
If the iron content in the roughage is lower than average – which is often the case in Denmark – it may be a good idea to increase the dosage of Regulator Complete's vitamin and mineral supplement slightly.
➡️ In practice, this means that you switch from Normal to Additional dosage in the dosage schedule.
This way you are sure that the horse's needs are met correctly.
What if I don't have a roughage analysis?
Most roughage analyses show that the level of microminerals is too low, so you should always use Extra dosage, in the dosage schedule.
What do I do if the numbers don't match?
If sugar and protein in the roughage are not in balance:
- Choose low sugar – that is the key to avoiding excess weight.
- Supplement with protein (e.g. soybean meal or alfalfa) if the roughage contains too little.
👉 Too much sugar is hard to fix – but you can always add protein to the crib.
Note: Straw contributes almost no protein, sugar, vitamins or minerals.
In return, it gives long chewing time , which the horse needs.
That's why straw is a good supplement – especially for frugal horses that need to be full without too many calories.
It is important that the straw:
- Smells fresh
- Is free from dust, mold or mildew
Checklist – roughage for a 100 kg adult horse
- Minimum: 1.5 kg dry matter (DM) per day
It can be covered with either hay, wrap, grass, straw or a combination that approximately corresponds to:
- Hay: 1.8–1.9 kg
- Wrap: 2.1–3.0 kg
- Grass: 3.8–7.5 kg
- Straw: 1.8–1.9 kg*
*Straw provides the most chewing time – almost no nutrition – therefore only used as a supplement.
👉 Also remember:
- Sugar in roughage: preferably below 5–7%
- Protein in roughage: approx. 10% (otherwise supplement with e.g. soy meal or alfalfa)
Inspiration blogs
- Guide to reading a roughage analysis
- NDF & ADF – How “rough” and how “digestible” is your roughage really?
-
Minerals in roughage – how to use the analysis together with Regulator Complete
- Soy in horse feed – Myths, facts and practical examples
-
Protein sources for horses – what's the difference?
- My horse is not doing well – but how do I know if it's because of the feed?
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Why is my frugal horse so hungry and grumpy – even though it is getting its roughage?
- Why choose Regulator Complete?
- Grain-free feeding – can sport horses do without grain?
- Where does the energy come from when the horse is fed a low starch and sugar diet?
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Riddle: What is the most expensive thing about having a horse?
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Mold, skin and nutrition – when environment, nutrition and the skin barrier interact
- Straw as roughage – professional considerations and feeding plan models
-
Nanna Luthersson says 30% straw – research says up to 50%. What does that mean for your horse?
- Supreme Minerals and amino acids – this is how you ensure that the horse gets it all
Do you want to help your horse lose weight?
- See our Easier Saturday
- Straw: The key to healthy weight and a calm stomach
- Myths & experiences: Apple cider vinegar, beetroot and Biosa for metabolically challenged horses
- Feed labels can be misleading – especially when it comes to combustion minerals
