We do not send a physical kit for this analysis. Please wait for us to email you the instructions on how to best collect your sample and how to return this to ourselves. This email will also include a link to our form, where you can enter details about your horse(s), this will help us to calculate your bespoke feed recommendations*.
What is Nitrate Testing for Horses?
Nitrate testing is crucial for understanding the nutritional quality of your horse’s forage, particularly when managing horses at risk of laminitis or other metabolic issues.
This NIR Nutritional Analysis + Nitrates (Wet Chemistry) service provides detailed insights into your horse’s hay or haylage, focusing on nitrate levels, sugar (ESC and WSC separately), and starch content. The results are useful for ensuring the health of horses sensitive to high nitrate levels, such as those prone to laminitis.
Why Nitrate Testing is Essential for Horses
Nitrates (NO3) in forage can become problematic for horses when levels are too high. Factors like drought, improper fertilisation, and manure application practices that disrupt the balance of nitrogen and minerals in the soil can lead to increased nitrate levels in grass, hay, and haylage.
Nitrates in hay for horses can interfere with the uptake of iodide, affecting thyroid function and overall health. Excessive nitrate consumption can decrease the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, leading to symptoms like anxiety, rapid respiration, breathing difficulties, and in severe cases, muscle twitching and loss of coordination. Although research on nitrate toxicity in horses is limited, it is essential to be proactive in managing nitrate intake.
The maximum acceptable nitrate level in forage for adult horses is 0.5%. For breeding mares and growing horses, the acceptable level is even lower, at 0.20%. By using our Nitrate Testing service, you can ensure that your horse’s forage falls within these safe levels, maintaining optimal health.
How Does Nitrate Testing Help?
Our Nitrate Testing service, which is combined with our NIR Nutritional Analysis, gives you comprehensive information about the nutritional quality of your forage, including the following:
- Nitrate Levels (NO3): Identify safe nitrate levels in your horse’s hay and haylage.
- Sugar (ESC and WSC): Measure sugar content, essential for horses prone to laminitis.
- Starch Levels: Key for assessing suitability for horses with metabolic issues.
- Protein Levels: Assess the protein content and quality of the forage for your horse.
Our bespoke reports offer tailored feeding recommendations, taking into account your horse’s specific nutritional requirements. This allows you to balance your horse’s diet effectively and support its health in the long term.
Key Features of Nitrate Testing
- Accurate Nitrate Measurements: Measure nitrate content to ensure safe levels for your horse.
- Detailed Nutritional Breakdown: Sugar, starch, protein, and other useful figures to support a balanced diet.
- Bespoke Feeding Suggestions: Receive tailored recommendations based on your horse’s forage analysis.
- Helps Prevent Laminitis: Monitor and control sugar and nitrate levels for horses at risk of laminitis.
- Supports Horse Health: Ensure your horse’s diet is properly balanced with high-quality, scientifically backed recommendations.
How Nitrate Testing Works
Sample Collection:
- Collect a 50-100g representative sample from 6-10 bales of hay or haylage.
- Send this sample to us for analysis.
Analysis and Reporting:
- Once received, our expert team will perform the analysis and provide you with a detailed report within 10-14 working days.
- The report includes graphs, numbers, and text to help you understand excess and deficiencies in your horse’s forage.
Bespoke Feed Suggestions:
- After receiving the report, we can calculate and provide personalised feed recommendations for your horse.
- Suggestions are tailored to your horse’s health, weight, and any specific conditions, such as laminitis or metabolic issues.
Feed Suggestions
Our bespoke feed suggestions are based on the findings from your forage analysis and any additional information you provide about your horse’s specific requirements. These recommendations are provided at the discretion of the company at no extra cost and will help you optimise your horse’s diet for improved health and performance.
Please note that feed suggestions are provided at the discretion of our team and may take 1-2 weeks to process after the forage analysis report is completed.
Why Choose Nitrate Testing for Horses?
Our Nitrate Testing and Nutritional Analysis service provides peace of mind by ensuring your horse’s forage is safe and nutritionally balanced. High-quality forage is essential for optimal health, and our service helps you avoid the risks associated with high nitrate levels.
By proactively managing your horse’s nutritional intake, you can maintain healthy metabolism, strong joints, and a shiny coat while reducing the risk of conditions like laminitis and other metabolic disorders.
Please click here to watch our video on How to Collect Your Sample
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