Frequently Asked Questions

Equi Feed is our specialised feed value analysis developed for horses. It provides precise insight into the nutrient composition of roughage, helping you create a balanced, healthy diet.

Equi Feed analyses the nutritional quality of hay and haylage, showing the energy, fibre, minerals and trace elements your horse receives. It helps fine-tune feeding for health and performance.

Forage differs per batch. Equi Feed shows what your horse truly eats, helping you adjust concentrate or supplements for optimal health and cost efficiency.

Eurofins applies NIRS, or Near Infrared Spectroscopy, for quick and accurate testing. This non-destructive method has been used for forage analysis at Eurofins since 1986 and ensures reliable results.

Equi Feed allows you to give your horse the best possible diet. Optimising horsefeed is quite a challenge. Forage varies from batch to batch, meaning you never know exactly what your horse is eating.

Horses have a unique digestive system with a small stomach made for frequent, small meals. Most feed is digested later in the cecum and large intestine by gut bacteria, the hindgut fermenters.

To keep gut bacteria active, horses need plenty of fibre from grass, hay and haylage. Roughage should make up at least 1.5% of their body weight in dry matter each day for a healthy digestion.

Besides fibre, horses need enough energy, minerals and trace elements to stay strong, healthy and perform well, whether for work, sport or leisure.

Forage analysis gives insight into the quality and nutrient composition of feed. With this knowledge, you can adjust concentrates and supplements precisely, improving health and saving costs.

By analysing your forage, you can see its nutrient value and balance your horse’s diet accordingly. Add concentrates or supplements only if the results show it is needed.

High quality forage meets most of your horse’s needs. Analysis helps you understand what your horse is really eating and supports better health and performance.

Test your hay or haylage whenever you purchase a new batch or harvest your own crop to ensure consistent feed quality.

Use Equi Feed if you want to feed a balanced diet, improve condition or support performance during training and competition.

Analysis is helpful for horses with insulin resistance, laminitis or other metabolic conditions that require careful nutritional control.

Check your forage if you are feeding broodmares or growing horses. It helps provide the right balance of energy and protein for healthy development.

Equi Feed supports horses that require more energy or digestible protein, such as those in intensive work or recovering from illness.

In larger yards or boarding stables with horses that have different needs, forage analysis helps create balanced diets for each animal.

Follow these steps to take a reliable sample of your hay or haylage. This ensures your Equi Feed analysis gives accurate and useful results.

Gather the order form, a bucket, a plastic bag and a cardboard box. Fill in the form with your details and information about the sample.

Pull tufts of hay from several bales and mix them in the bucket. Include both leaf and stem for a true average of the batch.

Make a small opening in the plastic wrap to take your sample. Reseal the bale with tape immediately to keep the forage in good condition.

Put about 250 g of forage into the plastic bag. For very wet haylage, take up to 400 g. Press out as much air as possible and tie the bag tightly.

Place the sample bag and order form in the box. Write the address clearly and send it to Eurofins Agro as soon as possible.

Once your sample arrives at the laboratory, the analysis will be completed within ten working days. Results will be sent directly to your email.