Horses • nutritionVerified Scientific Formula
Horse Daily Forage & Feed Intake Calculator
Calculates the recommended daily dry forage allocation and grain partitions to prevent colic and gastric ulcers.
Enter Parameters
Calculated Output
Recommended Daily Dry Forage Allocation
20lbs/day~4 Flakes Per Day (~5 lb standard flake)
What This Result Means
For a 1000 lbs horse at 2% BW intake, allocate ~20 lbs of quality hay daily.
Calculation Details & Practical Equivalents
Daily Forage Allocation
20 lbs/day
Morning Meal (~40%)
8 lbs
Evening Meal (~60%)
12 lbs
Formula & Mathematical Methodology
Standard Mathematical Formula
Total Daily Dry Matter = 1.5% to 2.5% of Body Weight (Minimum 1.5% in Long-Stem Forage)
Formula Variables Defined
BWHorse Weight(lbs or kg)
Scale weight
Step-by-Step Calculation Example
Example: 1,000 lb Horse
- 1,000 lbs × 2.0% = 20 lbs dry forage daily
Final Output: 20 lbs of Hay per day (Range: 15 – 25 lbs)
Key Assumptions
- Hay dry matter content is ~90%.
Biological Limitations
Verified Scientific & Veterinary Sources
Version: 1.0•Methodology Reviewed: 2026-01-22
1. Nutrient Requirements of Horses (Sixth Revised Edition)textbook
National Research Council (NRC) Committee on Nutrient Requirements of Horses (2007). National Academies Press, Washington, D.C.
Access Source Authority Horse Daily Forage & Feed Intake Calculator — FAQs
Horses must receive at least 1.5% of their body weight in forage daily (15 lbs for a 1,000 lb horse) to maintain gut motility and prevent cecal acidosis.
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