1. The Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSC) portion of forage includes all but one of the followign:

a. Starch

b. Sugars

c. Pectin

d. Frunctan

 

"C" is correct -- NSC does not include Pectin; NFC (Non-fibrous carbohdyrates do)

2.      Once fresh grass is cut, dried, and stored as hay, it loses vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids.

a.       True

b.      False

"A" is correct, which is why a vitamin supplement is important for hay-only diets.

3.      Cool season grasses (e.g., timothy, orchardgrass, brome, fescue) tend to have higher sugar levels than warm season grasses (e.g., Bermuda, Tifton, teff).

a.       True

b.      False

"A" is correct, which is why horses often prefer them.

4.       Grass hay (e.g., timothy, orchardgrass, Bermuda, etc.) tends to be low in the essential amino acid:

a.       Methionine

b.      Arginine

c.       Phenylalanine

d.      Lysine

e.       Leucine

"D" is correct -- Lysine is an essential amino acid which is "limiting" in grasses, and also, grains. But is plentiful in legumes (alfalfa).

5.      Which one of the following type of hay would be considered a legume:

a.       Bermuda

b.      Alfalfa

c.       Oat

d.      Crested wheatgrass

"B" is correct -- Bermuda is a grass; Oat and Crested Wheatgrass are both grain hays.

6.      Legumes have a different amino acid content than grasses. Therefore, adding a legume to the diet will complement the grass hay, thereby boosting the overall protein quality.

a.       True

b.      False

"A" is correct -- legumes contain more lysine than grasses or grains.

7.      Which one of the following hays commonly has more phosphorus than calcium (making it necessary to add a calcium source to the diet):

a.       Timothy

b.      Orchardgrass

c.       Bermuda

d.      Brome

e.       Fescue

"B" is correct, which is why it is best to have your hay analyzed.

8.      The older (more mature) the grass is before it’s cut, the more _______ (an indigestible fiber) it will develop:

a.       Pectin

b.      Starch

c.       Lignin

d.      Cellulose

"C" is correct -- the higher the lignin level, the less food value your horse will get out of the hay. This is measured by NDF (Neutral detergent fiber).

9.      The cutting determines hay quality (overall feed value) more than the maturity does.

a.       True

b.      False

"B" is correct -- the more mature, the more indigestible. Cutting can vary in maturity.

10.  Round bales, if not properly dried before baling, can harbor a deadly bacterium called:

a.      S. aureus

b.      H. pylori

c.       E. coli

d.      C. botulinum

"D" is correct -- it is anaerobic; the others are aerobic.