Frequently asked questions

Prime Hay delivers premium, laboratory-tested hay, straw and feed across Portugal and Spain, with depots in the Algarve (Loulé) and Ribatejo (Almeirim). Every batch is analysed for sugar, protein and fibre, and we deliver and place the bales where you need them. Order online at primehayinternational.com, minimum order €150.

Metabolic horses need forage low in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC = sugar + starch), ideally below about 10–12%. Sugar content is invisible and changes from batch to batch, so laboratory testing is the only safe way to know. Prime Hay analyses every batch for sugar, so you and your vet can see the sugar figure before you feed a laminitis-, EMS- or PPID-prone horse, instead of guessing. Our low-sugar French meadow hay and Alfalfa are popular choices.

Often, yes — but it is one part of the answer, not the whole of it. Double-compressing shakes fine dust out of the bale, and lowering respirable dust is one of the changes vets recommend for equine asthma (RAO/IAD). Ventilation, bedding and your vet's plan matter just as much. Talk to your vet before changing the forage of a diagnosed horse.

Three things: (1) every batch is laboratory-tested for sugar, protein and fibre, so quality is consistent instead of a gamble; (2) it is low-sugar, double-compressed and low in dust; (3) we deliver and place it for you across Portugal and Spain. Ordinary hay varies enormously from field to field, with no analysis to back it up.

No, hay can never replace concentrates, and here's why: A horse's digestive system is built on forage. A horse must chew and eat hay for at least 12-16 hours per day to produce the saliva it needs for proper digestion, stomach health, and buffer against gastric ulcers. This continuous chewing is non-negotiable, no concentrate can replicate this biological need.

What high-quality analysed forage can do is reduce the amount of concentrates a horse actually needs. A horse on poor-quality hay might need 5-6 kg of concentrates daily just to compensate for nutritional gaps. That same horse on Prime Hay (lab-tested, low-sugar, consistent protein) might only need 2-3 kg of concentrates, or even just a mineral balancer if it's in light work.

The real question isn't "can hay replace concentrates?" but "how much concentrate does my forage make necessary?" Elite sport horses in hard training still need energy-dense feeds. But the foundation, always, is quality forage. Start with great hay, then add concentrates based on the gap between what the forage delivers and what the horse needs.

Most horses need roughly 1.5–2.5% of their body weight in hay per day. A 500 kg horse needs 7.5–12.5 kg of hay daily. This varies by:

French meadow hay: Double-compressed, consistent quality year-round, natural grass mix horses love, low dust, reliable nutrition. Best for most horses.

Portuguese ryegrass mix: Lighter, fresher cut, locally produced, good protein balance. Excellent for leisure horses and those needing lighter forage.

Luzerne/Alfalfa: Higher protein and calories, lower sugar. For horses needing extra condition or those doing demanding work, but use sparingly in rotation with grass hay to avoid digestive upset.

Sugar is energy, which sounds good, but excess sugar can trigger: Labs report it two ways — WSC (the sugars alone) and NSC (sugars plus starch). We publish NSC, the stricter of the two, so the figure you compare is never the flattering one.

Prices include VAT. A 0% VAT rate applies to hay intended for animal production, you can declare this at checkout. If it doesn't apply, the correct VAT is added. Full 0% VAT declaration →

The order minimum is €150. You can combine different products to reach it.

Yes. With Prime Hay Service we deliver and place the hay where you choose, provided access is safe and suitable. Carrier delivery places one pallet at the nearest safe point with truck access.

Algarve, Ribatejo, Lisbon, Cascais & Sintra, Alentejo and Spain, with new regions added regularly. Check your address on the contact page.

Yes, every batch is analysed for sugar, protein and fibre so quality stays consistent. A current batch analysis is available on request.

Yes, by appointment at our Algarve (Loulé) or Ribatejo (Almeirim) depots. Book by phone or WhatsApp.

Keep bales dry and off the ground in a ventilated space. Extra-pressed bales are dense and easy to stack and portion.