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Can Your Horses & Cows Share a Barn?
For many people, a horse-only barn doesn’t work for their lifestyle. If you have a couple of horses and a few cattle, wouldn’t it be nice if they could share the same barn? Well, they can, with a few precautions.
When it comes to simply occupying the same barn, that’s no problem as long as each animal has its own stall. Caring for and feeding the horses and cows in one space, though, can be problematic.
When it comes to grazing, horses and cows can technically graze together on the same grass. They can even be given the same high-quality hay, although cattle require less nutritious hay than horses since their digestive systems use multiple cycles.
The problem comes with other grain and feed. It’s imperative that your horses are never given grain-based feed designed for your cows. Certain additives in cattle feed that are necessary for cows are harmful for horses, and can actually be fatal.
So, while it’s perfectly safe for all of your animals to share your VersaTube horse barn, special care must be given to keeping their feed separate. If possible, store feed for horses in a separate storage area. If cattle feed and horse feed has to be in the same area, be sure that containers are clearly marked and kept as separate as possible. If your horse does accidentally receive any cattle grain, remove the feed right away and contact your vet.
If you have a hobby farm, a homestead, or simply a variety of animals, you can definitely let them all share a VersaTube steel horse sarn, so as long as you’re careful to separate their food. Now that you can move forward with a single barn with confidence, check out our horse barns and loafing sheds to find the perfect model for your needs!