Steaming hay with NUVEQ hay steamers has multiple health benefits for your horse, especially for alleviating symptoms of equine asthma, hay allergy, and COPD. By reducing up to 99% of the respirable particles commonly found in hay, the steaming process significantly improves respiratory health and effectively combats respiratory diseases such as equine asthma, hay allergy, and COPD.
Mold spores are also rendered harmless by the high temperatures in the hay steamer, preventing them from settling in the lungs. This is particularly helpful for people with mold allergies.
Additionally, steamed hay promotes optimal digestive function by reducing harmful bacteria and increasing moisture content, allowing for smoother passage through the digestive tract and supporting hydration. The improved digestibility ensures your horse receives important nutrients without unwanted additives.

Absolutely, even if your horse appears healthy and doesn't show any coughing or breathing difficulties, it's important to understand the invisible pitfalls of hay that could affect respiratory health.
No matter how good the quality of the hay, it still contains respirable particles such as dust, mold spores, and bacteria that can trigger allergic and hypersensitivity reactions in horses. These tiny particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing irritation and inflammation throughout the respiratory tract and ultimately leading to conditions such as equine asthma.
Studies have shown that horses that eat steamed hay have a significantly lower risk of developing inflammatory respiratory diseases. Horses already inhale a considerable amount of dust in the stable, and removing dust from the hay and improving its hygiene can significantly improve housing conditions.

There are several health reasons why steaming hay may be necessary, especially for horses with respiratory diseases or allergies who benefit from the more hygienic hay:

Respiratory diseases: Hay contains respirable particles such as dust, mold spores, and bacteria that can irritate horses' respiratory tracts. Steaming hay reduces these particles, making it safer for horses with conditions such as equine asthma, hay allergy, or COPD. Steamed hay can help relieve symptoms and prevent exacerbations of these respiratory diseases.

Allergy prevention: Like humans, horses can develop allergies to various substances, including mold and dust in hay. Steaming hay reduces allergenic particles, reducing the likelihood of allergic and hypersensitivity reactions in horses.

Control of bacteria and fungi: Steaming hay at high temperatures effectively deactivates mold spores, bacteria, and fungi that may be present in roughage. This reduces the risk of respiratory infections and gastrointestinal disturbances that can be caused even by ordinary hay.

Improved digestion: Steaming hay increases its moisture content, making it softer and more palatable for horses. This can aid digestion and reduce the risk of intestinal blockages or other digestive problems. Furthermore, steaming can help reduce the presence of harmful bacteria in hay, further aiding digestion.

Preservation of nutrients: In contrast to soaking, which washes out the water-soluble nutrients from the hay, steaming largely preserves the nutrients.

Overall, steaming hay offers numerous benefits for horses, especially those with respiratory conditions or allergies. It can maintain respiratory health, prevent allergies, control bacteria and fungal spores, improve digestive function, and preserve the quality of the nutrients in hay.

There are some disadvantages to homemade hay steamers. Although they seem cost-effective at first glance, homemade solutions often lack precisely those crucial factors. Inconsistent temperatures and insufficient steaming times can lead to an increase in mold and bacteria in the forage, which is more detrimental than beneficial to your horse's health. Furthermore, homemade steamers can be made of inferior materials that not only struggle to consistently maintain the required high temperatures but can also contain toxins that are released at high temperatures.

In contrast, NUVEQ hay steamers are a reliable solution. The double-walled, insulated hay box allows for the required temperatures, while its 360-degree steaming process ensures even steam distribution. Therefore, if you're concerned about your horse's healthy feeding, a professional device is usually essential. With more than 10 years of experience in hay steaming, NUVEQ has gained significantly more experience that is often not reflected in a DIY alternative. By investing in a professional steamer like NUVEQ, you can be sure that your horse is receiving optimal roughage.

While soaking hay is a simple solution for reducing respirable dust particles, it lacks the critical benefit of inactivating mold and bacteria due to the lack of high temperatures. In fact, soaking can increase harmful microorganisms. Studies show that a short 10-minute soak can increase bacterial levels by up to 150%. In contrast, NUVEQ's steaming process effectively inactivates mold spores and bacteria, guaranteeing hygienic hay for at least 24 hours.

Additionally, soaking produces a significant amount of dirty water—nine times dirtier than normal wastewater. Furthermore, soaking consumes a significant amount of water, between 60 and 100 liters, while steaming NUVEQ requires only about 2-6 liters, depending on the model.

Steaming hay retains most of its nutrients, whereas soaking dissolves them. Sugar is also water-soluble, which is why soaking hay is often recommended for weight loss or for horses with laminitis or equine metabolic syndrome. However, it is important to replace the loss of minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and calcium resulting from soaking with a mineral feed.

Studies unanimously show that most horses prefer steamed hay to soaked or dry hay, although many specifically dislike the taste and texture of soaked hay. This preference, combined with the health benefits of steaming, makes steaming significantly more beneficial than soaking.

Yes, you can steam haylage or straw with NUVEQs. Our steaming process effectively improves the hygienic quality of any forage, including haylage and straw. Scientific studies have shown that steaming can extend the shelf life of haylage by up to 4 days.

Feeding steamed hay is straightforward. Once the steaming cycle is complete and the initial steam has dissipated after lifting the lid, you can feed the hay to your horse. Although it will be hot at first, it cools quickly. Simply feed the steamed hay just as you would regular hay. Steamed hay retains its hygienic benefits for 24 hours and can be stored in the hay steamer or outside the hay box.

Improvement in equine asthma is often visible within a few days of introducing hay steaming. However, this varies considerably between individual horses. Respiratory diseases in horses are influenced by numerous factors beyond the quality of the roughage. Aspects such as husbandry, exercise, and veterinary care play an important role in the treatment of respiratory diseases. Furthermore, the severity of the disease must be considered.

The main goal is to identify the source of the respiratory problems through a thorough veterinary examination. Starting with a veterinarian takes various factors into account, which makes it possible to provide the horse with the comprehensive treatment it needs.

Yes, NUVEQ hay steamers work with both hay nets and hay bales. Whether you use hay nets or loose discs, the device is designed to distribute the steam evenly, ensuring optimal results for all hay types. This versatility makes the NUVEQ hay steamer a convenient choice for different feeding preferences and practices.

The NUVEQ hay steamer must reach a temperature of approximately 80°C to 100°C to successfully steam the forage. The high temperatures during the steaming process reduce dust, mold, and bacteria.

NUVEQ hay steamers operate even in freezing conditions; however, they may take longer to reach the high temperatures required to complete the steam cycle. While the unit can operate at low temperatures, it's important to ensure the boiler and other components are protected to avoid potential problems. For optimal performance, keeping the boiler in a temperature-controlled environment can help maintain efficiency even in freezing weather.

NUVEQ hay steamers should be stored indoors, but can be safely stored outdoors provided the electrical components are adequately protected from rain. Ideally, the unit should be stored covered. During frosty weather, it is recommended to keep the boiler indoors to prevent freezing. Ensuring these precautions will help maintain the performance and longevity of the hay steamer, even in changing weather conditions.