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  Discussion on Moderately Thin but feeding max
Author Message
New Member:
Cmora

Posted on Thursday, Apr 8, 2004 - 8:57 pm:

Hello. I have a 10 month old colt. He's 1/4 shire and 3/4 TB. Currently standing - at about - 15.2 +/-. I am currently feeding twice daily with each feeding consisting of 1/2 lb Nutrena 12% with 5% fat and 4 1/2 lb sweet feed 12% and 3% fat. My goal is to move him off the sweet feed and onto 5 lbs, twice daily of the Nutrena 12%/5% fat. Doing it slowly and expect to have him on 5 lbs of the Nutrena feed in the next couple of weeks. The feed guidelines say no more than 5 lbs should be fed per feeding. With the option of feeding a "lunch" for additional meals. My schedule does not allow for lunch!

I need to add some weight to the colt but am not sure how to go about doing so if the max feed recommendation is 5 lb per feeding.
He has free access to hay.
I've heard about adding corn oil and I'm just not sure about this suggestion.
Also, I'm not a big fan of alfalfa but would consider it if that will help.
Ideas?
Thanks~
Member:
Oscarvv

Posted on Saturday, Apr 10, 2004 - 8:26 am:

Wow, that's a tall 10 month old!
I also have a 10 month old, she is a TB.
She was in poor condition when I purchased her and she still needs to gain weight. I have just added to her died a 25% fat feed. The feed I bought is called Ultimate Finish by Buckeye.
The fat comes from vegetable oil, flax seed, soybean and rice bran. Which you can buy separately.
Member:
Cmora

Posted on Saturday, Apr 10, 2004 - 9:22 am:

Yeh, he's a bit tall for his age! Not sure exactly how tall. I am on a mission today to find a weight tape and measure stick. My farrier thought he was a 2 year old.

Thanks for your info. I also found some great articules on this website and am studying them all now.

25% fat feed! Wow. I'll have to check that product out.

Thanks~
Member:
36541

Posted on Sunday, Apr 11, 2004 - 4:25 am:

I could recommend Equine Jr or Strategy for your needs. I feed warmblood babies and cannot always feed twice daily, but all looking good... Stacy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Apr 11, 2004 - 10:39 pm:

Besides increasing the nutrient density of the concentrate as recommended above, increasing the nutrient density of the forage is your other and probably better choice. Alfalfa is one way to do that but perhaps just a improved grass hay would do depending on the quality of what you are feeding now.
DrO
Member:
Cmora

Posted on Monday, Apr 12, 2004 - 11:22 am:

Thanks everyone for your feedback.
Member:
Cmora

Posted on Monday, Apr 26, 2004 - 3:24 pm:

I posted a thread a week or so ago and this is follow up to that. I have decided to begin adding alfalfa cubes to my colts diet so that I can put some weight on him. He's 10 months old and approx 15.1h and about 700 pounds. According to reference materials he would be considered MODERATELY THIN. (ie: ribby)

Question is......How much of the cubes do I feed? He gets 5 pounds of Nutrena 12% with 5% fat twice daily. That wont change. The cubes will be in addition to his current program.

Also - does the addition of alfafa change his nutrient balance in any bad way? I've heard
it's too much calcium. I think it was calcium.(?)Maybe protein. (?)

Thanks!
Member:
Alden

Posted on Monday, Apr 26, 2004 - 6:18 pm:

I’m feeding cubed 30% alfalfa/70% oat hay, no other supplements. Three of mine are 15h and about 1050-1100lbs and staying in good condition at 20lbs daily. The exception is one that is 16.3 and about 1275lbs and he gets 24lbs daily to maintain. He has been as high as 30lbs with 6lbs oats daily when in training for an endurance ride (30+ trotting miles a week) just to maintain his weight.

New horses I start at 2% of body weight and adjust for condition. You will probably have to make further adjustments if your cubes are straight alfalfa. I don’t have pasture but you would have to adjust for that also if he has access to it.

Good day
Alden
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 27, 2004 - 7:28 am:

Cheryl, I have moved your posts under the earlier related posts so as to keep the discussion together. First let me say that a moderately thin growing foal is heathier than a moderately fat growing foal. I would not exceed a moderate conditon if possible. The article Care for Horses » Nutrition » Feeding the Growing Foal, Nutrition for Young Horses has some guidelines for feeding alfalfa. You will want to start with just a pound daily for a week then doubling it every week until you get to your desired levels. Some would say your current diet is deficient in protein and calcium, just what the alfalfa would help.
DrO
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