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Discussion on Dry molasses
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Sunday, Feb 3, 2008 - 8:54 pm:
I am trying to get my yearling to eat some alfalfa cubes to increase her protein but she hates them.
I soak them and add some dry molasses to make them more palatable.
How much dry molasses could I add without being detrimental?
Since I would also like to put some weight on her maybe I should just switch to beet pulp.
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Member:
paardex
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Posted on Monday, Feb 4, 2008 - 4:19 am:
Hi Lori, my horses didn't like them either so I mix them with linseed[grains or meal mixed with hot water]they adore a 'hot meal' and thus got used to it perhaps you could mix a little molasses in it too to make it super attractive as I found on this site the linseed has very high protein too so it suited the menu perfectly[pregnant mares]
Jos
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Feb 4, 2008 - 6:30 am:
Many horses are resistant to trying new feeds Lori. As jos suggests starting mixed with their regular feed or in small amounts while they get use to it then gradually increasing the amount usually works. I don't know any amount of molasses that would be "detrimental" but we do try to minimize the amount of sugar in a horses diet.
Alfalfa vs beet pulp as a choice should depend on the rest of the diet as one is a high protein and the other a low protein supplement. For more on both of these forages see the "Forages" article and there is an article specifically on "Beet Pulp".
DrO
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Monday, Feb 4, 2008 - 9:22 pm:
Well, it is good to know I probably won't give her too much.
I have been soaking and mixing the cubes about 1 to 4 with horse crunch (which is her fave),unless the crunch is soft enough to mush together she picks out the crunch and leaves most of the cubes. She has done this all winter. Guess she really hates them.
The article on beet pulp was really good, I can see you shaking your head Dr. O.... but... you heard it coming right?
I am feeding the alfalfa, (of course if she isn't eating it it does no good) for the protein I also add a cup of oil, no, that isn't why she isn't eating the cubes, she will eat the crunch soaked, with the oil added just fine.
Since she will eat the horse crunch (I could get the 16% as the article states) maybe I should skip the alfalfa and just try adding beet pulp to try to bring her weight up?
I have heard so much about feeding too much sugar to w/B that I am nervous about feeding beet pulp to a yearling.
thanks
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Feb 4, 2008 - 10:18 pm:
(A voice from above booms down:)
WHETHER PONY OR DRAFT, FOAL OR AGED, THE TRUE PATH IS THE "NUTRITION OVERVIEW" ARTICLE, FOLLOW IT STEP BY STEP. IT WILL NOT LEAD YOU ASTRAY, truly and so forth and so forth.
(Trumpets blow, clouds part, sun and rainbow appear).
DrO
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Member:
shirl
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Posted on Monday, Feb 4, 2008 - 10:43 pm:
Dr. O, you are too funny.
Shirl
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Monday, Feb 4, 2008 - 11:39 pm:
 It felt good to have a good laugh, Dr. O.! (but, of course, you're right. )
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Member:
pbauer
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 5, 2008 - 2:20 pm:
Big smiles here, DrO.
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Monday, Feb 11, 2008 - 12:34 am:
I have read the article(s),several times over the years, your suggestion is to supplement poor hay with alfalfa, which I have done with other horses and tried with her but she won't eat it.
So, I was wondering if plan B (beet pulp,bran +16%pellet) would be a reasonable alternative.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Feb 11, 2008 - 6:59 am:
Yes this can be made to work as long as you get the protein-calcium-phosphorus correct Lori so weigh the beet pulp and bran carefully according to the articles directions. Note that beet pulp is not high in sugar as you suggest above: all the sugar has been extracted. I would also consider supplementing the vitamins if the beet pulp is a significant portion of the diet and the other feeds not well supplemented.
DrO
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Monday, Feb 11, 2008 - 12:29 pm:
Thank you for your suggestions, Dr. O. I really appreciate the direction.
It is good to know also that the beet pulp is not as high in sugar as I thought.
Ok, now back to study the article, this is feeling like a math word problem in which I did the opposite of excel.
However, I have high motivation.
Thanks again for the guidance.
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