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  Discussion on Cubes and pellets, English stays difficult..
Author Message
Member:
paardex

Posted on Friday, Dec 17, 2010 - 1:23 pm:

Hi, don't laugh but I started noticing that what was called alfalfa and hay cubes isn't the same as alfalfa and hay cubes.
Mickey does well on pellets but hay and cubes seem to make his poop loose. Not very much enough to get his but and blanket dirty. The fibers are visible in the DrOppings.
Question: If I let him have pellets [which I soak] will that still keep his fiber amount adequate? He will only nibble on bermuda if he has freechoice pellets.
Jos
Member:
paardex

Posted on Friday, Dec 17, 2010 - 1:24 pm:

Sorry I ofcourse meant cubes versus pellets aren't the same..
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Dec 18, 2010 - 10:05 am:

Hello jos,
It may depend on how the pellets are made. Nutritionist believe that most processes that produce food pellets, finely ground and steamed, lowers the fiber and may result in maldigestion and behavioral changes. If you horse is producing normal stools and not chewing on wood it suggest he is processing the pellets just fine.
DrO
Member:
mrose

Posted on Saturday, Dec 18, 2010 - 10:45 am:

If you are concerned about fiber, have you tried soaked cubes instead of, or fed with the pellets? Cubes have more fiber and soaked are easier to eat. However, I would go more by his condition. He's gaining weight and looking good and there's always a little waste in the manure.
Member:
paardex

Posted on Saturday, Dec 18, 2010 - 3:43 pm:

Thanks Dr. O As Mickey is on a two acre lot with shrubs and some weeds to nibble on and has access to bermuda he HAS access to fibers and nearly doesn't use them. If I lock him in with bermuda his stools get looser his condition has gone from horrible to almost perfect in a few months coat and hooves are doing well so I guess I'lllet him have his way.
Sara I did soak them and mixed them slowly in the pellets, no better result, diarrhea and a lot of fibers in his manure, I agree that I should go by condition, perhaps he always had kind of loose stools. it's the substance of horses in good grass which obviously surprised me but never bothered me with horses on pasture sooo.
About behavioural changes: he bucks jumps and gallops like a snorting lunatic but I don't think Dr O would think that a change for the worse!
Thanks
Jos
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