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  Discussion on Rice/Wheat bran that doesnt have extra calcium added?
Author Message
New Member:
oirish

Posted on Friday, Oct 12, 2012 - 2:26 pm:

Hello,
I am having trouble finding rice bran (or wheat) that doesnt have added calcium. I need to balance a young horses alfalfa diet. ( No, can't change hay, alfalfa is the only forage available)
Any one know of a brand that isnt fortified with added calcium? Or any other way to add phoshorus?
THanks
New Member:
oirish

Posted on Friday, Oct 12, 2012 - 3:31 pm:

DrO
I found some plain ol wheat bran. I read a thread in which you stated 2pounds of bran per 10 pounds of alfalfa would fix the cal/phos? But then I read another post stating you shouldnt feed over 2 pounds of bran.
Can you clarify?
Thanks
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Oct 14, 2012 - 5:26 pm:

Both statements are roughly true leslie for a 1000 lb horse. The article on bran explains why: Because so much calcium is required to overcome the high phosphorus content the total weight of rice bran in the diet should be kept below 0.02 % of the horses body weight. The reason why I use the word "roughly" is because of the wide variation in Calcium that is acceptable in the horse.
DrO
New Member:
oirish

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 16, 2012 - 3:22 pm:

Ok, Thank you.
It seems that if you have to feed a strictly alfalfa based diet *to a youngster* your best bet is to get a TRUE alfalfa vit/min supplement.
According to feedxl if you feed alfalfa + enough wheat bran to make up for the Calcium/Phos you totally screw up the iron level, critically. As well as, if memory serves, zinc and copper.

I say 'true' alfalfa vit/min supplement' because not all the 'alfalfa vit/min supplements' out there get the cal/phos ratio close to 2:1... which is much better for a growing youngster than 8:1. ( I guess they are marketing those other alfalfa supplements for adult horses???)
Unfortunately the owners only have access to alfalfa for the colt, who is around 5 months old.

Anyways, thanks!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2012 - 7:11 pm:

Leslie,
8:1 Ca : Phos would not be acceptable even to adult horses but I must say I think your judgement on using bran even with the above recommendations does not seem quite right. After all Alfalfa alone is about 6:1 before the bran addition and so any addition of bran will drive it into the more acceptable range.

Let's say you want to feed a 500 lb colt that eats 12.5 lbs of dry matter a day. If you feed 11.5 lbs of alfalfa and 1 lb bran: Your Cal : Phos ratio would be:
11.5 x 1.4% = 0.16 lbs Ca in the alfalfa
11.5 x 0.3% = 0.03 lbs Phos
1 x 0.14% = 0.0014 lbs Ca in the Wheat Bran
1 x 1.27% = 0.013 lbs Phos
Adding the Ca together and the Phos together and dividing by the total weight you get:
Ca = 1.3 %
Phos = 0.35%
This makes for both acceptable percentages of the total diet and a Cal to Phos ratio of 3.7 to 1. A very acceptable ratio for an adult but just out of the recommendation for a growing horse. The best way to continue to improve on this would be to substitute a few lbs of good quality grass hay for the alfalfa. This can be bought as cubes from the fed store.

As to the mineral problem, the micronutrient minerals you mention may well be within acceptable ranges from the alfalfa alone but if not it is a regular mineral block that will cover them. However to really know what is going on you would need to have your feedstuffs analyzed.
DrO
New Member:
oirish

Posted on Monday, Oct 22, 2012 - 1:19 pm:

Thanks! Not my colt!!! I feed Triple Crown along with hay. I would never feed a youngster only alfalfa :>/

I told them to try to feed him some cubes, as you suggest... hopefully they can do that because the alfalfa supplement I found for them is way too expensive.
(want to add these people didnt breed this colt, he was abandoned on their doorstep! They are tying to do their best until they can find him a suitable home.)
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