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  Discussion on Wheat Bran: Bulk vs Calories
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 8, 2000 - 10:21 pm:

I have also recently added wheat bran to my Clydesdale's diet and, subsequently, his calculated Ca:P ratio is .77:1. I am trying to find a calcium supplement and would prefer something along the line of calcium carbonate. Does anyone know of a supplier of this kind of supplement or could point me in the right direction. All the major supplement producers seem to have some kind of calcium supplements but, these also contain relatively high amounts of phosphorus as well. Your help is appreciated!

Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2000 - 11:28 am:

May I ask why you are adding wheat bran to his diet? I can recommend a ca supplement, but you would need to e-mail me.

Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2000 - 2:44 pm:

Jordana: I am basically adding the wheat bran to his diet to add more bulk to his feed without the energy of more grain. I am originally from the UK and bran is a major part of the equine diet over there (always added to concentrates). Chop or chaff is also always added to concentrates, but I have been unable to find anyone who has heard of this locally. We never had any problems with our horses caused by the Ca:P ratio in bran but, since moving to the US I am reading so many articles on potential problems I am becoming concerned.

Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2000 - 3:19 pm:

Hi Heather - are you looking for "bulk" as in volume, or bulk as in calories? I, personally, would add more hay for bulk/volume (as well as calories), and oil for pure caloric intake. You are right in that chop/chaff isn't really common here.

Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2000 - 3:47 pm:

Jordana: I refer to "bulk" as in volume. I am beginning to think that losing the bran would be easier! I guess I am just so used to feeding it! Thanks for the advice.

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 10, 2000 - 7:15 am:

Heather,
Another point is that wheat bran has almost the same amount of digestibe energy as equal amounts of oats or corn by weight. It is still hard to beat grass hays for increasing roughage economically.
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 10, 2000 - 7:22 am:

Heather, I replied before I realized you had posted at the bottom of someone elses discussion. Remember when you are asking questions that do not directly pertain to the initial discussion: start a new discussion. I have move this into its own discussion in the same subtopic.
DrO

Posted on Friday, Apr 20, 2001 - 12:59 pm:

I use wheat bran as a mild laxative for horses. I swap it one for one by bulk with grain and wet it to reduce dust. Horses like the taste and it loosens them up.
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