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  Discussion on How much at one feeding?
Author Message
Member:
Sefiroth

Posted on Saturday, Sep 4, 2004 - 10:38 pm:

I've been feeding my new horse, who is on the thin side, one large coffee can of Buckeye's Senior formula with half a large can of Buckeye's Trifecta (high in fat) formula for the last 2-3 weeks. I'm thinking of also adding alfalfa pellets to his feed. I can only make it out once a day to give him concentrates due to my two job work schedule, and there's no one else who can go (he's currently an only horse at a friend of a friend's remote place). He's on 15-20 acres of pasture, half trees and brush, half actual pasture with pretty decent grass. He recently had his teeth floated and has been wormed with Zimecterin Gold.

Dollar's coat is now really starting to shine, but I just want to get some weight on him as quickly as possible before the cold weather starts.

The article above mentions 5 lbs at a time, but would that include alfalfa pellets? Can straight corn be added instead of corn oil?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Sep 6, 2004 - 6:45 pm:

Yes I believe it should include pellets but alfalfa cubes would be OK at 0.5% of the body weight. It should be added slowly however coming up to this level over several weeks. Remember a single deworming does not make for a good program.
DrO
Member:
Sefiroth

Posted on Monday, Sep 6, 2004 - 9:37 pm:

Cubes it is then. Hopefully he likes them and will eat them. I also plan on taking a fecal sample with me to work to see how his parasite count is. Any advice on the corn?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 7, 2004 - 7:07 am:

I am not sure what you are asking Sharon. Are you currently feeding oil and want to know can you sub grain? Or add oil to the diet?
DrO
Member:
Sefiroth

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 7, 2004 - 8:36 am:

DrO,

I was wondering if adding corn instead of oil to the diet is as effective at helping put on weight. Corn oil is just so messy.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 8, 2004 - 6:41 am:

I see. Both are food stuffs that contain energy but there are many important differences in other nutritients present. To understand these differences and indications for adding vegtable oil see, Care for Horses » Nutrition » Fats and Oils in the Diet of Horses.

Going back to your idea of running a fecal, remember all horses no matter how wormy will look negative following a deworming for a while. Best is to check one just prior to your next deworming. The past history is your best indication if worms might be a problem: has deworming of this horse or some of his pasture mates been spotty?
DrO
New Member:
Golden

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 1, 2005 - 10:19 am:

I have a 20 year old mare and she is a hard keeper. How much should I feed her with alfalfa cubes per feeding?and can i add Morglo rice to her diet to put on weight.and how much oats for her also?
She is on pasture right now and 1 ice cream full of oats per feeding,added to it is ground flax seed and vitamin b.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 1, 2005 - 10:50 am:

Have you read the articles on nutrition and feeding? Has your mare had her teeth checked recently? And, are you soaking her cubes? At her age she may need to have them soaked. I've had good luck keeping weight on older horses by feeding a senior feed, also.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jun 2, 2005 - 9:18 am:

Rather than attack one area of the diet only to find we have missed important other points, Sara's suggestion would be the same as mine. I want you to start with the article Care for Horses » Nutrition » Equine Nutrition an Overview of Feeding Horses to be sure you have the basics covered. A suggestion I would have to replace the oats with a "senior feed" from a respected feed company. The article will suggest amounts per feeding and also has a section on difficult keepers than then leads you to a whole article on feeding older more difficult keepers.
DrO
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