Due to shortage and high rise in the San Diego county for hay, the ranch I board at is increasing board and looking to options of alfalfa pellets to stop the increase of board more.
I never feed my horses straight pellets before, so I am going to slowly begin to wean them. (I am wanting to put my 30 year old and 17 year old on pellets anyhow, so this is perfect timing actually. Those two loose weight easily due to age and high metabolism. My 8 year old holds weight extremly well, so I have to becareful about his portions.)
How much poundage of pellets do you feel should I feed per feeding per body weight? *yes, I will ask my vet too.
30 gelding: 1200. 17 Mare: 1,000. 8 gelding: about 1250.
Their diet changed abit as I just moved them down here on base from the mountains up North. They where on straight Alfalfa, now on Alfafa in mornings and bermuda at night. With our own supplement of 1 flake for lunch (for two older horses). The supplement flake will remain hay.
P.S has anyone bought from Cowboy Corral in Yucca Valley, California?
http://www.cowboycorral101.com/products/feed.htm
we were struggling down here in Australia as well. No feed in the paddocks and the hay prices were astronomical.! I have always feed my horses grain as well as lucerne/oaten/grass hay. I have a 16y/o Arab and 11y/o Appi mare. They keep weight extremely well. I use 5 cups of chaff, 2 cups of lucerne chaff, 2 cups of mitavite (pallets) and 1 cup of completo (grain corn,oates,and plenty more). This would happen daily to replace all the nutrients lost from grazing. But also keep in mind that it can cause colic if you only feed grain. We would offer them a biscuit of grass/oaten/rye hay as well. My horses are fat as pigs. I am now building it into muscle with lots of mountain riding. We have very different terminology for our feed down here. I think your flakes are our biscuits. Good luck.
January 30th, 2010 at 8:06 am
we were struggling down here in Australia as well. No feed in the paddocks and the hay prices were astronomical.! I have always feed my horses grain as well as lucerne/oaten/grass hay. I have a 16y/o Arab and 11y/o Appi mare. They keep weight extremely well. I use 5 cups of chaff, 2 cups of lucerne chaff, 2 cups of mitavite (pallets) and 1 cup of completo (grain corn,oates,and plenty more). This would happen daily to replace all the nutrients lost from grazing. But also keep in mind that it can cause colic if you only feed grain. We would offer them a biscuit of grass/oaten/rye hay as well. My horses are fat as pigs. I am now building it into muscle with lots of mountain riding. We have very different terminology for our feed down here. I think your flakes are our biscuits. Good luck.
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January 30th, 2010 at 8:15 am
I’ve heard of people doing this, but believe in the natural ways – horses are made to constantly process feed, not get a quick shot of feed then stand around.
The feed manufacturer should designate the amount and the call to the vet is certainly a very good idea.
I have also had people tell me that to do this well, it’s a good idea to soak the hay cubes to get them to swell up becoming closer to hay and giving the horse the volume – it’s very easy to feed something small and cause problems because like a sponge they swell up when they get wet.
Consider also packaged beet pulp – some people swear by it to help promote weight gain and keep the digestive system functioning well – like hay cubes, the beet pulp is dried, so will swell when moisture is added so many people say to also soak that in water before feeding to get it to bulk BEFORE ingesting.
I haven’t ever had a hay shortage myself, but have heard many people tell of things. I recently learned of a person feeding barley in place of oats and such due to a higher protein content – I am sure a horse must be provided this change gradually. I also know of people who feed their horses silage, but this is very dangerous to them and must be done with great care.
I have a mare that is a hard-keeper and I’ve found the best luck feeding her a low starch feed ( I use Strategy by Purina) along with an equal amount of Equine Senior and I top dress with a Kent Product called Omegatin. When I got her (she’s a mare off the track Thoroughbred so high metabolism naturally) she wasn’t skin and bones, but not in the best of shape. I tried all sorts of things without success until my dentist suggested the Senoir feed and the Omegatin. The Omegatin isn’t cheap, and can be fed as a top dress or a whole feed.
Hay shortages are a fact of nature but so sad. Best of luck to you – we’re almost to a new hay season.
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