Getting weight on a horse

[Sarah Ralston <ralston@AESOP.RUTGERS.EDU>]

celestem@badgermining.co.za writes:

<< Any advice on feeding a livestock milk powder to keep weight on!

Make sure the "livestock" milk replacer supplement does not contain
antibiotics
or other additives that would be detrimental or dangerous for horses. A
protein
deficit will result in weight loss even if adequate calories are fed. If
the forage is
low quality (over mature grasses), this could be a problem but it is really
unlikely in a mature horse. If it is a true protein deficit, use soybean
meal (cheaper,
safer) as a protein supplement. However, using a protein supplement as a
calorie source 
is not only uneconomical but also inefficient.
 If the horse is not maintaining weight, I would FIRST check for ulcers, 
other health problems, teeth,  deworming schedule, quality of forage and
grain 
being fed, etc. If all checks out ok, and the horse is already on free
choice forage,
increase the grain by a pound or two, wait a weeek or so to see if it helps
before increasing further. Also if extruded or pelleted feeds are
available in South Africa, try switching slowly to a higher fat
(5-9%) product in that form-higher digestibility and calories per pound
means less volume has to be fed. Corn and barley are also higher
calorie per pound than straight oats...

Sarah and Fling-who completed the USA East 50, despite being a bit overweight
                 and under conditioned! YAY! I'm sooooo proud of her!