Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Digestible Energy (DE) vs Protein

>Me : I do have a spreadsheet and it's great!  I can use hypothetical
ingredients and see the results without having to actually purchase the
stuff.  I can also work out exactly what I have to do for an individual
horse.


Just keep in mind that the average feed values published in tables can vary
pretty widely, especially in the forages.


>Me : At what age can I start relaxing?  I believe the most growing is up to
age 3?

For all intents and purposes, you can feed a horse as an adult after the age
of two.  Personally, I back off on the energy at two, but feed a "baby
level" of minerals and vitamins until at least three.  The protein can back
off at two as well as long as it's a high quality protein, ie soybean meal
in there somewhere.  Some vitamins and minerals I keep feeding at growing
horse levels all their life--ie, I like higher zinc, copper, vitamin E & A
regardless of the age level.

>Me : I'll have to get a regular source to be able to do the >analysis.
Sources are variable and I have to take what I >can get.  I will have to go
long on bales for next season, >so it will then be easier to do an analysis.

And worth it, too.  I just got back the analysis for my year's supply of hay
and found out it doesn't have the protein level I was expecting, and the
calcium-phosphorus ratio is inverted, despite what the feed tables tell you
to expect.  Worth the $19, as now I can formulate a custom mix through the
local mill that supplies exactly what levels of nutrients I want.


>Thank you very much for all the info, Susan, I really >appreciate it.

You're welcome.  :-)))

Susan G



=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=