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I guess you missed the body of my post-- we call alfalfa "alfalfa" in 
these parts and forage denotes wheat, beardless barley and 2 kinds of 
oat in this case (sometimes forage also included vetch which I love-- 
but not this time) so I am asking my question based on this content of 
feed--- not a grass pasture, which is VERY different in these parts.
Thanks for any input re: this combination of forage-- I guess different 
parts of the country, different terminology, as with weeds :-) )
Bette

heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> > Glad you said that about foals needing to be on forage, Heidi--- I was
> > feeling a little nervous because this is the first time I haven't
> > supplemented my foals with alfalfa-- but the forage is just sooo good!
> > With only 2 rainy days all season---- yes 2!!!--- the forage mix only
> > yielded one-third what it did last year and is shorter but much more
> > grain. The farmer warned me not to overfeed-- I don't and still my herd
> > all looks pregnant--- and only 2 out of 15 are! Sooo I stuck with the
> > forage this year which is a mixture of wheat, beardless barley and 2
> > kinds of oat-- and my horses lick it up--- no stems are left behind
> > because he cut when the sugar was at the top of the stalk-- just prior
> > to its descent.
> > Now with all this in mind-- do I need to supplement with the alfalfa to
> > make sure the foals and lactating mares have enough calcium in their
> > diet? My vets had always recommended that in the past, but would this
> > rich forage mix provide enough? I have hesitated on Mare and Foal
> > pellets, worried that their diet would be too rich.
> > Advice from anyone's past experience or current trends is greatly
> > appreciated.
> >    
>
> Well, first off, alfalfa IS forage...
>
> That said--GOOD grass is sufficient, but it isn't first-rate, the alfalfa
> adds a bit of calcium and protein.  That's the situation I'm in here--our
> irrigation water came on late, and now that we have it, our pasture is
> good-but-not-great.  My mares and foals just get one flake of alfalfa per
> day per pair, but they do come right up and scarf it up.  And of course,
> it also gives me the opportunity to do a once-a-day close-up baby check
> when they come up to eat--I might spot major stuff eyeballing the pasture
> from the barnyard, but if there is anything that needs attention that
> can't be seen from afar, that is one guaranteed time each day that
> everyone is up within arm's length and can be caught up easily if
> necessary.
>
> I do have a mineral mix available free choice to cover any deficits there.
>
> Every time I've used some form of concentrate supplementation, I've
> regretted it.
>
> Heidi
>
>
>
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--
Bette Lamore
Whispering Oaks Arabians
Home of Bunny and 16.2h TLA Halynov
who lives on through his legacy Hal's Riverdance!
http://www.arabiansporthorse.com

Always remember: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." (George Carlin)




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