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Re: [RC] feeding for the cold weather (Susan G?) - heidiI am wondering if during these cold snaps I should adjust my feeding to provide extra calories. I do up their grain (Purina Complete Advantage with Glanzen 3 supplement) by about 25% (from 2 to 2.5 scoops, probably about 5 lbs at most) on really cold days. I've read here (from Susan G? I think) that alfalfa is a 'heating' feed: would adding some alfalfa pellets help my guys stay warm? Or would oil be better? Protein has a high heat of digestion, so is a good thing to add in warm weather. Forages also help with heat, as they provide a "steady state" energy production in the hindgut. Alfalfa helps both ways--so yes, some alfalfa pellets would be good in the cold. Beet pulp is also worth considering--no protein, but does add the forage to the hindgut without you having to feed hay to the whole herd. Certainly fats help, too, in that they contain more calories per unit of weight. For a quick cold snap, I'd be more inclined to use the beet pulp and/or the alfalfa pellets. I'd be more inclined to use fats if I were designing a diet for the entire cold winter, simply because it takes a bit more time to acclimate a horse to being able to utilize the fats well than it does to the other two. I would not "up" a grain ration in cold weather--carbs are quick calories, and are more apt to just "turn up" the blood sugar for a couple of hours instead of helping the horse maintain a steady state of staying warm. (Unless, of course, you want to go out and feed every couple of hours...) Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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