Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Just in from baling 48.3 miles of double raked windrow. Hard to conceive
of anyone being out of hay.   Libby

Patti wrote:
>     Subject: [RC]   Its official! I am out of Hay!
>
>     I am out of hay so now I have to switch to a complete feed. I was
>     wondering though. How do I know how much to Feed of the hay
>     pellets? When there are no instructions on the bag?
>
>     Geckogal85
>
>  
> If the hay pellets are a similar type hay source as your hay was (i.e.
> both Bermuda or both Timothy) you can do a 1:1 (by weight) substitution.
>  
> If you were feeding a grass hay but the forage pellets are mixed
> alfalfa/Bermuda or alfalfa/Timothy, it's safest to start with 1lb
> pellets for each 1.5lbs of hay. You horse may feel he's being cheated
> but it's easy to overdo the calories and protein. Helps if you can
> feed smaller meals more frequently.
>  
> If your hay was an alfalfa mix but the pellets are straight "grass"
> hay base, you'll need to feed more pellets than you were feeding hay
> or add more beet pulp to make up the difference.
> (example - if you were feeding 18lbs of mixed hay, you might feed
> 15lbs Bermuda or Timothy pellets and 3-5lbs (dry weight before
> soaking) beet pulp. Would defnitely rinse after soaking to get rid of
> excess sugar. If using unmollassed BP shreds, they can be fed dry or
> jut slightly moistened. Unmolassed beet pulp (or well rinsed) can
> safely substitute for up to 1/3 of the forage ration.
>  
> Straw is not a good "substitute" chewing option - often high in sugar
> and nitrates. If you're in mesquite country, mesquite branches can be
> a safe "chew toy" (my kids never seem to have problems with the
> stickers). One "wrist" size branch can last a couple of
> days. Depending on the type of turnout, watch out for "weeds" he might
> be inclined to browse. Many selenium accumulators horses would
> normally ignore start to look good when there's nothing else to chew
> plus the droughts seem to be causing higher selenium levels in some
> accumulator plants (as it forces the roots to grow deeper). Even clean
> untreated pine peeler posts can provide safe chew time when hay access
> is limited.
> http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=9979
> http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=9775
> http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/natres/06109.html
>  
> Patti K
> Vail AZ
>
> -- 
> ~ There are no Magic Bullets in Equine Nutrition ~
> Desert Equine Balance
> Patti Woodbury Kuvik
> PO Box 759 Vail AZ 85641
> DesertHorses@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:DesertHorses@xxxxxxxxx>
> http://DesertEquineBalance.blogspot.com
> http://DesertHoofPrints.blogspot.com
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