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Susan, you suggest feeding extra protein.  Because I have one horse in my herd that founders (mostly because he's grossly overweight), I feed oats.  We do up the oat ration by a scoop a day for warmth.  I've got excellent pasture so nutritionally, the herd is covered.

 

Would you suggest feeding alfalfa (probably in pellet form; I don't want to dwindle my stock of hay...it's for endurance rides) or should I do a high-protein grain during the cold winter months?  What is high protein?  14%? 25%?  What is too much protein?

 

Thanks!

"Susan E. Garlinghouse, DVM" <suendavid@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> >I had a discussion with my farrier the other day about
> >feeding extra hay to keep warm at night. If the temps
> >drop below 25*, I will give my horses extra hay before
> >I go to bed at night. Which will keep the horse
> >warmer: alfalfa or grass hay? I said the mere act of
> >eating (grass hay) is what keeps them warm, my farrier
> >said the higher protein in alfalfa will keep them
> >warmer. If I feed the alfalfa at night, I can always
> >give them the grass in the morning. So, at night,
> >which is best for warmth??
>
> Well, you're both right, but your farrier is righter. :-) Feeding extra
> fiber in almost any reasonably digestible form does help bump up core
> temperature just a little, as about 35% (it varies) of the energy in fiber
> is thrown off as waste heat. The pathway isn't as useful in horses as it is
> in ruminants, like cows and sheep, as horses aren't as efficient
>  at
> digesting fiber, therefore don't produce the extra heat as by-product. You
> can keep ruminants warm in very cold weather with just straw or poor quality
> forage, but because horses can't maintain core temperature very well on
> that.
>
> What works better is feeding some extra protein, which in most cases is
> going to be alfalfa. Protein is well digested, more efficiently than
> structural carbohydrates (fiber), but not nearly as efficiently as
> nonstructural carbs (sugars and starches). The by-product of the digestive
> process is 'waste' heat, which then helps support the maintenance of core
> body temperatures. I can't remember the exact numbers anymore, but I think
> something like five pounds of alfalfa will raise core body temperature
> around 1.25 degrees F for eight hours---it doesn't sound like much, but is
> significant when you're talking core temperatures. Feeding ten pounds won't
> raise the temp higher than that, it would probably
>  just maintain the temp
> for a little longer. The protein source doesn't have to be alfalfa---any
> source of protein will do.
>
> So some extra grass hay is useful, too, but some extra protein to produce
> higher core temps is going to be your best bet.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Susan Garlinghouse, DVM
>
>
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Semper Obliquo (Always aside),
Susan Young, The Princess of Pink

Your Independent Mary Kay Beauty Consultant
Glenndale Grace Farm, Ft Gibson, Oklahoma U.S.A.
"Ride on! Rough-shod if need be, smooth-shod if that will do, but ride on! Ride on over all obstacles, and win the race!" - Charles Dickens (1812-1870)