> Just wondering. Thanks - Karen
Karen,
Mollasses in great quantities is thought to chelate Magnesium ions (Mg2+),
and hence feeds such as All in One, C.O.B. (Corn-Oats-Barley) tend to be
avoided. Though I have never seen any published data on this, I have found
personally that my horses do better not using feeds based on molasses. If
maintaining body weight is the requirement, try a rice bran supplement such
as Vita Bran which has added vitamins (incl. biotin). We are careful in the
East Bay area about added selenium (usually added to facilitate vitamin E
uptake). Our water is *very* high in selenium, and if you've ever seen a horse
with selenium toxicity (cracked hair, hooves, mane), its not a pleasant sight.
I would ask the company if they would formulate a feed without molasses, and
also where they derive their energy source (mainly carbohydrates or fat (such as
butyric acid)?). If it is not from the molasses, then they might feel comfortable
doing an endurance formulation subtracting the molasses, and maybe substituting
corn (maize for our european readers) for their carbo source. It seems if they
are willing to go to the trouble of matching their feed supplement to your forage
they are already thinking along those lines (ca:P ratios etc for oat vs grass
vs alfalfa).
Just some thoughts,
Dom
______________________________________________________________________
Dominique Freeman | "Life is short, science is long" |
fadjurs@sadandy.hpl.hp.com | |
Hewlett Packard Laboratories, | |
Palo Alto, CA USA | |
Phone: (415) 857-8596 | |
FAX: (415) 852-8576 | |
______________________________________________________________________