ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] Hay cubes/feeding fat
[endurance] Hay cubes/feeding fat
RALSTON@AESOP.RUTGERS.EDU
Thu, 25 Jan 1996 09:43:25 -0400 (EDT)
We are using hay cubes as the sole source of
fiber for our 15 research fillies, due to constraints
of the research protocol, difficulty in getting consistent
quality hay and the fact that my graduate student is
horribly allergic to hay!. We are using a product called
Alfa-maize from Bio-Cubes (a Canadian company). I really
like this particular product because its protein/calcium content is much
more reasonable than straight alfalfa cubes, especially
for endurance type horses. I do NOT recommend replacing
hay with them, but find them, as Truman described using alfalfa cubes,
to be a great supplement, especially if soaked in water.
Some observations: One of our fillies is a very greedy
eater and has choked twice when fed the cubes dry-she gets
hers soaked now. The rest seem to handle the dry cubes well. They
seem to like them pretty well, though one filly (not on trial)
absolutely refused to eat them. When no hay is fed with
the cubes I can guarantee that, regardless of the type of
cube, you will get an increase in wood chewing activity. Our
poor research barn looks like it was attacked by a horde of
beavers!
I currently use the cubes for my two horses (Charlie,
26 years young and Fling, my great grey hope for someday
completing the Old Dominion!). They make a great mash when
soaked in warm water which I feed at least once a day when the
weather is really cold. Its a great way to get extra water into the
horses (I don't have automatic waterers and have been lugging
buckets of water out to my guys), safer than repeated bran mashes
(Too much phosphorus in straight bran) plus it makes ME feel good
to see them dive into the buckets! Fling buries her whole nose
in the mash and ends up wearing it almost to her ears. I feed them
about two pounds of the cubes daily in addition to free choice hay
and salt. Charlie gets 4 lbs Equine Semior/day, Fling gets 1 lb Omolene
100 (she doesn't really need it-but she'd throw a fit if I fed Charlie and
not her-she has me well trained :-)
Oh well. Back to lurking....
Sarah Ralston, VMD, PhD
Associate Professor, Cook College, Rutgers University
Ralston@aesop.Rutgers.edu