BIG alfa a feeds?

[Coffee_Bean]

I know that you aren't meant to feed concentrates in more than 2kg a go. My mare gets 1 scoop of baileys no.4 in each of her 2 feeds- so 1.7kg per feed or 3.4kg per day (eeek

)

But I also add a mug of barley rings to each, and 1/4 of a scoop of sugar beet and a large double handful of alfa a oil.

But my question is, does adding large volumes of chaff make the feed less digestable??

 

[deicinmerlyn]

No, fibre feed is the most digestable food. (and best for the horse)

 

[LankyDoodle]

No it will help gut transit; however, do be careful, because I think you will find that each feed is well over 2kg so she will not be benefiting from all of it. Your 1/4 scoop of sugarbeet will be approx 400g + your 1.7kg baileys + large double handful alpha a (will probably amount to about half a scoop so 200g or thereabouts) + your barley rings. I reckon you are feeding around 2.5kg per feed.

Is there a way you can split the feeds into 3 rations, as this will be more beneficial to her?

Fibre feeds are important, but I know from my own circumstances, that for some horses, conditioning feeds are necessary. It is difficult because your horse is getting fed less than mine but mine gets 3 feeds a day so it is easier; also he gets it in a manger so can eat at his leisure.

 

[star]

if there is any starch in the feed then you shouldn't feed more than 2kg in one go as it will get pushed through to the hindgut and not digested properly causing digestive and temperament upsets.

my horse gets way more than 2kg in his feed but it's all fibre and oil based - he's on topspec cool condition cubes, topspec balancer, baileys outshine, alfa-a oil and alfalfa pellets. his black rubber feed skip is full to the point of overflowing - probably around 4kg of feed in there but he's not a big hay eater so have to feed him all this to keep the weight on him.