Feed dilemma

Damnation

Damnation

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My mare is a sensative one. She is currently on Hi fi Origional/lite (depending on which they have in stock, not alot of difference between them!) and Bran. She is also on rather good hayledge. However she is starting to drop a bit of weight and I need a feed that I can give her that won't bring her out in a protein rash. She was on Barley when I bought her but I took her off it because the hayledge and barley went to her head. I tried her on it again and shes now got a protein rash!
Anny suggestions? Low in proten but will keep her condition? She can also be rather sarp to ride. Not dangerous but just has alot of "natural" energy so something that won't fizz her up would be great!
I was thinking of soaked oats?
Izzi :D
 
Is she having as much haylage as she can eat? Even in the field? I would up the haylage first if possible.

Regarding feed I wouldn't bother with the bran, very old fashioned and has no goodness what's so ever just goes straight through.

Maybe try adding a supplement like pink powder? She may just be lacking in some nutrients. You could add some high fibre nuts instead they are balanced with vitamins and minerals and may give her that bit extra but they are low in protein. And/or you could add some oil, plain old veg oil from the supermarket is what my vet recommended for my late mare who needed condition, build up to half a cup a day.

A few ideas there, hope that helps :)
 
I would've thought oats had more protein in than barley. How about trying something like speedibeet or simple systems' blue bag grass nuts? You could add a balancer like pink powder to it to help her get the most out of the feed she gets.

ETA: Agree with firewell about add lib haylage, too :)
 
Hiya she needs the bran because otherwise her poo looks like gravy! She has Ad lib hayledge in her stable. She only goes out a few days a week and at that its only for an hour or two. She has a vit + mineral lick in her stable which she uses so she is getting all her vitamins!
I do actually have some speedibeet that I gave up using in the snow because it kept freezing over! Might put her back on it and see what happens :)
 
Damnation said:
Hiya she needs the bran because otherwise her poo looks like gravy! She has Ad lib hayledge in her stable. She only goes out a few days a week and at that its only for an hour or two. She has a vit + mineral lick in her stable which she uses so she is getting all her vitamins!
I do actually have some speedibeet that I gave up using in the snow because it kept freezing over! Might put her back on it and see what happens :)
Click to expand...

Be carerful with bran. It is very high in phosphrous (sp?) and has pretty much 0 calcium. Horses need double the amount of calcium to phosphrous to be healthy so feeding too much bran can be very detrimental. It's ok as a once in a while mash as it does contain fibre and protein but it's not good as an everyday feed. :(

If she gets runny poo's try a probiotic (pink powder has probiotics in it) that will be much healthier for her gut, it will encourage good bacteria and line her stomach. It may even settle her down more in temprement as well.

Speediebeet is a good idea, especially as you already have it. Sure that will do the trick :).
 
Haha I didn't know that! I did try her on pink powder for about 3 months and it did nothing. She was on bran every day when I bought her and I just stuck to it. Might buy her some limestone flour to balance it out. I did take her off the bran for a bit when she was on the pink powder and it got worse! She is only on about 1/4 scoop a day and it seems to work. I will deffo put her back on the speedibeet though!
 
Speedibeet (or any other unmolassed beet) is a good option, as mentioned above.
You could also change the chaff for a higher calorie one.
Adding a balancer or Pink Powder is an option.
If you want a compound feed then Spiller's Response Slow Release Energy Cubes are good source of fibre-based calories with a low starch/sugar content.
 
I second the Spillers cubes....used them to great effect with my previous horse. He was very spooky and they didn't fizz him up at all. Agree with the Speedibeet too.

Re the runny bum.....have you tried Haylage Balancer by Naf...instead of the Pink Powder? I don't use haylage or the balancer myself but my friend has a horse with a runny bum who has to have haylage for his horsey asthma....its really made a difference.
 
I will try the NAF balancer but from what I remember there isn't alot of difference between that and the Pink Powder bar the price! The bran seems to be working. She was on it when I bought her because she coliced with the previous owners and that is what the vet reccomended her to be on.
 
Have a chat with these people, very helpful and might be able to suggest something to solve your dilemma http://www.thepurefeedcompany.com/

I have just bought some of their feed to try as mine has a few intolerances so am hoping this one works and it seems pretty reasonable and no need to add extra supplements either so should work out cheaper :)
 
Nocturnal said:
I would've thought oats had more protein in than barley. How about trying something like speedibeet or simple systems' blue bag grass nuts? You could add a balancer like pink powder to it to help her get the most out of the feed she gets.

ETA: Agree with firewell about add lib haylage, too :)
Click to expand...
Actually, on average, barley has more protein than oats, also oats is the most fibrous of feed grains, especially if fed whole, including the husk :)
 
Damnation said:
Hiya she needs the bran because otherwise her poo looks like gravy! She has Ad lib hayledge in her stable. She only goes out a few days a week and at that its only for an hour or two. She has a vit + mineral lick in her stable which she uses so she is getting all her vitamins!
I do actually have some speedibeet that I gave up using in the snow because it kept freezing over! Might put her back on it and see what happens :)
Click to expand...



I would definitely use a pink powder type supplement if her poo is runny. Drop the bran and use either pink powder or a pro/pre biotic.
 
My gelding also gets protein rash. I spent the last 10 years feeding him haylage with Bailey Economy Cubes, HiFi Lite and veg oil, anything else flared up the rash but last year I tried A&P Calm & Condition as hes 21 and I wanted to find something that would keep abit more condition on him. The rash hasnt flared up at all and he looks fab on it. I can honestly say I never thought I would find anything that suited him so I am very pleased with it :D
 
Ditto the haylege balancer suggestion: it made a real difference to Kalli, when the Pink Powder didn't.

It may well be the hayledge making her poos runny. Would you be able to swap to good quality hay?
 
If she can be fizzy I wouldn't recommend speedi-beet. I have known quite a few horses get a bit highly strung on this. However, normal sugar beet tends not to have the same effect and is normally cheaper.
 
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