Feeding Advice

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emcon

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Hi I'm new to the forum and need some feeding advice. I have a 3 yr old Welsh Sec D. He started out the winter really badly, as he was castrated in late Sept and got a bad infection. Then in early Dec he went down with colic. He lives out was on Ab-lib haylage until we ran out about 6 weeks ago when he was put onto hay. He has also had a flea infestation. He was very quiet when I bought him but seems to have got a lot quieter (very dopey) over the past couple of months. He looks poor, which I know they do at this time of year, but I just feel that the lack of energy isn't normal at his age. I was feeding him a scoop of baileys no4 and a scoop of alfa a. In an attempt to get him in better condition, and on the advice of my local tack shop, I am now feeding him half a scoop of argo Barley Extra, 1 scoop of baileys no 4, 1 scoop (dry) soaked alfa beet along with some vegatable oil, split into 2 feed a day. He has only been on the feed for 4 days, and is full of energy, but seems on edge and adgertated.
I really don't know anything when it comes to hard feed and my 2 friend are giving me opposite advice! Please could someone let me know what I am doing wrong, and how I need to change is feed?
Many Thanks
 
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Not had bloods done yet. He's just been wormed, and waiting to see dentist. If that fails Blood test are next on my list.
 
It sounds as if he has had a lot to cope with over a hard winter, with natives I generally don't like feeding too many cereals in the diet as it can have adverse effects, which it sounds as if your boy is experiencing if he is agitated. With spring grass coming through it might just be too much for his system too.
Tapeworms will need a specific wormer or double dose of pyrantel so worth checking that they have been covered along with a wormer that will cover encysted worm eggs, just in case.
If he has had lice then double check that they have been cleared as they can make them very poor and some need more than one treatment to catch the hatching ones. (Sorry if all this has been covered.)

Feed wise I find that feeding a high fibre diet is beneficial and adding in oil and a good balancer/supplement such as top spec/pink powder/benevit. Something with yea sacc may help as it will stabilise the gut flora, especially if he has had colic in the past.
Speedibeet is good for adding condition and adding oil to the diet will help too, micronised linseed is another good one to use.
If you contact a feed company then they will give you specific advice too.
I'm sure he'll pick up soon, and then bloods would be my next step too if he doesn't, remember to make anmy changes gradually though
 
I would suggest that if he has been on ad lib haylage and hay, he shouldn't be looking too poor - he is a native after all! Glad to hear though that the increase in feed has had an effect - albeit an unerving one!

I would continue with his ad lib hay, and make sure he has a broad spectrum supplement in his feed. Given his age and breed he shouldn't really need much in the way of hard feed and I would expect him to pick up with the spring grass coming through.

A vet check would set your mind at ease.
 
I'm probably just over worrying!! The grass is very poor at the moment, but he is moving field tomorrow, so hopefully will pick up on grass. I think I will carry on with alfa beet and conditioning cubes, as I've only just bought new sacks! Then will go back to Alfa A and conditioning cubes and add in a supplement. Thank you all for you advice, he just has a way of making me worry! Think its a boy thing!! He seems to have calmed down a bit today, so I'm guessing the pouring down rain yesterday didn't help. He just has such a lovely nature, I don't want to turn him into a nutter!
 
If he got pulled down by the infection etc and he is still growing/maturing, this could well explain his current lack of condition. I agree that natives do better on a high fibre diet, possibly with oil. I would also avoid giving cereal to a youngster if possible, as IME this can cause all sorts of problems. If your grass is like ours, it isn't really coming through yet. Ours are out 24/7 and are having supplementary hay still. Some horses react badly to alfalfa, not saying this is your problem but worth bearing in mind maybe.
I second ringing a feed company, in fact I would ring more than one and get a range of advice, then make any changes gradually, adding one new ingredient at a time.
 
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