Feeding for Yearling

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maxusa

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Hi,

We have recently bought a Yearling and would like to know recommendations for feed. Our Vet has suggested just feeding him same as some of our other horses - alpha oil, pasture mix and sugar beet, but have heard of youngstock feed and want to make sure he is getting everything he needs.

He is a Gypsy Cob who does need to fill out, and he is also getting garlic, seaweed and clop in his feed.

Thanks in advance.

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I'd agree with the vet's advice. Although I'd be inclined to drop all the suppliments and just feed a good all round feed balancer instead.
 
You could feed a youngstock feed but if your vet is happy with your current feeds then go with that. You could drop the supplements you're giving him and add Dodson & Horrell Suregrow which will make sure he gets all the vits & mins he needs to grow.
 
For a gypsy cob yearling I would just feed good quality grass and 24/7 grazing.

And when its time to bring them in for the winter wouldn't overfeed with hard feed but would make sure there was ad lib good quality hay .

Only supplemets I would give is garlic. 1 of our horses is a real sweetie....and alpha A turns her into the alien..everybody else does fine with alpha A. just this one who doesn't. Have spoken to others re alpha oil.....and I wouldn't use it personally.
 
good quality grass and hay. with a mineral block to lick at free will...

Having had a nightmare experience with my Filly (she developed DOD) I will NEVER again supplement a youngsters diet with Balancers... even the balancers specifically for youngstock have levels of protein far exeeding the requirements of a growing youngster. That coupled with Lucern based feeds such as alfa a is a recipe for disaster. The only product I have found with recomended levels of the vital nutrients for growth is the NAF youngstock supplement, so if you really wanted to I'd feed that with some Hi-fi lite and / or speedibeet...

you say he needs to fill out, but he is at an age where he is putting a lot of energy into growing upwards... he may be a skinny bean but he will fill out at 2 or three - don't be tempted to help him along as you might just overload his system... my filly wasn't overweight and to my knowledge wasn't a typical candidate for such complications... hindsight is a wonderful thing and if I could turn back the clock I would..
 
Fibre, fibre and more fibre!!! Wouldn't bother with the youngstock mix, a lot of money imo for what you get and the few I've know on it have had farrrr to much energy and become a handful whilest on it but perfectly well behaved without.

Often youngsters don't need much anyway, much better to let them grow at their own rate with good grazing and plenty of turnout than anything else. I also like to just about see the ribs on growing youngsters, hate to see them with too much weight, but if they are lacking condition then a high fibre, high oil, low starch, low sugar conditioning mix and a good glug of oil with some hi fibre chaff will work wonders.
 
Have to say i have a yearling Gypsy cob and shes never been fed ANYTHING apart from good grass, hay (when needed) and milk from her mum.

Shes blooming and the vet said she is one cracker of a yearling who is looking brilliant.
 
Equilibrium Growth!!! great feed, its completly different from the other youngstock feeds as its fibre based
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my welsh a yearling did brilliantly on it
 
Another vote for Equilibrium Growth!! proven not to cause DOD's and is good for filling them out slowly and safely. i wouldn't use anything else.
 
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