Feeding good doer native youngstock

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DPDOT

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2yr old native breed colt, prone to choke on chaff type feeds. Need recommendations of feeds that will give him everything he needs to grow suitably without excessive calories.

Currently looking at Stamm30 or Veteran Vitality light?

Thoughts&recommendations appreciated
 
Dodson and Horrell Suregow.
Baileys Stud Balancer
Spillers Gro and Win Balancer.
All pelleted feeds that I've used for part bred native youngstock successfully to provide steady, correct growth rates without overtopping them.
 
If 2 this year, then specific youngstock balancer or supplement (e.g Forageplus Young Horse) in a very small amount of something like soaked meadow cobs. I then transition onto an ‘adult’ balancer when the spring grass comes through in their 3yo year.
 
rhino said:
If 2 this year, then specific youngstock balancer or supplement (e.g Forageplus Young Horse) in a very small amount of something like soaked meadow cobs. I then transition onto an ‘adult’ balancer when the spring grass comes through in their 3yo year.
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Thank you!
 
ihatework said:
Half rations of suregrow if you have to feed (although natives are designed to live of fresh air!)
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I've been doing this too, half rations of Suregrow. My Connemara looks very good on it. The full ration for his weight seemed like quite a lot so I'm relieved to find I'm not the only meanie who's been halving it!!
 
Widgeon said:
I've been doing this too, half rations of Suregrow. My Connemara looks very good on it. The full ration for his weight seemed like quite a lot so I'm relieved to find I'm not the only meanie who's been halving it!!
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Do you think they still get the correct amount of vitamins etc on half a ration? That would be my only concern I think!

Do you feed anything else alongside?
 
DPDOT said:
Do you think they still get the correct amount of vitamins etc on half a ration? That would be my only concern I think!

Do you feed anything else alongside?
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I have to admit to a very relaxed attitude to feeding him - he also gets sugarbeet, straw chaff to bulk it out (he LOVES his food) and a handful of oats because they're tasty and it's what my older horse eats. Plus a scoop of salt mixed in.

They are out full time all year on old grazing, so he always has grass and they get hay - the hard feed is just a bit of a boost really, he looks pretty good getting most of his nutrition from hay and grass. His growth has been steady and comfortable, his feet are hard as nails and he always looks and feels well, so I figure his feeding regime must be okay!
 
Widgeon said:
I have to admit to a very relaxed attitude to feeding him - he also gets sugarbeet, straw chaff to bulk it out (he LOVES his food) and a handful of oats because they're tasty and it's what my older horse eats. Plus a scoop of salt mixed in.

They are out full time all year on old grazing, so he always has grass and they get hay - the hard feed is just a bit of a boost really, he looks pretty good getting most of his nutrition from hay and grass. His growth has been steady and comfortable, his feet are hard as nails and he always looks and feels well, so I figure his feeding regime must be okay!
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Perfect thank you!
(My Q- about the vitamins etc wasn’t targeted at you btw! Was just a question I had!)
 
DPDOT said:
(My Q- about the vitamins etc wasn’t targeted at you btw! Was just a question I had!)
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It's one of those things I think you can overthink (just my opinion) - healthy native youngstock seem to grow pretty well on the hills eating only grass and scrub. My main concern with native types is always not letting them get too fat! They're so efficient at extracting all the nutrients from everything they swallow.
 
I use the Keyflow Nurture pro balancer for my current youngster. The reps explained that it was designed initially for thoroughbreds who might be entering pre race training as long yearlings, and Warmbloods who grow big, quick, and must look very ‘mature’ for stallion gradings etc. So rather different from my native x tb. They suggested half rate for him.

I did a full breakdown of a few of the young horse balancers (biochemist!) and even at half rate it supplied above NRC recommendations for everything.

Baileys however told me he would need 6 full mugs of their balancer daily. As a wee weanling :rolleyes:
 
I feed native youngstock the same as the adults in terms of hard feed - a carrier for powdered vitamins and minerals (we use codlivine) plus we add lysine as it is deficient in UK forage. They go on each new field first in the growing season but otherwise roughly eat what the adults do.

If I couldn’t use chaff I would dampen some high fibre cubes or use fast fibre to carry the powders.
 
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