Feeding Oats

[Madam_max]

I have just started feeding Corroy oats for a bit more energy, which she is lacking in at the mo. She was only getting fed Hi-fi before anyway with Nutonic. Do I need to add Limestone Flour to her feed? I am confused.

 

[Judie]

What makes you think you need to add Limestone flour?

 

[flyingfeet]

I feed oats for energy and given that I think mine actually get all their vits & minerals from the pasture, I don't bother adding calcium.

 

[so03]

Oats have a calcium / phosphorus ratio of 1:3 (from memory)

Horse need a calcium / phosphorus ratio of 3:1 so therefore oats are low in calcium

If you do not add calcium when feeding oats the horses body will obtain the calcium from another source - the horses bones.

Always feed limestone flour or something with high calcium in it to correct the imbalance.

hope this helps.

 

[Judie]

Thanks for that, but how would they have managed years ago when they only fed straights? What are other calcium providers?

 

[Capriole]

limestone flour has been fed for donkeys years,

 

[so03]

Alfafa is another source high in calcium.