Feeding Question

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Morrigan_Lady

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www.teamterrellshowjumping.co.uk

Im not sure if I should change Archie's feed or not.
He's loosing weight, but I dont no if its because he's so fit or if he's getting cold or what! He's never had a problem keeping weight on in the past, it been keeping the weight off thats been the problem!!
He gets fed Anti-Lam and Apple Chaff, along with Pink Powder.
I only started feeding him Anti Lam in the summer because his dropping were so loose and this with Pink Powder binds him nicely.
Im just concerneced that the Anti Lam isnt keeping his weight on. He is n good condition though, very shiney and happy in himself. Just not sure what to do. He had LOADS of hay at night. Maybe he's getting cold, but I dont want to over rug him in case he gets too hot!
Help!
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are you able to change his chaff to something with more energy in it? Apple Chaff is lowest of the low calorie chaffs isn't it?

I use Dengie Alfa-A Oil for my Welsh Cob and it seems to give her enough nutrients that she doesn't need anything except added minerals and sugarbeet to keep her weight on.

Alternatively how about Allen and Page Safe and Sound as a Lami-safe feed?
 
When you say you think it might be because he is so fit, I presume he is in harder work than previous years - that would explain the weight loss. Obviously I presume that teeth and worming are all up to date.

The Anti-Lam and chaff won't contain many calories, so you need to feed something extra to help him maintain weight. I would start with some sort of fibre feed with perhaps some oil. This could be a beet, alfafa or dried grass product. As you say he has had loose droppings in the past it might be best to avoid the beet to start with and give him something like Alfa A (either Original version or if you want more calories then try the Oil version) or Readigrass. Cut out the AppleChaff but you can still continue with the AntiLam and Pink Powder.

If you ring either Dengie (Alfa A) or Spillers (Readigrass) and give them your horse's weight and workload they can advise on what quantities to feed.
 
I prob should have mentioned, I dont want anything that will give him more energy, he's got plenty of that!!

Just some thing to help keep the weight on. Ill have a look into changing his chaff though. What if I started feeding Sugar beat? I know alot of people only feed this in the winter.
Also, whats the difference between Sugar Beat and Speedy Beat?
 
By avoiding cereals and feeding fibre you are less likely to heat him up, although some horses will always get more lively when you feed more calories in whatever form.

The difference between sugar beet and speedibeet is that normal sugar beet is molassed and is about 21% sugar and speedibeet is unmollassed and only 5% sugar. Additionally, speedibeet only needs 10 minutes soaking.

It is a great feed but can have a laxative effect so not sure it would be the best thing for your boy if he has a loose dropping problem.
 
what about safe and sound then? it is a complete feed I think (chaff included). You may find sbeet makes him a bit lively as could the alfalfa depending on the horse.

AlfaA is alfalfa and straw so not so calorific as Alfa Oil, or you could try HiFi which is more straw based. I feed my mare on half alfa Oil and half apple chaff in the summer and she was v calm and happy. I have noticed a bit more 'bounce' now she is on pure alfalfa but nothing too bad.

For true weight gain i've just introduced baileys Outshine to my ageing TB and it is brilliant! as you only use a cupful a day it doesn't work out particularly expensive despite the cost of each bag.
 
Speedibeet is just a speedy version of sugar beet I think (takes less soaking time)

I'd go with Alfa A Oil if I was in your position - this is what I'd like to put Ronnie on (I'd change his diet entirely given the opportunity to). Sugar beet is good for keeping the weight on but there's better stuff around, and it can loosen droppings which is probably what you don't need.

Barley rings are good, and seem to have always worked on my horses in the past but they can be very heating (trial and error as mine have always been fine on them but not sure about Ronnie yet - he has gone a bit bonkers lately so maybe not the best for him but he is gaining weight now at least!).

Increasing fibre and oil intake should increase his slow-release calories so shouldn't mean too much extra energy, less likely to heat him up than cereals or sugar beet.

If you go for sugar beet, get unmolassed stuff.
 
technically to gain weight he needs a feed with more energy in it but the source of the energy can affect whether he turns it into fizz or fat....

starch (ie cereals) usually = fizz
protein (eg oils and alfalfa) = weight gain

I'd probably be adding a handful of alfalfa to his current meal - you can't be near the 2kg weight limit for each meal? that way you can add or reduce day by day depending on his weight and mood...?

sorry am turning into a feed obsessive as have to carefully manage my excitable, and occaisionally emaciated, TB's diet down to the exact ingredients! Hope this is useful rather than just simply annoying/patronising!!
 

Yes I will look into safe and sound then, although Im not too keen on taking him the Anti Lam really as I get it at a really good price and its sorting his insides out!
Will def look at chaning his chaff though. Thank you everyone for all the advise.
 
[ QUOTE ]
protein (eg oils and alfalfa) = weight gain

[/ QUOTE ] Whilst there is plenty of protein in alfafa, there is absolutely none in oil! However, oil is very dense in calories, which is why it is so useful for weight gain. Oils and fats are very concentrated forms of energy and contains 2.75 times as much energy as the same weight of carbohydrate. For example a kilogram of oats contains about 12 horsey ‘calories’ whilst the same weight of oil provides a whopping 35 horsey ‘calories’.
 
My laminitic cob is looking fab on Dodson & Horrel Country Cubes that were recommended by their nutritionist. For the first time he has a nice tummy despite being hunting fit. I feed 2 Stubbs scoops a day with a handful of D&H AlfaAlfa in 2 feeds with adlib hay at night.
 
[ QUOTE ]
hang on a minute - was thinking things like soya oil I think which is high in protein... or something....

[/ QUOTE ] Soya itself is high in protein, however the oil extracted from it is not (ie the protein is left behind during the manufacturing process).
 
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