Feeding skineey boy, this makes no sense

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gails

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Although he is not so skinney now, and his tummy is starting to look like he has ate all the pies this makes no sense.

I ran out of his sixteen plus, and have not had any transport for the last few days, so I had to make do with sb, rolled barley, alphalfa.

I cant explain it, but he has really piled the weight on since I did this.

The last few months have been a struggle, and his weight gain has a been a gradual thing, and he looks and is 100 % better, but this monring I struggle to pick his chestnut bottom out from the others......

Answers on a post card please
 
Barley and sugar beet are particularly good for weight gain, so that would explain it! Alfa A is pretty good too, though not as calorific as the others! I feed my veteran on sugar beet, oats or barley (depends what is cheapest), with a dash of veg oil, and it keeps weight on better than any conditioning or veteran feed I have used in the past!
 
he has always had alphalfa.

His nornmal ration is, sixteen plus, sb and alphalfa.

It just seemed starange that he has put soo much on in the space of a week on just alphalfa, and barley and sb.

It is not just his tummy, but his hind quarters as well, and fianlly his top line seems to be coming in.
 
So then, is sb, barley and alphalfa a balancd diet?

Do I need to add any supplements.

If this is a complete feed then great, I save a bit of money, yippeee ( in advance)
 
Mine have sb, soaked oat/barley (soaking makes it more digestible but isn't essential) soya or corn oil (lots of calories without the carbs) and cider vinegar. They have a mineral lick in the field and ad lib hay.

Does he have alfalfa instead of hay or as well?

With the oil, I don't feed more than 100ml a day and I usually start with a tablespoon (15ml) per feed when introducing it as some horses don't like oilyness.

I don't give any other nutritional supps, but if your boy has specific issues maybe you might need something.
 
[ QUOTE ]
So then, is sb, barley and alphalfa a balancd diet?

Do I need to add any supplements.

If this is a complete feed then great, I save a bit of money, yippeee ( in advance)

[/ QUOTE ] In theory, you should add a vit/min supplement such as Benevit or Equivite. However, I am very naughty and don't do so (partly because I also feed high quality haylage so feel that provides a lot of micronutrients) and my horse has not suffered any ill effects! Cereals such as barley and oats tend to be deficient in calcium, however both sugar beet and alfalfa are good sources of calcium, so these feeds work well together.
 
[ QUOTE ]
What TGM said ^^^ i agree.

[/ QUOTE ] Can't you disagree with me? I'm in the mood for a fight ...








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Alfalfa is fed in the feed, 2 scoops, 2 scoops of sb and 3/4 of barley.

I may continue with just the sb, barley and alfalfa then.

Hay will be fed as an extra in the next month or so.

I am just shocked that such a simple diet has had such spectacualr results. Especially after spending soo much money on ready made feeds, and still adding in the extras
 
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