feeding youngstock

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Peter7917

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What do you all feed your babies?

I normally give them nothing more than a cheap chaff and a little sugar beet (hay obviously!!!)

I've been lucky enough to get a freebie bag of topspec youngstock balancer. I wouldn't normally shell out for something like this but am interested in hearing other people's opinions on what they feed their youngsters and why.

Thanks
 
Mine lives out at stud 24/7 for the bulk of the year on excellent grazing supplemented by good haylage when needed. They don't get hard feed but there are mineral blocks in the field.

Whether dependant they might be in a large barn for a few weeks mid winter, if they are in they get half rations of stud balancer.

As a foal on Mum and for the period post weaning Mum and foal got stud balancer. No chaff/SB.
 
unless the foal is poor, I wouldn't feed anything other than stud balancer. Mine are out 24/7 at the minute, when the weather starts to get bad, they will get haylage as well, but at the minute they don't need any additional forage.
 
I was feeding my foal Topspec Stud Balancer but it seemed to make her super naughty. Whether that was just a phase that coincided with feeding it or whether the balancer caused it I couldn't say, but I'm researching other options before we try again!
In the meantime, she has a handful of chaff with a slice or two of carrot mixed in as a little treat. Mary gets the same. They only have it to make my life easier, as it means they know what time I get to the stables and are always waiting for my shout to bring themselves to the top of the field. Aside from that, she has access to good grazing and mum's milk, and will be supplemented with ad-lib hay when and if the need arises.
 
My yearling has the Smart Horse Nutrition Balancer, linseed, a handful of chaff and a handful of speedibeet. My grazing is dropping off really quickly but he looks fantastic, I'm really happy with how he is growing and his condition.

He gets good ad lib haylage when in. He probably doesn't need the balancer but it makes me feel better that he is getting good vits & minerals.
 
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