Non-heating feed for weight gain?

C

Cash

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 November 2008
Messages
1,977
Visit site
I'm not talking extreme fattening up needed, barley rings etc. My new horse is just looking a little lighter than I'd like ATM (and as a TB he doesn't really have much to spare anyway!), he's being a bit funny about eating his hay ATM and the grass isn't really coming through yet. Would like something to add to his feed to bulk him up a bit. Thought maybe Speedibeet?
He's currently on Winergy Equilibrium Senior (even though he's only rising 9, his old owner found after extensive research (she's a dietician for humans!) that this would be good- non heating, high fibre etc!) and carrots. :D
ETS I'd rather add to his feed, instead of changing the Equilibrium, as I'm keen to keep him on the feed he knows as he still hasn't been at his new home long. :)
 
Last edited:
Why not just increase the amount of his current feed?

Be aware though that they should be a little lean before the grass comes through or you will be frantically trying to get the weight later.
 
Midlings... It's an after product of bran, got absolutely nothing to heat them up in it but is AMAZING at gaining weight... My 3 year old was a bit slight after moving to her new home... 10 days with a scoop of midlings twice a day and she looks like a bull...Everyone that sees her cannot believe she is only 3 coming 4, it really has made the world of difference, and it's only like £4.60 a bag. You can feed them as much or as little as you like as often as you like too! It is such good stuff. Would def recommend it to anyone wanting a little bit extra on their horses... Way better and loads cheaper than any of the expensive wieght gain stuff I have ever used : )

x
 
I 2nd the haylage option, it can make a big difference. I'm in the same position as you with the tb I have, unfortunatly we can't fit haylage in the barn so having to stick with hay which is a right pain!! Our hay is rubbish ATM.

Getting back on topic, you could had a scoop of wet speedie beet to his meal, mine has it ad it's good. V non heating! I also add cheapo supermarket oil which my vet swears is just as good as any oil supplement. If u fancy splashing out my friend had amazing results using equi jewel on her horse. :)
 
Ditto speedibeet and really up the oil, if you're not looking to change too much.

According to one well known feed company, Racehorse cubes are non-heating and fattening. I checked the date and it wasn't April 1st. I'm still baffled by that one and loved the owners comment, "well they can come and ride him then!"
 
Haylage :) If you can, have two or three piles/nets in the stable; some neds seem to prefer the moving from one to another and therefore eat more.

Also, ReadiGrass and grass nuts ad lib whilst stabled. I leave little piles and trails of the stuff around the stable, it seems to get Dizz's interest more than if it's left in a bucket. I leave them in about an hour after Dizz has eaten a meal, that way her stomach isn't overloaded and there's a good chance the food I pay a fortune for (and hours researching lol) will get chance to do its job lol :)
 
allan and page calm and condition? but i would say works wonders on some horses but doesn't seem to work on others - not sure why!
 
Assuming you're already ad libbing the haylage. Try adding Alfa Beet into the Winergy. We feed a poor doing tbxhann this (he's 11 and on the growth!) and the difference was huge! Just add a scoop into each feed. He's a pretty sensitive boy and it certainly doesn't blow his brains!

Alfa beet is more conditioning than normal sugar beet or speedibeet. But still non heating.
 
galaxy23 said:
Alfa beet is more conditioning than normal sugar beet or speedibeet. But still non heating.
Click to expand...

Actually, AlfaBeet contains LESS calories than either normal sugar beet or Speedibeet. AlfaBeet has only 10.5 MJDE/kg whereas Speedibeet has 12.4 MJDE/kg and normal sugar beet about 12.5 MJDE/kg!

AlfaBeet does have a higher protein content though (due to the added alfalfa) so can be useful if the rest of the diet is low in protein.
 
Thanks all :)
Think I will change to haylage then. Any brand in particular low sugar? I have been adlibbing hay, but like I say he's not really bothered- and MrsM, I have been down the spreading-it-around route- still not interested, despite there being trails everywhere, piles in every corner and various haynets! :p
Am actually changing from the Winergy after all. Was finding it difficult to get round here, so I spoke to his old owner, who said she'd had him on high fibre, non heating cubes/mix and Alfa-A type stuff before, and that had worked fine (Winergy just more convenient I guess as it's all in one bag!).
So can I now ask some more questions? :o
I've been looking at high fibre nuts/cubes, and they all seem to be non heating, but low calorie? Not sure if i'm just looking at the wrong thing? (Lol AML!)
Similarly with Alfa-A etc- isn't that low calorie as it's basically chaff? Is there any which isn't low calorie, but isn't very molassed as i'm aware that will most likely hype him up? :confused:
Will start using oil, and will look into speedibeet or similar options as that sounds like it has good reviews. :)
May have to print out this thread and take it with me to the feed merchant's later! :D
Thanks so much for all replies everyone!
 
You could look at the Spiller's Response Slow Release Cubes - these are quite similar to high fibre cubes and are grain free, but contain more oil, so they contain 11 MJDE/kg, compared to high fibre cubes which are usually in the region of 8-9 MJDE/kg.

Chaff-wise, the highest calorie chaffs I've found are Alfa A Oil, which has 12.5 MJDE/kg and Readigrass which is 12-13 MJDE/kg. Neither are molassed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top