Supplements/diet for 7 month TB foal

[fathorse]

I was just wondering what your opinions were for feeding a 7 month TB foal? I have never been a big believer in these foal mix's and youngstock feeds that are available and chucking loads of supplements into a feed. My foal just has a small amount of adult feed with a scoop of limestone flour every day. Is this enough or is she really missing out on essential growing nutrients???

 

[AmyMay]

The thing with youngstock feed is that they are supposed to contain all the nutrients a growing foal and youngster needs. And as so many people feed them with great success, they can't be doing much wrong. The higher protien levels are designed to help with the development of bone and muscle etc.

All the youngsters on my yard are fed appropriate to their age and requirement.

Youngstock are on stud mix or youngstock mix, broodmares are normally on a stud mix if they require feeding.

 

[spanishmustangs]

Yep, have to agree that stud/or youngstock mix will do what it says on the packet. They do require certain ingredients that adult feed doesn't contain to give them the best possible start.

 

[air78]

All our TB's are on age specific feeds.

The foals are all on Baileys stud balancer and look very well on it. If they need a bit more weight they get speedi beet/ alfalfa alongside and/or topspec super conditioning flakes. The 2yo's are on D&H sales prep mix.

I think TB's really need a specific youngstock feed as they are so fast growing

 

[JaneB]

Growing youngsters need nutrients, like vitamins, minerals and protein, to support correct growth and will need varying amounts of calories according to their condition. Under feeding an adult feed will be leaving your youngster short of these essential nutrients and adding limestone flour will be unbalancing the whole thing. Choose a balancer as air78 suggests, if you don't want to feed calories, otherwise I'd definitely choose youngstock feed, follow the recommendations and chuck out the limestone!