what to feed?

[jewel]

i've not been feeding my boy as he was too fat but with all this rain he is starting to drop weight a little. so what would you feed a 3 year old section d is a good doer but just need a little extra. bailey's lo-cal? and if so what with or by it's self

 

[Tinkle]

The Lo-Cal won't put weight on him but will make sure he's getting all the correct nutrients - a balanced diet in other words.

Are you restricting his grazing at all? If so, just letting him have a little more by strip grazing may just give him a bit of a boost weight wise. Fibre is the most natural thing for them so if you aren't able to increase his grass intake you could supplement his feed with a high-fibre, but higher energy feed. Something from the Alfa-A/Hi-Fi range could work quite well with the balancer on top if you wish (or one of Dengie's vitamin supplements which are also good). Give Dengie a call - I found them very helpful and my mare was fed mostly Dengie fibre products last winter (plus her Top Spec balancer) and did very well.

Hope that helps.

x

 

[AmyMay]

Hay.

 

[jewel]

he is out by day on good grazing and is in by night with adlib haylage

 

[Tinkle]

If he's coming in at night up his haylage and see how he goes. If you still feel he needs more then I'd always says go for fibre before a mix.

If you genuinely think he's just wussy and cold you could always stick a rug on him for the worst of the weather. I'm leaving mine unrugged at the mo but they've just moved field and are a couple of fatties. And, of course, (not to suggest you don't keep up with it) make sure he's up-to-date with all his worming.

x

 

[jewel]

worm count came back no eggs found, he is rugged in the daytime. he already has loads on haylage always a little left in the morning

 

[scotsmare]

I would start with some nuts / chaff and see how you get on from there.

 

[hellybelly6]

Agree nuts and chaff.

feed balancers contain too much protein for native good doers.

 

[Spyda]

[ QUOTE ]
Hay

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I'm another one who'd suggest ad-lib hay - ooops, or haylage. Sorry missed that bit of your thread.

I've fed AlfaA to my youngsters at this time of year but find it winds them up a bit too much. I'd stick with Baileys Low Cal Balancer and lots of nice quality hay/haylage. If you wanted to bulk his pellets out, maybe add a bit of Hi Fi or something like that. Not to add weight, but just open the feed more for him.

[ QUOTE ]
feed balancers contain too much protein for native good doers

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd be surprised if the Low Cal version does.