winter feed ideas

[Deefa]

My big lad only has chaff and biotin during summer as the grass is good and he holds his weight but during winter he can lose a lot of condition even when on haylage. Last winter he was on slobbermash and 365 supplement but it wasn't quite enough to keep his weight on so I am after ideas on high calorie feeds which help with weight and muscle build up.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Maybe linseed would be good as its low sugar but otherwise fairly similar to good grass so might do what grass does for him in summer?? Worth a try.

 

[Kacey88]

I second the linseed, calories and protein but won't make him fizzy. Its so cheap to feed too.

 

[Fransurrey]

Maybe a dumb question, but what is slobber mash? Sounds good if messy! I feed linseed all year round, but increase it during cold spells. I mix it into speedibeet with brewer's yeast and slimchaff or readigrass. Depends how cold it is! Might stick with readigrass this year due to problems with supply of chaff being mouldy.

 

[Buddy'sMum]

Maybe a dumb question, but what is slobber mash? Sounds good if messy!

Ha! I thought so too until I saw the % starch. More info here
http://www.handffeeds.co.uk/index.html

 

[NeverSayNever]

my welsh does well in summer but doesnt keep weight on over winter either. Last winter i used linseed - a whole mug and a half and it made little difference tbh. That was on top of ad lib hay, forage plus balancer and 'just grass' chaff. I was reluctant to start on conditioning type feeds as she can get quite hot. This winter she is on the same but Im feeding simple systems blue bag grass nuts as well as have heard this type of horse does very well on them...

 

[Hedwards]

Micronised linseed from Charnwood milling & alltech lifeforce from Rutland Horse Extras. Both kept the weight on my lad, even in the worst of the winter when he was out 24/7 and struggling with stomach ulcers!