|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spring Feeding
Suggestions
by Judy Reynolds, PhD.,
P.A.S.,
Equine Nutritionist |
|
|
This time of year, as we approach
the foaling and showing season, horse-owners will be looking for
extra things from their feeding programs.
Broodmare owners need to provide
extra energy, protein, vitamins and minerals for their mares and
foals. Show horse owners will be looking for that extra
bloom to impress the judges. FORAGE FIRST® programs
are the ideal way to accomplish those goals.
In general,
FORAGE FIRST programs are based around good-quality forage
as the major component, since horses are grazing animals with
digestive tracts that are designed to process forages, but are
not as efficient at processing cereal grains. FORAGE
FIRST programs are also designed to give horse owners many
choices in order to customize rations for each individual horse.
Here are some
suggestions for feeding your mares and foals the FORAGE FIRST
way.
Feeding Lactating Mares
During the first
day or two after foaling, mares should be fed small frequent
meals and monitored for any medical conditions.
For lactating
mare rations, good-quality mixed hay and/or pasture offered free
choice is the best place to start. Be sure to feed each
horse as an individual, if possible, and monitor and adjust
according to the mare and foal's condition.
1,100 lb mare at 1 month lactation
25-35
lbs.......Grass or mixed alfalfa/grass hay or free-choice
pasture
2-6 lbs
2-6 lbs...........GROSTRONG®
Ultra-Fiber, Patriot® or Tindle
Trails® 14% Pellets or
Texturized Feed, SENIORGLO® or POWERGLO®
1-3
oz............GROSTRONG Minerals
1-4 lb
............NATURAL GLO®* meal or Nuggets or MOORGLO®
Feeding Nursing Foals
The foal should
be offered some creep feed, which is formulated for nursing
foals, to nibble on by the time it is one-to-two weeks old.
Because, at 2 months of age, the foal's protein and energy needs
are no longer met by the milk alone.
The object of
feeding the foal is to provide steady, continuous growth and no
drastic changes from birth through 1 year of age. Foals
should be eating concentrate well by 2 months (about ˝-1 lb. per
100 lb. body weight). Then at weaning (4˝-5˝ months), they
are eating so well that they suffer no drastic change in
nutrient intake with the loss of milk.
Creep Feeds for Nursing Foals
In any situation
where there is a genetic predisposition towards Developmental
Orthopedic Diseases (DOD), grain starches should be limited by
using low-starch feeds like GROSTRONG Ultra-fiber,
SENIORGLO, or Patriot Junior.
Call the HELPLINE at 1-800-680-8254 for feeding instructions for
these horses.
Nursing Foal Feed Program, 1,100 lb mature weight foal
Free
choice.............Grass or mixed alfalfa/grass hay and mare’s
milk
˝-1 lb/100lb
BW......Creep feed
1 oz
daily................GROSTRONG Minerals or Hi-Phos Minerals
Foal Creep Feed Formulas
With grass hays
1
part..............ShowBoost®
(25% Protein)
3-4 parts
1-3 parts.........12-16% Protein feed, SENIORGLO, POWERGLO,
GROSTRONG Pellets,
Patriot or Tindle Trails
With alfalfa hays
1
part...............NATURAL GLO meal or Nuggets or MOORGLO
1 part...............ShowBoost or GROSTRONG Mintrate (33%
Protein)
3-4 parts 3-4 parts..........14-16% Protein feed, SENIORGLO, Patriot or
Tindle Trails feed
Feeding Show Horses
Horses entering
the show season this spring should be started on 1-4 lbs NATURAL
GLO meal or Nuggets or MOORGLO and 2-3 oz GROSTRONG Minerals
along with their regular feed (reduced if necessary). This
will ensure that they have the shiny coat and high-quality
hooves the judges are looking for.
Have a great
spring season.
* NATURAL GLO is
a registered trademark of Wolcott Farms Inc
For More
Information e-mail at
AN_EquineHelp@admworld.com
or call toll free
EQUINE
NUTRITION HELPLINE
1-800-680-8254
7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Central Time
ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc.
1000 North 30th Street P.O. Box C1 Quincy, IL USA 62305-3155
|
|
