Ok,i need to know ,how much is to much and can it cause ulcers?My hay guy says the hay i feed is 18% and it's coastal bermuda.I feed a block two times a day with my grain morning and night,and the amount of grain i feed is a 3# coffee can of 11% whole oats.This is a gelding that gets rode about four times a week for about an hour each time.After i read this over it sounds more like a math question LOL,but if you knew me you would know i'm louzy at math,so anyway if anyone can help i would greatly appreciate it,oh yea he is turned out on the pasture most of the day.
The grain is more likely the cause of any stomach issues. It's the highest sugar content of what you're feeding.
Most horses need about 20# of forage to go with your 6# of grain a day. So this is how the protein looks on your ration.
20# of hay @ .18 = 3.6# of protein from the hay. 6# of grain @ .11 =.66# of protein from the grain.
Add the two together you get total protein of 4.26# of protein a day. Divide the total protein by the total ration. 4.26# / 26# = 16.3846... %protein.
It is a little high for a riding horse. 12% is enough. That would be perfect for a late gestation or lactating mare. But it won't cause ulcers and it won't actually hurt your horse to be too high in protein.
"PROTEIN",HORSES DIET
