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 Extreme Veteran
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| I bought a 6 month old filly .. She weighs approximately 475 lbs .. I started her on Purinas Ultium Growth . I currently have her on 5 lbs a day & all the grass hay she'll eat . Is this an ok amount of feed per day , or should I be feeding her more ? The bag recommends 6.25 - 7 lbs a day & I emailed a rep & she told me she needs 6.25 lbs per day . Soo what & how much do you all feed your babies ? What do you think I should do ? Keep her the same or bump her up ?
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Extreme Veteran
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| Anyone ? |
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| I feed a half a scoop of 12% pellets along with half a scoop alfalfa pellets and 1 cup rice bran... twice a day. My weanling is 6 months. He also gets wormed on a regular basis. I don't weigh it out. He looks great though besides his winter fluff! lol
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 Maine-iac
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Location: Got Lobsta? | That is exactly what I fed my weanling right up till she was 1 1/2. She received 2.5 pounds of Ult. growth twice per day, all the ahy she wanted and Cal Density. It really helped her through her growth spurts. |
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  Playing the Waiting Game
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| SwingingGdiamond - 2014-11-11 9:38 AM I feed a half a scoop of 12% pellets along with half a scoop alfalfa pellets and 1 cup rice bran... twice a day. My weanling is 6 months. He also gets wormed on a regular basis. I don't weigh it out. He looks great though besides his winter fluff! lol
This does NOT say poundage.... Scoops and density of feed varies by a bunch... People need to weigh the feed in order to KNOW how much you are feeding. |
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Playing the Waiting Game
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| I only had one baby on the ground at a time and I had built a creep pen... I kept pellets in the feeder at all times.. that way the baby never had to rush to eat. I would start putting the feed in the pen as soon as the baby started nibbling on mommas feed. |
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| I have two weanlings (7 months) and just started feeding them the Ultium Growth, too! I am up to feeding them 5 pounds each per day, and will probably increase a little with pasture going dormant. I don't know that I will get them up to the 7# recommendation, but I am just going to keep a close eye on them. They have high quality grass hay available at all times, in addition to free choice Grass Plus Mineral Block by Buckeye Feeds and free choice salt. |
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| I know it doesn't say (poundage) that is why I put I don't weigh it out.
I don't have time to weigh each horses feed.....I've raised plenty of foals and they turned out just fine not weighing their grain. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 559
| Thanks guys :) seems I'm on the right track then! I think I will keep her at 5 lbs for now & up her as she grows . 6 lbs just seemed like an awful lot to me for a 475 lb horse .. But maybe it's not! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 349
Location: texas | Smartpak sells a graduated measuring cup in pounds for feed....
I have one and love it....
here is link to check it out......
https://www.smartpakequine.com/surescoop-5899pb
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
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Location: North Dakota | SwingingGdiamond - 2014-11-11 1:50 PM I know it doesn't say (poundage) that is why I put I don't weigh it out. I don't have time to weigh each horses feed.....I've raised plenty of foals and they turned out just fine not weighing their grain.
You don't have to weigh every time, but, I think a lot of people have NO CLUE as to how much their "scoop" weighs depending on their grain! One time down to the barn with my scale and a few different sized containers and a marker and I have permanent scoops with the correct weight in them.
I know I never knew exactly how much my scoop of grain weighed and boy was I surprised when I finally put it on a scale.
I feed woody's futurity blend 18 to babies until they are over 700 pounds. The requirements were 4-6# per day. I would say the OP is close, but keep in mind the protein levels that babies need are greatly elevated. I've raised a handful of colts in my life, most of them not strictly under my care and the difference in how those colts looked with excellent quality protein (feed and hay) is amazing compared to those that don't have as good of protein. I will never go without a jr feed and alfalfa for a foal ever again. Keep in mind all of these horses that I've raised turn out looking great, but the ones with less careful feeding took longer to look as good as they do as adults. Don't skimp but don't overdo either. |
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Extreme Veteran
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| LMS - 2014-11-11 3:10 PM
SwingingGdiamond - 2014-11-11 1:50 PM I know it doesn't say (poundage) that is why I put I don't weigh it out. I don't have time to weigh each horses feed.....I've raised plenty of foals and they turned out just fine not weighing their grain.
You don't have to weigh every time, but, I think a lot of people have NO CLUE as to how much their "scoop" weighs depending on their grain! One time down to the barn with my scale and a few different sized containers and a marker and I have permanent scoops with the correct weight in them.
I know I never knew exactly how much my scoop of grain weighed and boy was I surprised when I finally put it on a scale.
I feed woody's futurity blend 18 to babies until they are over 700 pounds. The requirements were 4-6# per day. I would say the OP is close, but keep in mind the protein levels that babies need are greatly elevated. I've raised a handful of colts in my life, most of them not strictly under my care and the difference in how those colts looked with excellent quality protein (feed and hay) is amazing compared to those that don't have as good of protein. I will never go without a jr feed and alfalfa for a foal ever again. Keep in mind all of these horses that I've raised turn out looking great, but the ones with less careful feeding took longer to look as good as they do as adults. Don't skimp but don't overdo either.
Soo are you saying I should feed 6 lbs ? I'm not opposed to it , I just want the best possible growth for her ;) if I need to feed 6 lbs then that's what I'll feed. The rep & bag tells m to , so I feel like I should .. But at the same time I read to feed then approx a lb per 100 lbs of body weight :/ which would be 5 in her case |
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Playing the Waiting Game
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| Fancy Lass - 2014-11-11 4:10 PM LMS - 2014-11-11 3:10 PM SwingingGdiamond - 2014-11-11 1:50 PM I know it doesn't say (poundage) that is why I put I don't weigh it out. I don't have time to weigh each horses feed.....I've raised plenty of foals and they turned out just fine not weighing their grain. You don't have to weigh every time, but, I think a lot of people have NO CLUE as to how much their "scoop" weighs depending on their grain! One time down to the barn with my scale and a few different sized containers and a marker and I have permanent scoops with the correct weight in them.
I know I never knew exactly how much my scoop of grain weighed and boy was I surprised when I finally put it on a scale.
I feed woody's futurity blend 18 to babies until they are over 700 pounds. The requirements were 4-6# per day. I would say the OP is close, but keep in mind the protein levels that babies need are greatly elevated. I've raised a handful of colts in my life, most of them not strictly under my care and the difference in how those colts looked with excellent quality protein (feed and hay) is amazing compared to those that don't have as good of protein. I will never go without a jr feed and alfalfa for a foal ever again. Keep in mind all of these horses that I've raised turn out looking great, but the ones with less careful feeding took longer to look as good as they do as adults. Don't skimp but don't overdo either. Soo are you saying I should feed 6 lbs ? I'm not opposed to it , I just want the best possible growth for her ; ) if I need to feed 6 lbs then that's what I'll feed. The rep & bag tells m to , so I feel like I should .. But at the same time I read to feed then approx a lb per 100 lbs of body weight :/ which would be 5 in her case
My belief is the 1 lb per body weight is a horse at its maturity. If you are trying to gain weight or grow you need more to get that growth... So I'd say 6 lbs until he reaches 600 lbs then go up from there... Just my opinion |
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Playing the Waiting Game
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| LMS - 2014-11-11 3:10 PM SwingingGdiamond - 2014-11-11 1:50 PM I know it doesn't say (poundage) that is why I put I don't weigh it out. I don't have time to weigh each horses feed.....I've raised plenty of foals and they turned out just fine not weighing their grain. You don't have to weigh every time, but, I think a lot of people have NO CLUE as to how much their "scoop" weighs depending on their grain! One time down to the barn with my scale and a few different sized containers and a marker and I have permanent scoops with the correct weight in them.
I know I never knew exactly how much my scoop of grain weighed and boy was I surprised when I finally put it on a scale.
I feed woody's futurity blend 18 to babies until they are over 700 pounds. The requirements were 4-6# per day. I would say the OP is close, but keep in mind the protein levels that babies need are greatly elevated. I've raised a handful of colts in my life, most of them not strictly under my care and the difference in how those colts looked with excellent quality protein (feed and hay) is amazing compared to those that don't have as good of protein. I will never go without a jr feed and alfalfa for a foal ever again. Keep in mind all of these horses that I've raised turn out looking great, but the ones with less careful feeding took longer to look as good as they do as adults. Don't skimp but don't overdo either.
You said it better than I... My other thought is not all scoops are created equal.. Tractor supply may sell a 2 qt scoop and atwoods may have a 3 qt. |
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| For my chunky monkey of a baby, she is getting 1 pound a day of Triple Crown 30% and roughly 1 pound of alfalfa a day along with 1 pound of coastal. She used to eat the TC Growth along with the 30%, but her belly kept on gettin bigger (on a regular worming schedule), so we cut out the Growth.
This nutrition plan was worked out for me by the nutritionist that works for Triple Crown, fine tailored for her! She is just about 7 months old and at a very awkward stage haha, once she hits another growth spurt I will add the Growth back in! |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | I wish those feed company reps would take a picture of the weaning digestive system and show us where 6 pounds of concentrate is supposed to fit in that immature system. They have a warehouse full of bags that they want to put in your colt. We feed many of the best performance horses in the world, and can't put that much concentrate in them without doing four feedings per day. These are roughage eating animals. Hit protein requirements (15% to 16%) with quality roughage and a balancer, and leave the starch, sugar and fillers in the bag. Most developmental problems are directly feed related, and many don't show up until later years where you don't realize where the problem came from. We never feed a baby over three pounds of total concentrate per day, and spend the money we save on better roughage. |
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Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | Fancy Lass - 2014-11-11 4:10 PM
LMS - 2014-11-11 3:10 PM
SwingingGdiamond - 2014-11-11 1:50 PM I know it doesn't say (poundage) that is why I put I don't weigh it out. I don't have time to weigh each horses feed.....I've raised plenty of foals and they turned out just fine not weighing their grain.
You don't have to weigh every time, but, I think a lot of people have NO CLUE as to how much their "scoop" weighs depending on their grain! One time down to the barn with my scale and a few different sized containers and a marker and I have permanent scoops with the correct weight in them.
I know I never knew exactly how much my scoop of grain weighed and boy was I surprised when I finally put it on a scale.
I feed woody's futurity blend 18 to babies until they are over 700 pounds. The requirements were 4-6# per day. I would say the OP is close, but keep in mind the protein levels that babies need are greatly elevated. I've raised a handful of colts in my life, most of them not strictly under my care and the difference in how those colts looked with excellent quality protein (feed and hay) is amazing compared to those that don't have as good of protein. I will never go without a jr feed and alfalfa for a foal ever again. Keep in mind all of these horses that I've raised turn out looking great, but the ones with less careful feeding took longer to look as good as they do as adults. Don't skimp but don't overdo either.
Soo are you saying I should feed 6 lbs ? I'm not opposed to it , I just want the best possible growth for her ; ) if I need to feed 6 lbs then that's what I'll feed. The rep & bag tells m to , so I feel like I should .. But at the same time I read to feed then approx a lb per 100 lbs of body weight :/ which would be 5 in her case
I'm just saying to judge her with your eyes! Keep her where she is and don't be afraid to increase either her grain or her roughage intake if she starts looking gangly. In the last colt I had here, I would always try yo increase with an extra flake of alfalfa before increasing his grain, and to go with win willows statement, if I was feeding 6# it was in 2 feedings |
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 I too, shall remain nameless!
Posts: 2248
Location: Wearing a winter coat...... | winwillows - 2014-11-12 12:07 AM
I wish those feed company reps would take a picture of the weaning digestive system and show us where 6 pounds of concentrate is supposed to fit in that immature system. They have a warehouse full of bags that they want to put in your colt. We feed many of the best performance horses in the world, and can't put that much concentrate in them without doing four feedings per day. These are roughage eating animals. Hit protein requirements (15% to 16%) with quality roughage and a balancer, and leave the starch, sugar and fillers in the bag. Most developmental problems are directly feed related, and many don't show up until later years where you don't realize where the problem came from. We never feed a baby over three pounds of total concentrate per day, and spend the money we save on better roughage.
I agree 100%. After raising one that I had to board when he was young that caused him to be fed the wrong way...I am pretty anal. I have dealt with OCD issue due to starch levels and spiked insulin levels because of how he was fed. Start with the best forage and it makes the fed choices much more simple. I also will never feed Oats to my young ones. Maybe others have had luck but I didn't. |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | whohasaplan - 2014-11-12 7:38 AM
winwillows - 2014-11-12 12:07 AM
I wish those feed company reps would take a picture of the weaning digestive system and show us where 6 pounds of concentrate is supposed to fit in that immature system. They have a warehouse full of bags that they want to put in your colt. We feed many of the best performance horses in the world, and can't put that much concentrate in them without doing four feedings per day. These are roughage eating animals. Hit protein requirements (15% to 16%) with quality roughage and a balancer, and leave the starch, sugar and fillers in the bag. Most developmental problems are directly feed related, and many don't show up until later years where you don't realize where the problem came from. We never feed a baby over three pounds of total concentrate per day, and spend the money we save on better roughage.
I agree 100%. After raising one that I had to board when he was young that caused him to be fed the wrong way...I am pretty anal. I have dealt with OCD issue due to starch levels and spiked insulin levels because of how he was fed. Start with the best forage and it makes the fed choices much more simple. I also will never feed Oats to my young ones. Maybe others have had luck but I didn't.
Most people feed too much protein to performance horses thinking that it is the best way to get additional usable energy. A mature performance horse will do great on a total protein level in the diet of around 10 or 11%. Growing horses are a different thing. Proteins are the building blocks for tissue. Because of this a growing colt needs a protein level in the entire diet of about 16%. There really is not a good place for oats in most growing horse diets. In general, Oats do not contribute to elevating the protein level of lower protein hay, and may even lower the dietary total. In addition, oats provide too much phosphorous in most straight grass hay, or Coastal Bermuda diets. Not to mention the disruptive effect of excess starch and sugars getting to the hind gut. At a low rate, oats may benefit a diet that is mostly alfalfa by offsetting the high calcium that those diets will have. But, even there, it generally takes too much to balance the Cal/phos ratio with just oats in those diets. Bottom line, if you are raising young horses there are better alternatives.
Edited by winwillows 2014-11-12 6:31 PM
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 Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia |
I have a weanling filly that is 7 months old and im only feeding her 2 pounds of grain a day. I feed Triple Crown Growth. I was feeding more after she was weaned and she started gaining some serious pounds so I had to back her down. She gets free choice bermuda hay all day also. So with that said, 5 pounds seems like a lot of grain to me.
Edited by Runninbay 2014-11-12 8:44 PM
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | winwillows - 2014-11-11 10:07 PM I wish those feed company reps would take a picture of the weaning digestive system and show us where 6 pounds of concentrate is supposed to fit in that immature system. They have a warehouse full of bags that they want to put in your colt. We feed many of the best performance horses in the world, and can't put that much concentrate in them without doing four feedings per day. These are roughage eating animals. Hit protein requirements (15% to 16%) with quality roughage and a balancer, and leave the starch, sugar and fillers in the bag. Most developmental problems are directly feed related, and many don't show up until later years where you don't realize where the problem came from. We never feed a baby over three pounds of total concentrate per day, and spend the money we save on better roughage.
I have to agree. I just hate the thought of a baby having 6# of grain in their belly. I fed my HUS yearling that was huge and was probably a good 1000+ lbs already, what the bag of Ultium Growth said to, he was always in top form, but man it was a lot of grain. I pulled him off that to Ultium when he was 2 1/2 and it was still too much (and that kind made him goofy) so I switched to ADM and he gets 2lbs, actually recently cut him to 1# because he's not doing a thing but hanging out in the corral and he was getting too fat. So my one and only weanling is on 2# of ADM JuniorGLO and looks really good. Mine all get free choice grass hay too. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 140
| My 8 month old filly is getting 4 pounds of Strategy divided into two feedings; Seminole Alfa Balancer 12:12; and about 5 to 10 pounds of orchard hay per day. Although she may be starting to look like a "feed 'n lead" halter horse lol
Edited by lilac lane farm 2014-11-13 4:11 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 413
| I had my hay analyzed and it came back 20% available protein, 1.94% Ca and 0.3% Phosphorus.
they are getting 2# of ADM junior glo AM and PM.
My CA:P ratio is off, what is the best way to balance it? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 411
Location: Smack in the middle of WA! | I guess I am the odd one out on this! I grain before and after I wean, omolene 300, for about a month then taper off the grain and go to straight hay. We free feed an orchard grass mix and they get 5 to 10 lbs of alfalfa each day. We also provide free choice Vitalix tubs. I like the way they grow without all the grain in there diet! I put the extra I would spend on grain towards good quality hay! I guess if access to good quality hay is difficult I could see adding a supplement but 5 and 6 lbs of grain just seems like to much. I don't even feed my performance horses that much grain  |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| I would like to feed renew gold to my weanies with free choice Bermuda and a flake or 2 of alfalfa twice a day. I will cut out grain if they get to fat. I also want to use the lick tubs. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 600
Location: Oklahoma & Texas | Just watch your protein...too much and you'll run into growth problems...need it around 12 to 14 percent. ..12 being better....i agree with good quality hay is the main thing to concentrate on. ..i feed mine free choice grass hay and a flake of alfalfa morning and night. ...i feed nutrena products for grain the mare and foal one but if they are growing too fast or too hot they can bump down to safechoice original and safe choice special care is like 50 cents more a bag than original but same nutrient percentage with no corn and low nsc if you have a hot one or sensitive one..if you have a harder keeper ultium growth is the bomb...i always feed the grain at the bottom of the range recommended on the bag since they get free choice grass and good quality alfalfa twice a day...vitalix are good too if they have free access to it and hay...if you have fast growers feed em msm...its cheap and most of the old racehorse breeders i know use it as well as my vet recommended as keeps the inflammation away from their joints and keeps epiphysitis away til they are 2 or 3...i feed it to all of mine baby to senior and makes manes n tails grow like crazy too :) and did i say it was cheap lol.. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 550
| achildres - 2014-11-11 9:46 PM
For my chunky monkey of a baby, she is getting 1 pound a day of Triple Crown 30% and roughly 1 pound of alfalfa a day along with 1 pound of coastal. She used to eat the TC Growth along with the 30%, but her belly kept on gettin bigger (on a regular worming schedule), so we cut out the Growth.
This nutrition plan was worked out for me by the nutritionist that works for Triple Crown, fine tailored for her! She is just about 7 months old and at a very awkward stage haha, once she hits another growth spurt I will add the Growth back in!
This is what I feed too, mine is coming 2 but has been on this since she was a weanling.
With colder weather coming I thought I would add back in some TC Growth to help her keep condition, but she is starting to get pudgy again, so I guess I will cut the Growth until/unless she starts to lose weight.
It is what I fed her mom during her pregnancy too. She is an easy keeper, and the vet said not to let her gain too much weight during pregnancy. This gave the nutrition without the excess calories. |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| Feed exactly what your bag says for the appropriate age. Its the only way to ensure they are getting everything they need out of the feed. |
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 Butter my Biscuits
Posts: 2948
Location: MI | While I can appreciate that there might be new research that says there is better alternatives to feed youngsters, dont think anyone can deny that many many thousands of horses for centuries have been raised on oats and alfalfa and went on to have productive careers. Also cant deny there has also been many hot house flowers that were overfed, raised in a stall, pushed too soon, and then wonder why they have outrageous vet bills? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 559
| I am now feeding my 7 month old filly adm juniorglo . I am liking it . I feed her 5 lbs a day bc she gets free choice grass hay , but it isn't great quality . What do you all think on the juniorglo ? I know it's high protein .. Do you think it's too high or just fine ? |
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 Expert
Posts: 2258
| I have mine on about 3lbs of whole oats, a good vit/min supplement and a fat supplement. They are all growing good and no problems. I also feed then a mixed grass/alfalfa 3 or 4 times a day to keep them busy. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 349
Location: texas | BBrewster - 2014-12-18 9:46 PM
Just watch your protein...too much and you'll run into growth problems...need it around 12 to 14 percent. ..12 being better....i agree with good quality hay is the main thing to concentrate on. ..i feed mine free choice grass hay and a flake of alfalfa morning and night. ...i feed nutrena products for grain the mare and foal one but if they are growing too fast or too hot they can bump down to safechoice original and safe choice special care is like 50 cents more a bag than original but same nutrient percentage with no corn and low nsc if you have a hot one or sensitive one..if you have a harder keeper ultium growth is the bomb...i always feed the grain at the bottom of the range recommended on the bag since they get free choice grass and good quality alfalfa twice a day...vitalix are good too if they have free access to it and hay...if you have fast growers feed em msm...its cheap and most of the old racehorse breeders i know use it as well as my vet recommended as keeps the inflammation away from their joints and keeps epiphysitis away til they are 2 or 3...i feed it to all of mine baby to senior and makes manes n tails grow like crazy too :) and did i say it was cheap lol..
BBrewster I sent u a pm......
I feed safe choice special care and will be a first timer breeder come spring 2015..... |
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Expert
Posts: 3300
| BBrewster - 2014-12-19 7:46 PM Just watch your protein...too much and you'll run into growth problems...need it around 12 to 14 percent. ..12 being better....i agree with good quality hay is the main thing to concentrate on. ..i feed mine free choice grass hay and a flake of alfalfa morning and night. ...i feed nutrena products for grain the mare and foal one but if they are growing too fast or too hot they can bump down to safechoice original and safe choice special care is like 50 cents more a bag than original but same nutrient percentage with no corn and low nsc if you have a hot one or sensitive one..if you have a harder keeper ultium growth is the bomb...i always feed the grain at the bottom of the range recommended on the bag since they get free choice grass and good quality alfalfa twice a day...vitalix are good too if they have free access to it and hay...if you have fast growers feed em msm...its cheap and most of the old racehorse breeders i know use it as well as my vet recommended as keeps the inflammation away from their joints and keeps epiphysitis away til they are 2 or 3...i feed it to all of mine baby to senior and makes manes n tails grow like crazy too :) and did i say it was cheap lol..
They need about 16% protein... For growth.. As long as you have a higher protein percentage and have your cal phos ratio balanced all your amino acids like lysine you should be fine.. |
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