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 Balance Beam and more...
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Location: 31 lengths farms | And as for Ca-Ph ratio, we dont' want a large amount of calcium but more importantly we want it a balanced ratio. |
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Expert
Posts: 1694
Location: Willows, CA | I have had some really interesting results using a "Porta grazer" slow feeder. I know that these seem very expensive, but the way that they work is actually pretty unique. Extending the feeding time, and bite size with one of these has really cut down waste and extended feeding time. In addition, any dirt and dust in the hay falls to the bottom and can be disposed of every few days. I was really not too sure about these to begin with, but like the concept and build quality more every day. I do not make or sell these, and this is not an ad for this product. |
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Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11493
Location: 31 lengths farms | Yes winwillows, I couldn't afford one but that is the main reason I went to the slow feeder net for my gelding. Would it be useful in this situation also?
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Expert
Posts: 1694
Location: Willows, CA | run n rate - 2015-09-30 1:33 PM
Yes winwillows, I couldn't afford one but that is the main reason I went to the slow feeder net for my gelding. Would it be useful in this situation also?
I think your diet looks pretty good depending on your overall hay quality. Slowing consumption of the roughage down does several positive things. With better "sized" bites, the horse will both eat slower and chew more. That in turn will allow your horse to break up the grass hay that you are feeding more completely. Since most grass hays have a faster transit time through the hind gut, having them more broken up exposes more material for digestion in the short time that the hay is there. This in turn can allow the horse to capture more calories from its roughage while it has the chance. These are calories that were in there but ended up on the ground behind the horse because they were just not in the horse long enough for the amount of surface area that they presented for digestion. In other words, you get more without feeding more. Be sure that the teeth are up to date, and you should be getting plenty out of the diet you are feeding. |
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Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11493
Location: 31 lengths farms | I am getting two slow feeder nets for the mares now and see how that works, may have to save my pennies and dimes to purchase the PortaGrazer eventually at least for CC. I truly appreciate your insight on this. Looking at the fact that I am only feeding her the 1lb of RG can I safely increase it ? She is 15.1 hands, weighs 1090 last time at UC Davis on the check up in June. I am riding her @5x a week.
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Expert
Posts: 1694
Location: Willows, CA | run n rate - 2015-09-30 5:16 PM
I am getting two slow feeder nets for the mares now and see how that works, may have to save my pennies and dimes to purchase the PortaGrazer eventually at least for CC. I truly appreciate your insight on this. Looking at the fact that I am only feeding her the 1lb of RG can I safely increase it ? She is 15.1 hands, weighs 1090 last time at UC Davis on the check up in June. I am riding her @5x a week.
Yes, you can add 1/2 pound per day if you are using her that much. Feel free to call if you need any other changes with her diet. |
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Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11493
Location: 31 lengths farms | Thank you so much, and I will give you a call if the extra RG and the hay net don't seem to do the trick. I'll give her a week or so to see if she picks up the weight I'd like to see on her. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 878
Location: "...way down south in the Everglades..." | run n rate - 2015-09-29 7:01 PM Is Nutrena made in a Inophrone (sp) free mill?
I think at least some of their mills are but I never really figured that one out. They may just be ionophore "safe" at best. I feed two of my horses Nutrena's ProForce Fuel...it's high in fat and has no beet pulp, I do really like it. They also have a SafeChoice Special Care you may want to look at. I feed SafeChoice maint. to one of them and it's a decent feed. I also feed Seminole for my yearling...I though about trying their Ultra Bloom rice bran supplement. Seminole is ionophore safe for sure. |
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Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11493
Location: 31 lengths farms | Thank you Buckeye! |
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