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Expert
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Location: Southwest Louisiana | I read on one of the many feed posts here a week or so ago that some of you only feed a mix of alfalfa pellets/cubes and rice bran. If you do this, do you add in any supplements? I'm curious because I've got two old guys (26 and 27) who never get ridden, just walk around on 12 acres, and they are pretty easy keepers. I've always used alfalfa pellets and rice bran in the winter to add weight/fat, but never thought about them as the only food source (besides regular hay). Any more info on this would be appreciated. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| Yes I do with one of mine, the rest get Oats added too. You might consider adding Flax Seed too. Rice Bran is high in Omega-6 fatty acids, which is pro-inflammatory. Flax is high in Omega-3's, which are anti-inflammatory. Both are important but because rice bran is high in Omega-6's you'll want to balance it with something high in Omega-3's, I choose Flax seed. |
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
 
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | I've had 2 pasture ornaments on 1.5 pounds of Pinnacle Balancer through the summer. One is in her 20's. They both did so well I'm switching all my non-runners to it. They get 2 pounds Alf cubes in the evening and 1-2 pounds of balancer with rice bran/flax in the mornings. |
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 Friendly horse swapper
Posts: 4122
Location: Buffalo, TX | I didn't realize that many people fed alfalfa and a rice bran product....I feed Chaffhaye and Natural Glo Rice Bran, but I also buy an oat/fat mix for my 24 yr. old retired mare because she gets anything her heart desires and she loves it, so I buy it...lol |
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 Expert
Posts: 1261
| I feed alf pellets, rice bran, oats with a ration balancer and chia seeds to both the horse I compete on and my arthritic pregnant mare. Has been working well for me for the past 6 months or so. Fairly recent changes for me as I wanted to feed a less processed more natural diet. |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | FlyingJT - 2015-08-27 9:31 AM
Yes I do with one of mine, the rest get Oats added too. You might consider adding Flax Seed too. Rice Bran is high in Omega-6 fatty acids, which is pro-inflammatory. Flax is high in Omega-3's, which are anti-inflammatory. Both are important but because rice bran is high in Omega-6's you'll want to balance it with something high in Omega-3's, I choose Flax seed.
If you run the numbers on Omega 3 provided from the roughage part of your diet you will see that the amount of Omega 6 provided in the Stabilized Rice Bran is no where near putting the diet out of balance. Unless you are feeding much more stabilized rice bran than needed that relationship is very near ideal without added omega 3. I am a fan of Flax, and use it in Renew Gold for a number of reasons including balancing the amino acid profile, and as a third natural fat source. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 600
Location: Oklahoma & Texas | If you like rice bran and flax ...can get renew gold so you get the balanced ration plus alfalfa ...i feed that plus omegahorseshine to balance out and add more omega 3 ' s but mine look and feel awesome on that combo plus alfalfa morning and night...and free choice coastal hay but with this combo I bet they don't eat 2 flakes of coastal a day and I have it out free choice |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Cindy Hamilton - 2015-08-27 4:42 PM I didn't realize that many people fed alfalfa and a rice bran product....I feed Chaffhaye and Natural Glo Rice Bran, but I also buy an oat/fat mix for my 24 yr. old retired mare because she gets anything her heart desires and she loves it, so I buy it...lol
I started feeding alfalfa/rice bran after I quit ADM last winter. Very happy with it and it's cheaper.
My mare gets a hoof supplement, my gelding gets vit e, and I keep a loose mineral out. |
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Expert
Posts: 1857
| winwillows - 2015-08-27 5:45 PM
FlyingJT - 2015-08-27 9:31 AM
Yes I do with one of mine, the rest get Oats added too. You might consider adding Flax Seed too. Rice Bran is high in Omega-6 fatty acids, which is pro-inflammatory. Flax is high in Omega-3's, which are anti-inflammatory. Both are important but because rice bran is high in Omega-6's you'll want to balance it with something high in Omega-3's, I choose Flax seed.
If you run the numbers on Omega 3 provided from the roughage part of your diet you will see that the amount of Omega 6 provided in the Stabilized Rice Bran is no where near putting the diet out of balance. Unless you are feeding much more stabilized rice bran than needed that relationship is very near ideal without added omega 3. I am a fan of Flax, and use it in Renew Gold for a number of reasons including balancing the amino acid profile, and as a third natural fat source.
You know, I never really looked at it in the roughage, not sure why I didn't. I will check it out. And yes, I also feed it for the extra fat. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I'm feeding Alfalfa (Plus Bermuda but he just munches on that) and half a pound of Renew Gold and I am very pleased with my horses body and temperament. I've contemplated getting a loose vitamin/mineral to feed free choice but I want to get the hay tested first to see if it's even necessary.
Edited by hammer_time 2015-08-28 12:29 PM
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