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Elite Veteran
Posts: 838
  
Location: Georgia | I didn't want to steal the other thread by asking my question and I would like more specific measurements if you all don't mind sharing your feeding secrets.
Currently my horses are on alfalfa twice daily, free range grass and hay, one scoop of a 14/6 grain twice a day with smartpak omega 3 and MSM supplements.
I would like to continue with the supplement however I want to get away from processed feeds. Where should I start and what are your ratios?
Also to add this is being fed to my two broodies(except the supplements) and my two performance mares. |
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
 
Location: NE Texas | Klittle3 - 2015-12-22 1:02 PM I didn't want to steal the other thread by asking my question and I would like more specific measurements if you all don't mind sharing your feeding secrets. Currently my horses are on alfalfa twice daily, free range grass and hay, one scoop of a 14/6 grain twice a day with smartpak omega 3 and MSM supplements. I would like to continue with the supplement however I want to get away from processed feeds. Where should I start and what are your ratios? Also to add this is being fed to my two broodies(except the supplements) and my two performance mares.
Just change your current grain for whole oats. I only feed a half scoop of whole oats once daily simply to use as a medium for my Cur-OST. Just be sure you're at less than 2 pounds per serving. :) If you're program is working and their hind gut is functioning as it should, you should just need the oats (or any grain) as a medium to serve your supplements. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | I feed 2 1/2 lbs whole oats (probably do not need that much)
Mega-cell vit/min supplement (2 scoops)
Grass hay
to all my horses and vet says she has never seen them look better.
My running/working horses, get the same as above with an additional 2 1/2 lbs of oats in the evening and I add 2 scoops (the loading dose for MSM) and 2 scoops cool calories to help maintain their weight and energy. This is what they get in one day.
I switched from processed feeds in July 2015 and have received nothing but compliments on how my horses look. Saved me a lot of money too!
I think I will be cutting the non working horses down to almost nothing in oats come Spring and I could probably cut my running/working horses down to but I will wait and see when they actually start running/working again! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 838
Location: Georgia | Thank you both for sharing! Any particular brand of whole oats or just whatever your local feed store sells? |
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 Saint Stacey
| I'm mixing oats, barley, shredded beet pulp and timothy pellets because my forage is mainly alfalfa hay. 50# bag of oats, 50# barley, 40# timothy and I think it's 30# of shreds. I top dress with stabilized rice bran and whole flax. 12-12 loose minerals and THE Muscle Mass. Mine look better than ever and feel WAY too good. I feed approximately 1# of the grain mix once a day. The rice bran and flax are about 1 cup total (1/2 cup each). 1 oz 12-12. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | Klittle3 - 2015-12-22 3:21 PM
Thank you both for sharing! Any particular brand of whole oats or just whatever your local feed store sells?
I just use the Tractor Supply brand and haven't had any problems. I know there is a brand called Racehorse Brand whole oats (or something like that). They are suppose to be better and of course they cost more. I used them in the beginning, they ran out for a time so I had to use Tractor Supply in a pinch and I noticed no difference in my horses. |
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 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11493
Location: 31 lengths farms | ampratt - 2015-12-23 1:48 PM
Klittle3 - 2015-12-22 3:21 PM
Thank you both for sharing! Any particular brand of whole oats or just whatever your local feed store sells?
I just use the Tractor Supply brand and haven't had any problems. I know there is a brand called Racehorse Brand whole oats (or something like that ). They are suppose to be better and of course they cost more. I used them in the beginning, they ran out for a time so I had to use Tractor Supply in a pinch and I noticed no difference in my horses.
I've had good luck with Tractor Supply's oats also. Bought a bag of what was labeled as "Racehorse Oats" recleaned ones...ummm, I'm guessing from the crap that was in them that "recleaned" meant they cleaned up the floor of a feed mill and dumped them in the bag. It was so dusty and had chunks of questionable "things" in it as well as a high percentage of corn. It got dumped out and feed to some very happy deer. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 838
Location: Georgia | Sounds like I'll be switching over to whole oats once my current feed runs out! I'm excited to try this and I can't wait to see the results! Thanks again everyone! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | When it comes to oats, you get what you pay for. The better oats, the better value. I personally, would not recommend TSC oats. That would be producers pride house brand. They are cheap oats and will have less energy and nutrition. I would recommend Woody's oats if you can find them. They are good oats. Don't be cheap on whole ingredients. It's just like hay or forage. The good stuff is more expensive but a better value and better nutrition. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Keep your alfalfa to 20% of the hay portion for each horse. I agree on the quality grains as TDove explained. You can always send your feed in for analysis. Several really good nutritionist out there now a days to help you out.
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 Expert
Posts: 5290
| uno-dos-tres! - 2015-12-22 8:10 PM
Keep your alfalfa to 20% of the hay portion for each horse. I agree on the quality grains as TDove explained. You can always send your feed in for analysis. Several really good nutritionist out there now a days to help you out.
What is the purpose of keeping the alfalfa to 20 percent of the forage portion? I feed about 80 percent alfalfa and 20 percent orchard grass. Along with whole oats and rice bran. Just curious on the 20 percent alfalfa. Thanks. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Alfalfa is an awesome equine feed. The legume is the highest quality/feeding value of all forages. It's high in energy and protein, has a good vitamin and mineral profile. It's also very yummy to your horse, keeping it to 20% in performance horses diets keeps it pretty balanced and should keep your horse from gaining weight.
Go to Equi-Analytical and use the trainer profile to help you balance your feed to the horses nutrient requirements. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
Location: Lost in the swamps | Not to steal the thred.... I was thinking about going au natural too!!... Trying to save money on my feed bill.
Feed gurus! Help us with formulas.
My tr supply does not have barley.
I was going to do
1-50# oats
1-40# alfalfa pellets
1-40# beet pulp
Mineral suppliment
Should I add a fat source? Bran or amplify? Nutrena boost?ect?
I feel like one horse could benefit from it.
I am switching from safe choice org. My horses are not flourishing on it. Not to mention feed safety.
They get 12#s of coastal a day.
Baled alfalfa is 22.00bucks down here :(
Edited by imturnin3 2015-12-23 8:49 AM
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Good Ole Boys just Fine with Me
Posts: 2869
Location: SE Missouri | This was the worst year for finding decent oats! It's why I switched to the renew gold. They were light (I heard low TW on oats this year) or I had to drive 1.5hrs to spend $20/bag on amazing steamed rolled oats. Don't get me wrong I loved the rolled oats but it was too expensive.. I have debated raising my own and still may next year.. Until then I'm alfalfa 15#/day; 24/7 rye grass/Timothy/orchard grass pasture and 2#renewgold.. |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | imturnin3 - 2015-12-23 8:44 AM Not to steal the thred.... I was thinking about going au natural too!!... Trying to save money on my feed bill. Feed gurus! Help us with formulas. My tr supply does not have barley. I was going to do 1-50# oats 1-40# alfalfa pellets 1-40# beet pulp Mineral suppliment Should I add a fat source? Bran or amplify? Nutrena boost?ect? I feel like one horse could benefit from it. I am switching from safe choice org. My horses are not flourishing on it. Not to mention feed safety. They get 12#s of coastal a day. Baled alfalfa is 22.00bucks down here :(
Where do you live? We should be getting a truckload of alfalfa by the first of the year, I am thinking it will be around $25 for the big three string bales.
I think some on here are feeding rice bran with alfalfa and having good results with it. |
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Expert
Posts: 1414
| uno-dos-tres! - 2015-12-23 1:55 AM Alfalfa is an awesome equine feed. The legume is the highest quality/feeding value of all forages. It's high in energy and protein, has a good vitamin and mineral profile. It's also very yummy to your horse, keeping it to 20% in performance horses diets keeps it pretty balanced and should keep your horse from gaining weight. Go to Equi-Analytical and use the trainer profile to help you balance your feed to the horses nutrient requirements.
Where is this? Equi-Analytical did my hay test for me and I've been to their website several times but I can't find the "Trainer profile".
Thanks! |
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Expert
Posts: 1314
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass | The best quality oats will come from the north as in Canada. It takes cooler weather to make heavy test weight oats. |
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Expert
Posts: 1207
| I get my oats from Bluebonnet. They have awesome race horse oats my horses love. No dust. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| For the people who are feeding oats from feed plants, as I know in some processing plants run whole oats through to clean the lines after running medicated feed through.
I would be looking at seed cleaning plants, grain elevators to buy whole oats from.
Or try and buy some from a local farmer.
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Good Ole Boys just Fine with Me
Posts: 2869
Location: SE Missouri | BS Hauler - 2015-12-23 11:02 AM
The best quality oats will come from the north as in Canada. It takes cooler weather to make heavy test weight oats.
Amen on this! We have raised oats in the past and lucked out. We ran out of space and had oats coming out of our ears! Unfortunately it was a great year for garlic too! I guess the positive with the garlic was low fly problem, lol. I think we fed those oats for at least two years. Stinky fly free horses, lol. |
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