I know its not exactly a mini but if you were feeding an all grain diet to a 1000 pound horse how much a day? I feed senior(would have to look at the back for the brand as I am drawing a blank) and beet pulp. I plan to add a hay pellet and weight builder when I can get to the store to get some.
All Grain Diet- how much to feed?
- Thread starter Ashley
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chandab
Well-Known Member
Total diet of 15-20# of feed, they still need 1.5-2% of their bodyweight in feed per day, even when on an all pelleted diet (sometimes you can feed a little less, as there is less waste with an all pelleted feed). I'd read the bag of senior and see what they recommend and start there. I know you said all grain, but I'm assuming you mean pelleted feed as in senior feed, hay pellets, beet pulp. [An all grain diet doesn't have enough fiber for gut health.] It also helps to feed more meals per day, same total amount, but divided into more meals.
HorseMom
Well-Known Member
One of the horses at our farm is going on 40 and can no longer digest hay. He gets senior, beet pulp, and hay stretcher. Everything is soaked together. He's been on that for at least since I've been at that farm which is three years. He hasn't lost any weight and is very healthy for a 40 year old horse who barrel raced for a good portion of his life. I don't know much about feeding an all grain diet, just what I've seen at this farm. I'd talk to your vet or an equine nutritionist for more information.
Sorry yes I mean pelleted. I want to add some oats what would be the best kind?
When the vet was out to do his teeth this spring they said he looked good. He was getting about 32 pounds of feed a day over the winter, and I do give him access to hay as he can still eat a bit of it depending on the kind.
He is a hard keeper, he is stalled at night in the winter and has blankets on all winter as well.
When the vet was out to do his teeth this spring they said he looked good. He was getting about 32 pounds of feed a day over the winter, and I do give him access to hay as he can still eat a bit of it depending on the kind.
He is a hard keeper, he is stalled at night in the winter and has blankets on all winter as well.
I think the answer is what you just posted if he was getting 30 lbs of feed a day and was looking good then that should be about right- they say oats can be hard to digest for a sr or very young horse (although I have never had a problem with feeding them to our senior or baby horses)
chandab
Well-Known Member
Wow, 32# of feed daily, he is a hard keeper. I have a 26 year old gelding that weighs about 1050# and he eats around 20# daily; he gets free choice hay, so I really don't know how much hay he eats daily, I just keep his feeder full and he gets 7# hard feed daily (more in winter).
Have you tried adding a probiotic/prebiotic to his diet, they usually help with digestion. My guy was ribbier than I like this spring and his coat was a bit rough; I couldn't give him enough feed (He wouldn't eat more, after a certain amount he'd just quit; his were teeth done and worming upto date), so about a month ago I added a probiotic/prebiotic supplement. Now his ribs are filling in and his coat is like velvet and he seems to enjoy his meals more.
I will say for our aged T/B who was a cribber (which made him a hard keeper he cribbed while he ate) He got a 5 gallon bucket full of beet pulp -9 cups of dry pellets soaked -
Then he got his Sr I didnt weigh it but he got 2 large horse scoops daily in addition of all his hay 5-6 flakes a day I was lucky that he could still eat hay
Then he got his Sr I didnt weigh it but he got 2 large horse scoops daily in addition of all his hay 5-6 flakes a day I was lucky that he could still eat hay
He is about 30 years old. HE does try to eat some hay and grass but most comes out in wads. I dont know his exact weight, just guessing. He isnt very big. I can stand next to him and can see over his back with out a problem and I am only 5'3. He is very active for his age. I havent weighted his feed yet this fall as I am still working him back to his normal amount over winter. Winters was weight about 16 pounds a feeding. HE gets one scoop of beat pulp, and 2 scoops of senior. I also throw in joint meds and weight builder(which I dont have yet).
Chandab what is it you added?
Chandab what is it you added?
chandab
Well-Known Member
I know there are many probiotic products out there... I had some Probios dispersible powder and tried it, he wouldn't eat any of his food that I put the Probios into (not one bite, don't blame him, it stinks). So, I started searching for something different. I'd found several different products, including FastTrack which got great reviews, but came in a fairly large bag; with as picky as he has gotten I didn't want to be stuck with a big bag that no one would eat, so I kept searching. I was looking on the Smart-Pak website and came across their brand; SmartDigest and I could get it in a small container (4 week supply), so I ordered the small container.
I was skeptical when it came, it was a granular/powder product, he usually just blows them out of his dish, but we tried it; first I just put the scoop in his bucket, he sniffed it but didn't snort and blow it out of the bucket (but he wouldn't eat it, as its powder), so I added his scoop of oats to the bucket and mixed it and he tried it and didn't make his icky face nor spit it out, so I mixed in the rest of his meal and he's been eating it ever since (we will finish up the first tub tonight, and I have a new one ready for tomorrow).
Smart-Pak actually has a few different probiotic products, but I started with the SmartDigest since it was the most economical should he decide he doesn't like it. This should be the link to SmartDigest: http://www.smartpakequine.com/productclass...uctClassid=6313 And, if you want to check out the other brands and types, here's a link to the whole selection of digestive aids (some are ulcer meds, some weight gain, so you'll have to look for the probiotic/prebiotic products).
I think you're on the right track with him Ash. If you want probios you can get large containers at Fleet Farm (if there is one near you) or TSC in St. Croix Falls. They should last you about a month or so with the big containers.
Have you tried to give him a 5 gal bucket of soaked alfalfa cubes too to get the roughage in?
Have you tried to give him a 5 gal bucket of soaked alfalfa cubes too to get the roughage in?
32 pounds of feed a day ???
Holy moley Ash, that's more than a half a bag per day! YIKES>
I'm feeding Sonny Purina Equine Senior and he's 27 and a BIG and not nearly going through feed like that thank heavens. I'd say you have a heck of a hard keeper on your hands wowza.
Ash, before you go any further, how about going to Wally World or someplace and pick up a small postage scale for accuracy. I am always amazed at how much I think I am feeding until I actually weigh it.
Walmart has the postage scale for about $13.00 in the stationary department or you can get a different kind in housewares in the kitchen gadget section.
Holy moley Ash, that's more than a half a bag per day! YIKES>
I'm feeding Sonny Purina Equine Senior and he's 27 and a BIG and not nearly going through feed like that thank heavens. I'd say you have a heck of a hard keeper on your hands wowza.
Ash, before you go any further, how about going to Wally World or someplace and pick up a small postage scale for accuracy. I am always amazed at how much I think I am feeding until I actually weigh it.
Walmart has the postage scale for about $13.00 in the stationary department or you can get a different kind in housewares in the kitchen gadget section.
I should say thats not all grain. Thats with the hay pellets and the beat pulp added in.
I do have scale, not a small one by any means. My mom gave me her huge(I think meat?) scale.
I have tried the alfalfa cubes, he has a hard time with those. He has acess to free choice hay, so he can eat what he can. I also tie him out in our yard during the day......excellent lawn mower for my overgrown yard! He eats the alfalfa then goes to the grass.'
this is the heaviest I have been able to get him. This was taken early this spring. I wish I could just get him more covered(his ribs, back bone and hips show more then I like). I do realize some of it might just be age.
I do have scale, not a small one by any means. My mom gave me her huge(I think meat?) scale.
I have tried the alfalfa cubes, he has a hard time with those. He has acess to free choice hay, so he can eat what he can. I also tie him out in our yard during the day......excellent lawn mower for my overgrown yard! He eats the alfalfa then goes to the grass.'
this is the heaviest I have been able to get him. This was taken early this spring. I wish I could just get him more covered(his ribs, back bone and hips show more then I like). I do realize some of it might just be age.
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He looks plenty good to me Ash. Keep in mind this boy has some high withers that might tend to make you think he's not filled out up there. But if you're like me, I do like to pack a few extra pounds on my old horse before winter.
How 'bout changing the alfalfa cubes to alfalfa pellets then?
Also, how 'bout weighing each thing separately that you are feeding him and you might get a better handle on things.
How 'bout changing the alfalfa cubes to alfalfa pellets then?
Also, how 'bout weighing each thing separately that you are feeding him and you might get a better handle on things.
I do weight it individually(or I did when I first started). That is the combined weight. The hay pellets(that I am currently out of) that he gets are alfalfa pellets.
IN the winter he gets grass hay out side during the day(free choice) and at night in his stall he gets alfalfa.
IN the winter he gets grass hay out side during the day(free choice) and at night in his stall he gets alfalfa.
Ok, I weighed what he is getting now. He is not at full amount as I am working him back up after summer(cut him back as he dont eat it all with the grass). HE is kind of at hold right now as he isnt always cleaning this amount up yet either.
Per feeding- 1.5 pounds of beet pulp(dry weight) and 5.5 pounds senior. I also have some sweet feed to use up so occasionally(once a day or every other day) throw some in at 2.5 pounds.
Per feeding- 1.5 pounds of beet pulp(dry weight) and 5.5 pounds senior. I also have some sweet feed to use up so occasionally(once a day or every other day) throw some in at 2.5 pounds.
chandab
Well-Known Member
How many times a day do you feed? And, does he get the same thing at every meal? Just curious more than anything.
My older guy won't eat as much hard feed in summer either, he wants the grass and as soon as it starts growing in the spring, he wants it and won't eat as much hard feed. [i lock him in at night in the summer, then he'll eat all his evening meal. Summertime, I make his evening meal larger than his morning meal. For now, he's good with two meals a day. Come winter, everyone gets a third daily meal, as I feed soaked beet pulp, midday.]
Annabellarose
Well-Known Member
I just wanted to add that, for his age and your feeding struggles, he looks fantastic. You should be very proud of yourself, he is the picture of aged horse health.
