Proper amount of grain to feed

[BridledObsession]

Hello everyone

We're having a debate within the barn as to the appropriate amount of grain to be fed. We're using a high end mix designed for horses in training.

It's always been our feeling that you should not over feed grain. We have now and in the past successfully raced on almost half as much grain as some people in the barn want to feed their relatively inactive horses(trail ridden maybe once a week). We do use some supplements and, as a side note, our horses are always complimented on their fitness and muscle development. In fact, the same woman who is critical of our feeding program thought our last winning race horse was "fat".

This wouldn't be an issue, except that we occassionally share feeding duties and I recently found out she was giving our horses more grain than we aware of. Her main point is that her former husband, a trainer, fed alot more grain than we are currently feeding. I was wondering what others are feeding and if anyone had any good links to articles and guidelines so that I might post it at the barn.

Thanks again!!!

[Bondama]

My vet says the more forage (and best quality possible) and less grain, the better. I got my herd started on Orchard/alfalfa and was able to cut my grain feedings in half. The hay man says, too, that he feeds ONLY the O/A and no grain whatsoever, and his herd stays fat. (He raises and shows performance paints if that makes any difference) I told my horses that, and they said I better NOT cut out grain altogether if I know what's good for me. Seriously, I know how much they love getting a grain feeding, so I would never cut it out completely just because of that, but half is a pretty good start. Too, I feed Calf Manna as a supplement, and it has all kinds of good stuff in it, and it tastes like liquorice! So anyway, the (half) grain feeding they now get is a half scoop a.m. and a half scoop p.m. and the scoop is one of those larger plastic ones you buy at the feed store. A quart maybe?

[madelyn]

It is my experience that Thoroughbreds typically need twice as much grain as other breeds. They have, generally, much higher metabolisms. What keeps a paint or qh looking good will keep a TB in ribs and hipbones showing. Workload also plays a very big part. Foaling/lactating mares need a lot of feed, as do working racing stock. It all comes down to calories, and some TB's just cannot EAT enough hay for their caloric needs. My broodmares get three scoops each am and pm of high quality, concentrated broodmare feed. They have free choice hay. Still, a mare or two will go down a bit feeding a big foal.

[Mood Swings]

Different grain brands have different feeding guidelines. Plus every horse is unique in their caloric requirements. I have a 17hh moose (ahem ... mare) that needs about 16 pounds of grain per day when she is nursing in order for her to keep weight on We have other mares that could survive on the ration balancer alone (approx. 3 lbs of grain) and still look great.

[griff]

Madlyn

How much does three scoops weith?

griff

[madelyn]

Depending on which grain, three scoops is about nine pounds of broodmare mix, maybe eight pounds of oats.

[BridledObsession]

I appreciate the responses. Ironically, Madelyn, we're giving our broodmare 3 scoops am and pm as well. She looks perfect weight-wise, has a nice shiny coat and feels good. The other horses are getting 2 to 2 1/2 scoops am and pm, depending on size/work load, etc. They all look great. Our barn mate wants to feed 3 to 4 scoops to horses that are maybe being trail ridden once a week. The irony is her one retired race horse, that she loves, looks underweight to us. We've tried to tell her that something else is now going on with him -- but she won't listen -- just wants to up his feed.

She's making me crazy.

[KamiBrooks]

I can't find the study right now, but once you get over about 4 pounds of gain its too much for the stomach and the stomach dumps the grain into the hind gut w/out digesting it. This can cause lower gut ulcers and other problems. So you can actually cause a horse to be thin by feeding it too much grain at one time.

I always take it that if there's a lot of undigested oats in the manure, that's a sign that they're getting too much at one time and back off. If I need more calories, then I use something else, like fats to bring up calories.

[madelyn]

What we find with our horses is that they eat a little grain, get some water, go for some hay, go back to the grain, etc. They are usually grained by about 8 am, and it can take up until noon for the grain buckets to be empty. Since every horse always gets plenty, there is much less squabbling, fighting, biting, etc. In the big broodmare paddock there is always an "extra" bucket of feed, ie: 10 buckets of feed for 9 horses, because that way the least aggressive horse will eat. We do not see a lot of undigested grain in the manure.

If you have a horse getting thin on grain, it should be checked for ulcers. Also, there are horses who are diabetic and sweet feed can put them over the top so they are constantly peeing and losing weight.

My mares live outside. We are not overdoing their grain. Any less and they would lose weight. They are TB's with high metabolism and spend plenty of time running around on the hills.

[BridledObsession]

Interesting observations. I'm not seeing any undigested grain, but our horses eat their grain like there's no tomorrow. For that reason, I think it's particularly important for them to eat hay first, in order to aid in digestion.

Ours graze all day, get hay (there's not enough grass out there yet), and get grained twice a day. Sometimes they are fed outside in the same paddock, sometimes in their stalls. Not one is over/under weight, EXCEPT her one thoroughbred. I think ulcers are a possibility. He's the kind of horse that can be put off his feed by just the idea that it's time to go out, come in, go for a ride.......he'll often leave grain in his bucket. It would be interesting to suggest to her that by overfeeding she may be making him thinner. The horse needs some supplements and a little extra time and thought put into his diet.

[KamiBrooks]

Tell her to swap out the excess grain for alfalfa cubes. They'll buffer his stomach if it is ulcers and she can still feel like she's feeding him more. Also, she might try a top dressed pro-biotic (I use fast track) for a while.

[spex4me]

I cut back on grain and supplemented corn oil to it. Now I swear they are all fatter than they started. I also pour the grain on top of the hay which is an alfalfa and timothy combo. That way they do take in hay as they eat. My vet suggested this with one that used to colic like clockwork, now that along with kool aid in his water (sugar free) he's not had any bouts in a long time. I seriously doubt my Tb gets 3 pounds a day of Omelene 200 in training right now. Of course that may seriously pick up with more intensive workout schedules. I am anticipating better feed formulations that concentrate on calories/carbs without all the extra sugar. Seems like all the companies are really working on cranking those out.

[griff]

Kimrook

Brood mares can not I digest whole oats.. feed anything that's ever had a foal crimpted oats and they will digest them. Brood cows have the same problem with whole corn.

griff