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feeding a Percheron/TB

5K views 9 replies 5 participants last post by  luvs2ride1979 
#1 ·
I recently purchased a Percheron/TB mix who is the biggest lover ever! :)

I noticed recently that he is dropping some weight. He is getting the same amounts of feed as my TB but I think I am missing something. He is not being used alot. We just ride a bit around the house here so no heavy work or showing.

Right now he is getting 4lbs of grain pellets from TSC plus free choice minerals, and pasture 24/7.

I have heard alot about Strategy and the draft breed. Is there a recommended feed from Purina that anyone can recommend?

Thanks!
 
#4 ·
All that has been checked. He's up to date on everything and my pasture is good and still looks good.

I am just looking for recommendations from others who may have had Draft/TB mix and may know of some special things that they need that maybe a QH or more easy keeper doesn't.

He is not sick, not dropping lots of weight or anything, just looks a little leaner than I like... I have just heard that Drafts may need a lower starch/higher fat diet and I am looking for recommendations.

Sorry I may have not been clear... :)

I ran across some Nutrena products while "wasting" some time at a feed store today so I am looking into that.

Thanks!!!
 
#5 ·
Drafts don't always do well on grain diets. You might look in to feeding him a combination of beet pulp, alfalfa pellets, and a fat supplement (rice bran, flax, corn oil, etc.), no grains. Once his weight is back up, you can reduce or remove the beet pulp and reduce the fat.

Start with 2 lbs of the grain you're giving him, 1 lb of beet pulp (dry weight) and 1 lb of alfalfa pellets. Make sure the beet pulp contains NO molasses. Give that a few days, then add 1/4 cup of corn oil or rice bran. Give that a few days. Then reduce your grain to 1 lb, increase bp and ap to 2 lbs each, and increase the fat to 1/2 cup. After a week, remove your grain, increase the bp and ap to 3 lbs each, and fat to 1 cup. Leave him on that for 2-3 weeks and see how he does.

He "should" be able to maintain weight on 0-1 lb beet pulp, 2-3 lbs alfalfa pellets, and 1/2 cup of fat.

Good luck!
 
#7 ·
Drafts don't always do well on grain diets. You might look in to feeding him a combination of beet pulp, alfalfa pellets, and a fat supplement (rice bran, flax, corn oil, etc.), no grains. Once his weight is back up, you can reduce or remove the beet pulp and reduce the fat.

Start with 2 lbs of the grain you're giving him, 1 lb of beet pulp (dry weight) and 1 lb of alfalfa pellets. Make sure the beet pulp contains NO molasses. Give that a few days, then add 1/4 cup of corn oil or rice bran. Give that a few days. Then reduce your grain to 1 lb, increase bp and ap to 2 lbs each, and increase the fat to 1/2 cup. After a week, remove your grain, increase the bp and ap to 3 lbs each, and fat to 1 cup. Leave him on that for 2-3 weeks and see how he does.

He "should" be able to maintain weight on 0-1 lb beet pulp, 2-3 lbs alfalfa pellets, and 1/2 cup of fat.

Good luck!

Well, that is good to know. I had not heard that. I will phase out the grain portion of his feed and move him to a beet pulp if I can find it. My local TSC stopped carrying it. (I'm not a fam of my local TSC).

Do you have any trouble w/ the alfalfa pellets? My vet used to against them because she was concerned with what they used to bind it all together to make the pellet.

Thanks a bunch!
 
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