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Feed- To be done by weight only? correct?

1K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  Peggysue 
#1 ·
Hi, I've recently moved my horse and I wonder if you all could help me out before I have to call the vet.

I currently have my horse on a senior feed, and the owner of his new farm has found a senior feed that will be delivered to her place that is really comparable on paper-- 14% to 14.5% protein and 5% to 5.5% fat. However, when you hold the feeds in your hand, its obvious that his former feed is much heavier/denser than the new. Therefore, I'm concerned that a scoop (3 quarts, supposedly) of new will not be nutritionally equivalent to a scoop of old.

Feeding instructions seem to compensate for the weight difference:

old: for 800lb horse, 10-12lbs per day for maintenance
new: 0.40-0.65lbs per 100lbs per day for maintenance=
800lb horse=.4lbs x8 = 3.2lbs per day.

I can see just by looking at the feeds that there is way more molasses in the old, but I'm not sure that it would make up that much of the weight difference. (and someone check my math, because I have no faith in my skills, I was an english major.)


Anyone have any suggestions/experience?

It just seems like such a jump.
 
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#2 ·
Wow, per the bag information you posted it seems like you do feed quite a bit less.

I do know it is a common problem when people switch from standard pellet feeds to a senior feed (extruded type) and continue to feed by the scoop instead of the pound that the horse will loose weight because they are not getting enough.


I say try it at the recommended amounts and keep a close eye on your horse.
 
#3 ·
Its strange because I wouldn't be feeding less by volume, only by weight. It's been pounded into my head pretty hard to always feed by weight, and I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around how both can be "complete feeds" yet such different densities.
 
#4 ·
What are the two feeds??

quality of ingredients has alot to do with nutrition... the old feed may have alot of fillers in it and the new one higher quality but without KNOWING which feeds they are I can't say for sure
 
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