[BigBayPercheron]

I feed both my full sized horses plenty of hay (about 20 lbs in the stall and they have a round roll out in the pasture) since we don't have much grass growing in winter. They both get grain as an additive, and I use a 12% protein/21% fiber/4% fat sweet feed and alfalfa oat pellets, but because the feed store closest to me closed down I've had to start using Tractor Supply. I can get an identical sweet feed for them but our Tractor Supply doesn't carry the oat pellets. So, I switched the horses to alfalfa oat cubes. I'm not sure how much to give them though! They get about 1 1/2 lbs of sweet feed and 1lb of pellets usually, but I'm wondering what the ratio change for the cubes would be? And my Percheron keeps a pretty healthy 6 body score but my mare (who gets a bit more sweet feed) is between a 4-5 and I want her a bit chunkier.

 

[spirit88]

My guess it would be the same feeding rate 1 pound of the cubes as long as it weighs out at a pound. Don't really know though so just a guess. Never have heard of alfalfa oat cubes you must be from out of the united states.

 

[SullysRider]

5 is actually the ideal body score, I would watch the heavier one's weight, drafts are prone to metabolic problems. I believe I've seen the alfalfa oat cubes at my local TSC, but I feed the alfalfa/timothy cubes so I don't know the exact conversion. I would just start them out slow and find what amount works for them. Stay with one weight for a while, then if they're not holding their weight like they should bump them up, if they're getting to heavy then bump them down.

 

[loosie]

Hi,

Not familiar with cubes. You're wanting to compare alfalfa/oat pellets to alfalfa/oat cubes? Meaning the same thing(assuming ratios/ingreds same) only pellets are more processed? I'd probably then feed the same amounts, tho start gradually.

I'd consider nutritional balance carefully, with all the alfalfa & sweets. I'd also look into feeding extra magnesium, especially with that diet. But then I wouldn't tend to feed sweets at all and wouldn't feed either to a horse that was already overweight/easy keeper, esp a heavy breed.

 

[BigBayPercheron]

Thank you all! I'm just going to keep it at the same weight for now and adjust as necessary. My Percheron is actually half thoroughbred and his weight has a habit of going up and down. He's on the leaner side right now, and since we're having a harder time getting hay I'm worried about his fiber in take. I'll look into boosting their magnesium

 

[loosie]

If you can't get hay, grass pellets or chaff, beet pulp, etc need to be added.