Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
Welcome to my forum.
Here you will find more than 6 years of questions and my answers. It is searchable and offers a great deal of information.
Currently, I am discontinuing new questions. This may change in the future, but in the meantime, please know that It has been a true pleasure serving you.
Take a look at my Nutrition Library and Tips of the Month for a variety of answers on selected topics. Be sure to sign up for my monthly e-newsletter, Forage for Thought.
I also have a growing number of recordings on "Teleseminars on Nutrition Topics that Concern You" as well as the new, Spotlight on Equine Nutrition Series -- printed versions of favorite teleseminars.
And finally, look for my articles in a variety of local publications and online newsletters, as well as the Horse Journal, where I am the Contributing Nutrition Editor.
All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hello SG,
The goal should be to increase his energy intake, but not from sugars and starches. Therefore, I would not recommend that you feed a molassed chaff. Chaff offers very little digestible energy, so instead, add more digestible forages such as alfalfa hay. The Dengie Hi Fi Lite is high in alfalfa and it is an excellent feed. However, you do need to continue with a multi vitamin/mineral supplement, so the balancer should be continued.
Can you tell me how much fat content is in the balancer? I expect that it is not nearly as high as the powdered oil supplement you are feeding. Tell me more about the powdered oil – what type of oil is it and how much are you feeding?
So, bottom line – He is getting more chaff than he needs – Chaff is a “filler” to slow eating but it doesn’t provide the energy he requires to maintain his weight. Instead, feed a digestible forage – Dengie feeds are good. And, beet pulp is also fine. If there is any way for you to permit him to graze on hay as much as he wants, that would be ideal. Horses need to eat continually throughout the day. That is the way their digestive systems are made. If they go hours without eating, their risk of colic and even laminitis is greatly increased.
All the best,
Dr. Getty
