Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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Dr. Getty
Hi, I've been doing all the reading I can on feeding, but I still don't know what's best to feed my TB's from the weanling to yearling period. It seems all of the rations formulated for this age group are mostly starch, which I thought was bad. Would I be better to feed whole oats as needed for weight with a mineral supplement? Or I can also get a high fat/fibre pellet although the label doesn't specify for young stock, is that still the better option? Thanks
Hi Rebecca,
You’re right – most feeds designed for youngsters are made from grain. So, what you can do is purchase a high fat/fiber feed, like you mentioned, and purchase some pure Lysine to supplement the diet.
In addition, depending on the flexibility of your situation, you could consider adding flaxseed meal to the ration, along with some alfalfa. Both of these will support the additional amino acids needed for growth, as well as additional calcium needs.
Thanks for writing about this important issue.
All the best,
Dr. Getty