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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 

 

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Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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Shannon
Mar 5, 2011 - 4:08PM
Feeding a young mare

I recently bought a 2 year old TB/Hano filly and have some questions about feeding her. At her breeder's place, she was on 5 lbs/day of Nutrena Life Design mare & foal (16%), plus 6 lbs/day of a 12% sweet feed and free choice coastal. I want to move her toward one grain (still with essentially free choice coastal, and decent pasture), I just wanted suggestions on what feed (percentage, etc) to move towards, as well as if I need to be supplementing it with alfalfa for the added calcium since she was on such high protein. Thankfully she's not genetically predisposed to OCD lesions (at least as far as I can tell from what I know of her line, her breeder has several full & half siblings), but I have high hopes for this filly and you can't be too careful! She's a big girl- 16.1 and 1155 lbs at prepurchase- and I plan ultimately to do H/J with her.

Thanks in advance!
Shannon

Where are you from? Texas

Email  
Mar 5th, 2011 - 4:08 PM
Dr. Getty
Mar 9, 2011 - 6:16PM
Re: Feeding a young mare

Greetings Shannon,

Congratulations on your new filly!

I would not feed her anything that is high in starch (feeds made from cereal grains) or sweet feeds (which have cereal grains plus sugar). Even though she doesn't have a genetic propensity toward osteopathic disorders, the risk in increased by feeding too much starch.

Go with a growth formula that has more research behind it, such as TC Growth or ADM Alliance Junior Glo. And give her approximately 30% of her total hay ration as alfalfa. The protein won't be a concern with these other feeds -- it will boost the overall protein quality while giving her some additional protein to help her build tissue and bone.

All the best,

Dr. Getty
Author of Feed Your Horse Like A Horse

Shannon
I recently bought a 2 year old TB/Hano filly and have some questions about feeding her. At her breeder's place, she was on 5 lbs/day of Nutrena Life Design mare & foal (16%), plus 6 lbs/day of a 12% sweet feed and free choice coastal. I want to move her toward one grain (still with essentially free choice coastal, and decent pasture), I just wanted suggestions on what feed (percentage, etc) to move towards, as well as if I need to be supplementing it with alfalfa for the added calcium since she was on such high protein. Thankfully she's not genetically predisposed to OCD lesions (at least as far as I can tell from what I know of her line, her breeder has several full & half siblings), but I have high hopes for this filly and you can't be too careful! She's a big girl- 16.1 and 1155 lbs at prepurchase- and I plan ultimately to do H/J with her.

Thanks in advance!
Shannon

Where are you from? Bayfield, CO

Email  
Mar 9th, 2011 - 6:16 PM
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