Feed mills owned by local couple they don’t handle any medicated cattle feed. Locals have been buying cattle, calf feed from them for 20 plus years. No horses have died from there feed. Unlike the big feed companies, who have problems with contamination issues.
So I’m not worried about feeding it doesn’t cost a lot per 50 lb bag. Healthy coat healthy ,feet lots of energy good weight. No need to feed anything different.
Then you’re fine!
I’ve heard of old-timers here feeding a local product called Calf-Manna, I think possibly because it was an early fortified feed and existed before anything similar for horses around here.
Can you post some good pictures?
I do know that last summer when I used a grazing muzzle, his feet improved.
That points to some level of metabolic issue. Feet improving with reduced grass intake likely means it’s at least mildly insulin resistant, or some level of “carb intolerant”. EMS (equine metabolic syndrome) of some sort, not even necessarily something that any test could show. But we don’t always need blood and numbers to tell us something, when you have what you described. So I would absolutely not be feeding a 24% feed at 4lb. I would treat him as if he’s IR, because even if he’s not currently, if he’s allowed to be chronically “low grade” IR, that can eventually send him into full IR issues.
Sorry for so many questions but how do you know whether to use a feed or a ration balancer? Can anyone provide recommendations for a low NSC feed?
If he’s maintaining good weight on 4lb of Thrive, a RB may not be enough calories for him. I would look to the TC Lite as Scribbler mentioned. You feed that at 1-2lb per 500lb, so a 1000lb horse could have as much as 4lb. That’s an immense improvement over Thrive, both from the NSC perspective, and the nutrient perspective. Light years difference.
It’s not.
COB And molasses is a cheap sweet feed. While some horses do ok on it, IMHO every horse would do better with something of much higher quality, and much lower NSC. I do realize that many horses are “fine”, but if a person is “fine” with a Snickers and Coke for breakfast, cheeseburger and fries for lunch, and a frozen dinner, not only would he be vastly healthier with a better diet, it’s only a matter of time before most of those people will develop metabolic issues.
It’s only feed i have access to. To get any other kind of feed have to drive 50 plus miles, not going to happen husband won’t go for that.
Calf Manna is a high protein feed supplement and safe for all animals. It has been around a long time and works really well . I use it with my milk cow and lactating goats if they need help maintaining weight while milking.
You add it to existing feed rations. I would never feed it solo!
I wouldn’t worry about feeding it. If your horse is doing well why switch?
Most of my horses were raised on COB as it was what we had back in the old days. No metabolic issues ever, good feet, good health and they loved it. I never fed huge amounts of it though, as excellent hay was 99% of their diets and still is.
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