Feeding Recommendations
The exact rate of feeding depends on the body condition of the animal, the quality of hay being fed, the stage of life of the horse, the state of health of the animal, the degree of work the horse is performing, and the air temperature. Feed good quality hay in addition to the grain portion of the ration, especially to weanlings, yearlings and lactating mares.
Normally, Moyer’s horse rations should be fed at approximately ½ lb to 1½ per hundred lbs of body weight per day. We do not recommend that the grain portion of the ration exceed 50% of the total dry matter consumed per day.
Feed
changes should be made gradually. Allow 10 days to change to a new ration.
For example if you switch rations on a horse that normally receives 10 lbs
of grain: : Feed 9 lbs of old ration plus 1 lb of new ration on day one. Feed
8 lbs of old ration plus 2 lbs of new ration on day two.. and so forth.
Feeding should be done by weight, not volume. A coffee can of ration A may have a different weight than a coffee can of ration B.
Do not feed moldy grains or hays.
What to Feed
Below is a chart listing total percent requirements for
different ages and levels of work. The chart is based on 90% dry matter, and
lists the percent protein of the total diet (therefore, be sure to account
for the quality of hay that is being offered):
| Mature Mares | 7.2 % |
| Light Work | 8.8 % |
| Moderate Work | 9.4 % |
| Intense Work | 10.3 % |
| Pregnant Mares | |
|
9
mos
|
8.9 % |
|
10
mos
|
9.0 % |
|
11
mos
|
9.5 % |
| Lactating Mares to 3 mos | 12.0% |
|
3
mos to wean
|
10.0 % |
| Growing Horses | |
|
4
mos
|
13.1 % |
|
6 mos
|
13.1 % |
|
12
mos
|
11.3 % |
|
18
mos
|
10.1 to 10.8 ( if in training use the 10.8 % diet ) |
|
24
mos
|
9.4 to 10.1 ( if in training use the 10.1 % diet ) |
Summary
Use the correct grain ration to balance the quality and protein content of
the hay.
Remember the age of the horse and the amount of work being performed is also
a factor.
Hay is usually more than one-half of the diet. It plays a major role in any
feeding program.
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