Eq. jr, as you suggested. In another reply
from you, indicated concern re. copper/zinc ratio. What should the ratio
be? I will have hays analyzed for mineral contents. In checking
feeds and supps (Source micronutrients, Accel), I find all are very "zinc
heavy". Are there "copper" supps? or, better still, natural food
source? and is using them in a "chelated" form adviseable?
Feeds for young'uns should contain 55-60 ppm (or
mg/kg, same thing) copper; and 200-220 ppm zinc. I don't advise feeding
alot of extra supplements to babies, just give them all the grass hay they can
eat and about 1-1.5 pounds of a growth-formulated ration for every 100 pounds
of current body weight, with an upper limit of 10-12 pounds of grain no matter
what, never more than 4 pounds per meal, and never so that they're fat---in
good condition, but never ever plump. And NEVER EVER EVER more than 2%
of their body weight per day in the form of alfalfa---feeding free choice
alfalfa to rapidly growing babies is an excellent way to produce DOD
lesions. So my suggestions for you would be to feed the Omolene 300 and
the only extra supplements could/should be biotin (and I mean biotin, not a
supplement that also just happens to contain biotin along with forty other
things) and a probiotic like Fastrack or Yea-Sacc (the latter is my preference
for babies by far, but it's not easy to find). Don't go messing around
with trying to formulate your own supplements---not for babies.
Really. You're almost guaranteed to affect some other nutrient
adversely.
Little blerb in Equus, Oct. 01 issue, on
Ralston's study on Vit. C. "Happy Travelers are Healthy
Travelers". Very interesting. Thought your advise on vit C sounded
familiar:)
Yup. She's Mecca.
I do use lots of carrots, for horsey treats, and
oranges, too. Esp. in our heat/humidity.
Thankyou for you help
Beth Gunn
You're welcome. :-)
Susan G