ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: Minerals

Re: Minerals

Gwen Dluehosh (dluehosh@vt.edu)
Sat, 19 Apr 1997 03:59:52 +0600

I guess what kills me, and what makes me just about say phooey on nutrition
is that you guys says all this (and I know it's true) , and then I turn
around and our repro specialist , Dr. Ley just said the other day that he
considers alfalfa the most perfect mare food. I give up. I think I'll stick
to 1/3 alfalfa plus grass hay, or better yet, pasture. Unfortunately we have
to watch for fescue too. I dont' seem to have a problem with it this year so
far, mares are bagging up fine...
iT's just one of those things. Please don't lecture me (specifically) on
alfalfa again... I have enjoyed reading what you all have said though. I
understand what it is and how it works, and know the differences between
here and the midwest and the west, but it's enough to make my head spin! :)
Just another opinion from a frustrated vet student.
I have done a lot of "testing" on food here with my herd, due to lack of
pasture. I am happy to say I have finally got horses looking the way I want
them to. Of course we now have pasture! :)
Gwen

>protein above the 12% or so that is normal for most horses, or the 16% for
>lactating mares and babies. I was told that how excess levels of protein
The vets say the practise of feeding staight alfalfa to horses here
>is not good for them, and is worse here than in the Midwest, because the
>calcium to phosphorus ratios of the alfalfa here are in the 7 to 1, 8 to 1,
>even 10 to 1 ratio, whereas in the midwest the alfalfa is at 4 to 1 or 5 to
>1. Horses should be at 3 to 1, so the alfalfa here in Arizona is really out
>of whack with what a horse should have.
Gwen Dluehosh
Desert Storm Arabians
1156 Hightop Rd, #89
Blacksburg, VA 24060
540/953-1792

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