Buckeye Nutrition
Ask the Experts
Tailoring Calories without Compromising Other Nutrients
Friday, July 09, 2010by Buckeye Nutrition
Q: I am feeding my EMS 20+ yr old pony gelding Safe & Easy but he is still thin with fat pocket (probably pre-Cushing. He does not like the taste anymore unless I mix in some grain which he should not have. Any suggestions?
I also have a Percheron mare that needs to lose 200-300lbs and get to work. She is now exercising and I have been giving her 2lbs per day Safe & Easy with Hay. What would help her get nutrition and no sugars until I get the weight off her? I do have some Gro N Win on hand.
Thank you!
A: It sounds like you are looking to add some calories to your pony, without any added starch and sugar. One option would be to stick with the Safe N Easy but add a fat supplement, such as Ultimate Finish 40, to his ration. The Ultimate Finish 40 is very palatable and might be just what he needs to enhance the taste. The other option would be to switch to Gro N Win and Ultimate Finish. Gro N Win is very low in starch and sugar with a low inclusion rate. Gro N Win also has a tasty apple flavor. In combination with the Ultimate Finish, you would be able to tailor the calories to his needs more efficiently while still providing the essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids he needs.
As for your Percheron mare, Gro N Win would be our suggestion for her as well. The low calorie, low inclusion rate is just what she needs (along with low starch and sugar) to help get rid of that excess weight. Gro N Win has been researched in weight loss trials with great results! (If you would like more information regarding this study, please call 800-898-WINS)
Often times, if our horses start to gain weight, our first line of defense is to cut back on the grain ration. We forget that each feed is formulated to not only provide a set amount of calories, but also vitamins and minerals. When we decrease our feeding rates below the recommended levels, we are short-changing the horse of essential nutrients at the same time. We may be able to cut calories by decreasing the amount, but the horse will not be getting the nutrition they need, which can lead to other health issues. The better solution is to find a lower calorie feed and feed the recommended levels. This will ensure proper amounts of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, and still allow the horse to safely lose weight with a proper exercise regimen.
4 comment(s) for “Tailoring Calories without Compromising Other Nutrients”
You thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.
Crude Protein (min.) 11.00%
Lysine (min.) 0.50/0.55%
Methionine & Cystine (min.) 0.30%
Threonine (min.) 0.40%
Crude Fat (min.) 10.00%
Crude Fiber (max.) 12.0/18.0%
Calcium (Ca) (min.) 0.60% (max.) 1.10%
Phosphorus (P) (min.) 0.50%
Magnesium (Mg) (min.) 0.40%
Potassium (K) (min.) 0.90%
Copper (Cu) (min.) 40 ppm
Selenium (Se) (min.) 0.60 ppm
Zinc (Zn) (min.) 120 ppm
Manganese (min.) 100 ppm
Vitamin A (min.) 6,000 IU/lb.
Vitamin D3 (min.) 400 IU/lb.
Vitamin E (min.) 100 IU/lb.
Biotin (min.) 0.30 mg/lb.
Gro N Win would be a great option for your horse. Since it is highly fortified with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids it will help keep everything in balance with your forage. Gro N Win is also low calorie and fed at a very low feeding rate so you will just get the nutrition you need, without the extra energy.
Yes. Ultimate Finish 40 is very low in starch and sugar. This soft pelleted supplement has a high fat level that allows you to feed only a few ounces per day.