Tag Archives: calories

Immune Function

Posted on February 26, 2018 by

The immune system is truly an army, with Infantry, Special Forces and even an Intelligence division. Communications employs tens of thousands of different codes carried on the cytokines which also connect it to each and every organ function of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nutrition for Advancing Pregnancy

Posted on February 11, 2018 by

In the last half of pregnancy the foal grows from the size of a small dog to an average 100 lb foal. Nutritional needs ramp up significantly in late pregnancy and calories are the least of the concerns.  This means … Continue reading →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Matching Feeding to Activity Level

Posted on October 15, 2017 by

Show season is winding down, vacations over, kids back in school, holidays on the horizon and many horses are getting less work as a result.   It’s important to scale back calories, and in some instances type of calories.  It’s equally … Continue reading →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Can You Tell By Just Looking at Hay?

Posted on September 3, 2017 by

There’s a lot you can’t tell by looking but appearance does yield some useful information.  Just the type of hay is a helpful start.  Legumes (clover, peanut, alfalfa) are always high protein and calcium.  Bermuda will be low protein unless … Continue reading →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Late Summer Weight Loss

Posted on August 6, 2017 by

Weight loss in late summer is a fairly common problem. It can have many different causes and pinpointing the reason is obviously central to successful resolution. from: University of Minnesota Cumulative effects of dehydration is a common cause. With mild … Continue reading →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Feeding Yearlings

Posted on July 30, 2017 by

Whether you are prepping for sales and halter classes or trying your best to raise a healthy and sound youngster, careful attention to nutritional needs is a key component.  Yearlings should not be fed like little adults. This handsome devil … Continue reading →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How To Make Your Own Feed

Posted on December 29, 2016 by

Feed companies have been around for quite a while (Purina dates back to 1894) but many operations still mix their own feed.  There are pros and cons. A big plus is cost. Even if you give a formula to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hay – Much More than Fiber

Posted on October 31, 2016 by

Hay used to be widely viewed as having little or no nutritional value beyond being a source of fiber which provided horses with chew time and made them feel full between meals.  That has largely changed but even those who … Continue reading →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pasture vs Hay

Posted on May 4, 2016 by

Hay is just dehydrated grass but there are several differences between hay and the live plant that you need to take into consideration when adding pasture to the horse’s diet. Note:  References in the following discussion to calories, protein and … Continue reading →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Do You Really Understand Protein?

Posted on March 3, 2016 by

Although most people can quote the percent protein in their feed, and manufacturers make a point of it, this particular piece of information is almost worthless.  The horse’s protein requirement is in grams per day, not a percentage in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments