[blue eyes]

Does anyone know a good site to find information about feed values? Also any information on good programs to balance rations would be appreciated.

[Sue B]

Dairy One has average values from thousands of tests done on forages and feedstuff of all sorts. There is also a site called something like horse nutrition 101 that has good info on each type of feedstuff.

There are currently 3 programs that I know of that are commonly used to assess feeding programs.....

The most expensive is available at Kentucky Equine Research, Inc. and is around $1000 last I knew....but that price changes frequently as the improve it...it was free for download at one time!

Another program is a new web-based program that comes with the new NRC Nutrition Requirements of Horses (available sometime soon...so they say) at: Nutrient Requirements of Horses: for around $100. The book is technical and describes each nutrient...its need/purpose, symptoms of deficiency and toxicity.

A third and affordable program is available from: Wind Shadow Media Productions, Inc. for around $25-30. You can also sometimes find it on ebay for less. It comes with a CD that has info on basic nutrients and what each looks like.

All of the programs have similar features:

• pre-entered feedstuff list with average nutrient values
• a means to edit those pre-entered things, plus add your own things to the list
• a place to enter your horses....name, b-day, weight, expected growth for foals, sex, age, workload
• to assess rations = select horse, select feeds and enter amounts to be fed
• returns = total needed, total supplied, nutrient breakdown
• ability to make a graph of that data that is easiliy understood if you are metting RDAs

The last program also has the ability to offer alternative rations from a list of feedstuff you pre-select. However, it is pretty strange....like it might tell you to feed 30 lbs of alfalfa or 18 lbs of oats. this part of the program is more than questionable...but does give you some ideas for changing rations....plus what do you want for cheap!

[blue eyes]

Thanks Sue. My husband has a dairy ration program. I have never used it. I think I will take a look at it and see if it tells what each feeds value is. The $1000.00 is a bit steep and Wind Shawdow does not sound very accurate ,hopefully the $100.00 CD becomes avaliable soon it is more in my price range.
Thanks so much for helping me with my feed ration the girls are doing great. Both are going through growth spurts, their coat condition is healthy,good hoof growth, sane,bright eyed,content and their stools are large, shiney and soft. The 4 year old gleams she is blanketed at a riding stable and shedding everyone asks what I am feeding because she gleams.My 2 year old is home with a run with 24/7 turnout with a run in.When I bought her in Nov she had a dull coat, low energy and rain rot and small.She is growing has increased energy her coat condition has improved dramatically and has great hoof growth. It is still very cold and she has just begun to shed some of her wooly coat.She is a gray ( almost the color of a mouse) I am anxiously looking forward to see what color she is when she sheds out and she how shiny she is.
I will post before and after shots once she sheds out. Thanks again.

[Sue B]

Thanks for the update Blue Eyes. It sounds like your "kids" are doing great! Yes, you might look at the dairy ration program....the problem is, it won't give you certain values geared toward horses....but you might get a general picture that would be helpful. You can also fill in some of the horse stuff at Dairy One.

The Wind Shadow program is actually accurate for the ration that you are assessing....just not for the suggested alternatives. I believe the program was developed for use at Cal State and is or was used by students there. For the money, it is well worth having and considering that the other programs don't give an alternative ration...it is really not an important point IMO. Otherwise, it offers nearly everything the KER program does and is based on teh old version of the NRC program...as are all of these programs. The old NRC program was a bear as it was DOS based and sometimes you were wondering what you were looking at. But, comparatively, the Wind Shadow program stands up with the big boys. I believe that the only difference in the new NRC program (not sure about the latest KER) is that some info on fat and new insights into protein and amino acids have been added...therefore, these might be included in those programs. The Wind Shadow has not been upgraded to date to address these new features...but perhaps will be once the NRC book is released.

[blue eyes]

Thanks Again Sue
I just ordered the Wind Shadow CD along with the conformation CD. They say 3-5 days for delivery. I cannot wait to get my hands on them. I love the rations my girls are on now but would like to understand better the nutritional needs of my four legged friend and how to balance a ration. Thankfully my husband is well educated on how to develop dairy rations and hopefully will be able to help me with my new CD.If not I may have to ask you for your help once again.What a wonderful learning tool this forum has been for me. It is great to get nutritional information from educated horse owners and not just feed dealers.

[Sue B]

That's great Blue Eyes! I love their products. I have the CD on gaits and while I really didn't need to know much about them...it was very helpful in gaining a better understanding. The CDs are all very easy to use and there are some simple instructions with them. I don't think you will have any problem with the nutrition program....but if you do...just give a shout!