RB plus vit.& min. ?

nicz2cu · 04-30-2007, 07:26 AM

I'm confused

, reading thru some of the older threads to get an idea of the best way to go to a non grain feeding regimen for my three I saw some posts that said a vit. & min. supplement might be needed along with the RB.

I have no good pasture for the older ones ( two, ages 18 )
" D " is boarded, has great pasture ( yearling )
I might have misunderstood, but I thought that the RB provided vit. & min.

I give the two older ones free choice hay, 1 # Boss twice daily, 1 # BTW twice daily, the mare also gets a weight supplement , she weighs between 900-950 #. She actually gets a little more ( 1/4 cup ) than the gelding who weighs between 1000- 1050 #. They have a salt block and free choice minerals ( they hardly touch the minerals). I'm going to add alfalfa pellets to this mix, should I also add BP.

" D" just gets the BTW, BP, and the pasture. All three are at a good weight, I'd like to see a little more on the mare, hence the weight gain supplement.

Does this sound like I'm meeting and balancing their ca. and protein levels. This is really where I get confused.

imacowgirl2 · 04-30-2007, 09:23 AM

Is Born to Win a ration balancer? I thought it was just a low-starch/low-grain feed?

If it IS a ration balancer, it will have all the vits/minerals needed. If its just low-grain, you might have to add a vit/mineral mix...I'm not sure.

Not sure about the ratios...I'm not very good with that stuff, but I'm sure someone else will answer that

Dawn · 04-30-2007, 09:54 AM

It is a ration balancers and replaces a vit/min supplement in their diet. Rice bran can be fed along with it and is a great source of nutrition. It does provide vitamins and minerals, but it's not a complete vitamin mineral profile when related to a horse diet.

What type of forage do the older ones have? (You stated they did not have good pasture.)

Overall your diet looks very good.

nicz2cu · 04-30-2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawn

It is a ration balancers and replaces a vit/min supplement in their diet. Rice bran can be fed along with it and is a great source of nutrition. It does provide vitamins and minerals, but it's not a complete vitamin mineral profile when related to a horse diet.

What type of forage do the older ones have? (You stated they did not have good pasture.)

Overall your diet looks very good.

I forgot to say, right now they are getting rye/clover mix but soon will have to go back to bermuda when that runs out. Do they really need the BP?

Dawn · 05-01-2007, 03:20 PM

It really depends upon how much of the hay they are getting. If it's adequate amounts, then no any forage supplementation is not necessary, but it is a good safe way to supplement calories in the diet.

nicz2cu · 05-01-2007, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawn

It really depends upon how much of the hay they are getting. If it's adequate amounts, then no any forage supplementation is not necessary, but it is a good safe way to supplement calories in the diet.

Thanks Dawn, they go through a bale daily, their weight is good. I'll monitor and if I see that they start dropping I'll add the BP.

04-30-2007, 07:26 AM	#1
nicz2cu Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Georgia USA Posts: 968 Images: 26	RB plus vit.& min. ? I'm confused , reading thru some of the older threads to get an idea of the best way to go to a non grain feeding regimen for my three I saw some posts that said a vit. & min. supplement might be needed along with the RB. I have no good pasture for the older ones ( two, ages 18 ) " D " is boarded, has great pasture ( yearling ) I might have misunderstood, but I thought that the RB provided vit. & min. I give the two older ones free choice hay, 1 # Boss twice daily, 1 # BTW twice daily, the mare also gets a weight supplement , she weighs between 900-950 #. She actually gets a little more ( 1/4 cup ) than the gelding who weighs between 1000- 1050 #. They have a salt block and free choice minerals ( they hardly touch the minerals). I'm going to add alfalfa pellets to this mix, should I also add BP. " D" just gets the BTW, BP, and the pasture. All three are at a good weight, I'd like to see a little more on the mare, hence the weight gain supplement. Does this sound like I'm meeting and balancing their ca. and protein levels. This is really where I get confused. __________________ God Bless the Whole Herd

04-30-2007, 09:23 AM	#2
imacowgirl2 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: here, there, and everywhere! Posts: 2,792 Images: 233 Blog Entries: 17	Is Born to Win a ration balancer? I thought it was just a low-starch/low-grain feed? If it IS a ration balancer, it will have all the vits/minerals needed. If its just low-grain, you might have to add a vit/mineral mix...I'm not sure. Not sure about the ratios...I'm not very good with that stuff, but I'm sure someone else will answer that __________________ I need a new signature...

04-30-2007, 09:54 AM	#3
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 28,762 Images: 1267	It is a ration balancers and replaces a vit/min supplement in their diet. Rice bran can be fed along with it and is a great source of nutrition. It does provide vitamins and minerals, but it's not a complete vitamin mineral profile when related to a horse diet. What type of forage do the older ones have? (You stated they did not have good pasture.) Overall your diet looks very good.

05-01-2007, 03:20 PM	#5
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 28,762 Images: 1267	It really depends upon how much of the hay they are getting. If it's adequate amounts, then no any forage supplementation is not necessary, but it is a good safe way to supplement calories in the diet.