Stopping sweet feed, how long to transition feed?

hemigirl · 04-21-2005, 06:04 AM

I am going to quit feeding sweet feed and go to a good feed with no molasses. How long should I take to wean him off the sweet? He is on rice bran too. Should I just give a little less sweet each day?

cassidy · 04-21-2005, 06:06 AM

yes i would do it over a period of about a week!

Shotgun93 · 04-21-2005, 06:18 AM

I would wean it out slowly, depending on how much he gets. If he gets quite a bit, then I would shoot for two weeks. If he doesn't get much, then I would go for a week or so.

julie&chico · 04-21-2005, 01:46 PM

7-10days is the average, but your boy will not be impressed!!!!

alr001 · 04-21-2005, 05:51 PM

Oh i just learned how to trans. feeds.

Do 75% sweet feed and 25% new feed for 2 days , then 50% of each for 3 days then 75% new and 25% sweed feed for 2 days then all new.

harli36 · 04-21-2005, 07:45 PM

Just some food for thought...Research shows it can take the microbes in the horses diegestive system between 4-6 weeks in order to adapt to a feed change. Now of course if your only feeding a tiny bit of feed it's not going to take 4 weeks but the longer period of time you change the feed over the healthier your horse will be. IMO 7 days is not long enough. Also it's not a bad idea to feed probiotics any time you change the feed. It helps keep the good microbes thriving in your horses intestines.

hatstealingcowg · 01-15-2008, 07:32 PM

i learn somthing everyday

imacowgirl2 · 01-16-2008, 06:13 AM

I try to get between 1.5-2 weeks minimum to change over a feed. However, that said, I also let the amount of "old" feed on hand dictate. For example, if mixing them and switching them out over 1.5 weeks is going to dictate me buying a new 50 lb bag of the old feed, I'll do it a few days earlier. If I have tons of the old feed left, I may take up to 3-4 weeks to completely switch over.

ejforrest · 01-16-2008, 06:32 AM

You do not have to "wean" a horse "off" feed. You can stop "now".
It is when you add something "new" to the horses diet you have to do it "slowly". Slow because the horses digestive system needs time to adjust to a "new food". It takes the good bacteria flora 3-4 weeks to adjust with out killing off the good bacteria. So, stop feeding grain today.
If you are still feeding rice bran, add a "little" of the new feed today. Start at a cup of the new feed and work up to what you want to be feeding by week 3.

PeggySue · 01-16-2008, 06:34 AM

also keep in mind that just because it is a pellet does not mean it is not a "sweet feed" just that it is not textured sweet feed

04-21-2005, 06:04 AM	#1
hemigirl Full Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New Caney, TX Posts: 141	Stopping sweet feed, how long to transition feed? I am going to quit feeding sweet feed and go to a good feed with no molasses. How long should I take to wean him off the sweet? He is on rice bran too. Should I just give a little less sweet each day?

04-21-2005, 06:06 AM	#2
cassidy Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: england - its sunny sometimes honest! Posts: 21,413 Images: 815	yes i would do it over a period of about a week! __________________ May your life be like toilet paper - Long and useful A horse doesn't care how much you know until he knows how much you care. - Pat Parelli http://www.freewebs.com/linz88055/myprofile.htm

04-21-2005, 06:18 AM	#3
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 13,305 Images: 124	I would wean it out slowly, depending on how much he gets. If he gets quite a bit, then I would shoot for two weeks. If he doesn't get much, then I would go for a week or so. __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

04-21-2005, 05:51 PM	#5
alr001 Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Palmyra, PA Posts: 1,267 Images: 75	Oh i just learned how to trans. feeds. Do 75% sweet feed and 25% new feed for 2 days , then 50% of each for 3 days then 75% new and 25% sweed feed for 2 days then all new. __________________ ~Angie~

04-21-2005, 07:45 PM	#6
harli36 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: northeastern Pa Posts: 4,195 Images: 42	Just some food for thought...Research shows it can take the microbes in the horses diegestive system between 4-6 weeks in order to adapt to a feed change. Now of course if your only feeding a tiny bit of feed it's not going to take 4 weeks but the longer period of time you change the feed over the healthier your horse will be. IMO 7 days is not long enough. Also it's not a bad idea to feed probiotics any time you change the feed. It helps keep the good microbes thriving in your horses intestines. __________________ The Morgan Horse! Everything else is just a horse. http://www.morganhorse.com/

04-21-2005, 01:46 PM	#4
julie&chico Banned Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 953	7-10days is the average, but your boy will not be impressed!!!!

01-15-2008, 07:32 PM	#7
hatstealingcowg Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 54 Images: 2	i learn somthing everyday

01-16-2008, 06:13 AM	#8
imacowgirl2 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: here, there, and everywhere! Posts: 2,798 Images: 233 Blog Entries: 17	I try to get between 1.5-2 weeks minimum to change over a feed. However, that said, I also let the amount of "old" feed on hand dictate. For example, if mixing them and switching them out over 1.5 weeks is going to dictate me buying a new 50 lb bag of the old feed, I'll do it a few days earlier. If I have tons of the old feed left, I may take up to 3-4 weeks to completely switch over. __________________ Check out my website: www.understanding-horse-nutrition.com

01-16-2008, 06:32 AM	#9
ejforrest Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: U.P. Michigan Posts: 2,523 Images: 363	You do not have to "wean" a horse "off" feed. You can stop "now". It is when you add something "new" to the horses diet you have to do it "slowly". Slow because the horses digestive system needs time to adjust to a "new food". It takes the good bacteria flora 3-4 weeks to adjust with out killing off the good bacteria. So, stop feeding grain today. If you are still feeding rice bran, add a "little" of the new feed today. Start at a cup of the new feed and work up to what you want to be feeding by week 3. __________________ ej ----------- And God said to horse, trust no man if you cannot see your own image in his eyes.

01-16-2008, 06:34 AM	#10
PeggySue Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dennison, Illinois Posts: 10,908 Images: 1022 Blog Entries: 9	also keep in mind that just because it is a pellet does not mean it is not a "sweet feed" just that it is not textured sweet feed __________________ Moosa says stop and smell the flowers life is too short not to enjoy it

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
About beet pulp?	smeebee101	Horse Health	21	01-20-2008 10:52 PM
Beet pulp?	juliesowner	Horse Health	18	03-25-2005 12:27 PM
Sweet Feed	cowboy&me	Horse Health	18	02-12-2005 01:09 PM
Thank you to everyone that cared about Gammy	GAMMYSfate	Horse Chat	18	09-15-2004 02:53 PM
Beet Pulp "horror" stories??	MiniHorseGrl	Horse Health	37	07-13-2004 01:48 PM