[spyro1]

I have an older horse that is currently on Triple Crown Senior, peanut hay (pretty much all he wants throughout the day) and he gets soaked alfalfa cubes at night only. Roughly 4 quarts dry of the cubes. He is also on a supplement called EquiPride~ http://www.equipride.biz/equipride/equipride.aspx
He has horrible teeth, they are very worn down. I have only had him for 2 weeks and would like to see a bit more weight on him. He was on Nutrena Compete 10% and alfalfa cubes soaked. I thought that he needed a feed more geared towards senior horses. He is in his mid 20's. Sound in every way. A touch of arthritis maybe in his back pasterns.
I was wondering if this diet would stress his kidney's at all. HE drinks an adequate amount of water. About 20 gallons in a 24 hour period, sometimes a little more. I also have him on electrolytes right now. IT is scorching hot.

[Sue B]

While there is some concern about higher levels of protein being fed to older horses....generally, it comes from concerns with those that might have kidney damage or issues.

Generally, older horses need higher amounts of protein. They don't absorb nutrients as well as younger horses, so all nutrients need to be raised to accomodate this.

It is recommended by leading nutritionists to feed 12-14% total protein. That means that the total daily intake should be this amount, not just the feed.

But, beyond concerns for protein levels are the calcium and phos levels. Total Phosphorous intake/day should be .45-.65% of the ration. Ca:P ratio needs to be less than 1%.....Ca must be greater than P....with a focus on Ca intake less than 1% total ration because the kidneys can't handle the excess.

[JBandRio]

Older horses have a harder time digesting everything, including protein. Healthy kidneys can process protein just fine. This makes it very important that they get high quality sources of protein - alfalfa being one.

I don't know the typical protein content of peanut hay, though I know it's a fine source of roughage. If it's in the category of alfalfa (and isn't peanut a legume?), then his overall diet is quite high in protein and the excess is being peed out. If it's in the category of grass hays, then his overall protein % isn't that high, given all the hay he's eating vs the alfalfa cubes. He's drinking a good amount of water, so I'd guess that excess protein is just geing peed out.

[JBandRio]

Sue, stop following me!

[spyro1]

LOL Thanks guys. THe peanut is 16-18% protein, but is more digestable than alfalfa. He can chew it, and he likes it. The alfalfa (bales) was too stemmy and he ended up spitting a lot out. Peanut is a legume.
Sue, how do I figure the Ca:P ratio of his diet?? (I am a bit *technical term slow*....just ask BW, she can vouch for that!!)
I want to make sure that he is getting everything that he needs.

[Sue B]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

Sue, stop following me!

We really need to get a schedule together.....

[Sue B]

You would need to know what the Ca and P are in all the feedstuff he gets...don't sweat the small stuff like supplements unless he gets a pound or more/day. You will also need to know the amount (in weight) of the feedstuff he gets. Then you can calculate from there. If you don't know, I can probably help you with some general figures for the hay...but feed has to come off the tags.

[spyro1]

Ok, got the Sr here at work.
Ca~Min is 0.9% Max is 1.4%
P~0.6%
On the hay, I have no idea!!

[spyro1]

Woops, weight of feed is 6# per day.
Hay is pretty much free choice....He probably eats 10-12 lbs of the peanut a day and then the alfalfa cubes..not sure weight wise on them soaked. Looks like I have a project for tonight!!
Looking at the weight of the hay that he eats, it doesnt seem like enough. He is an extremely slow/picky hay eater.......He wont touch T&A or coastal though.

[Sue B]

OK....the figures I have for the peanut hay seem strange to me....protein is listed at average of 10% with a high value of only 13%...so I don't trust the Ca and P levels they list. Let me see if I can get some better figures on that.....