Grain free spinoff- Good supplements for the horse on beet pulp?

[Ambrey]

I have been checking this feedxl (http://feedxl.com/)program and it seems that beet pulp, while being very high in digestable energy, is low in some things that are abundant in grass hay- such as phosphorus, copper, and selenium, and is high in iron.

So I've been looking for a good balancing supplement for horses that are eating grass hay and beet pulp. So far, the best I've found is either SmartVite performance Grass or Ani-Med Balance II.

Anyone else found anything better? Or have an argument with feedxl's data?

[sublimequine]

Mega-Cell by MVP totally balanced my mare's diet using FeedXL. :)

[Ambrey]

Hmmm, I tried that one- maybe I wasn't using enough?

[sublimequine]

Hmmm, I tried that one- maybe I wasn't using enough?

Did you use 2 ounces? 1 ounce wasn't enough for my mare.

[Ambrey]

Hmmm, 3 for my horse but he's still low on phosphorus. I guess he just needs more hay.

[mypaintwattie]

I've been really happy with Platinum Performance.

[pintopiaffe]

I think you actually want an alfalfa or "Mixed" formula, because Beep is almost as high in calcium as alfalfa.

So it's not necessarily that the Phos is low, but that the Cal is high. If that makes sense?

I've never found ANYTHING with enough copper. I like MVP's Optamax for a copper AND probiotic package. Though of course you can add Polycopper from Uckele for far less, it's not all that palatable, even in small amounts.

Try looking at a few of the 'falf, or 'falf-mix formulas vs. grass formula. See how that adds up.

[Ambrey]

Well, feedxl says my cal/phos balance is OK, just low phosphorus. I don't quite get that though ;)

The big guy is only getting about 2 lbs a day of beet pulp to about 22 lbs of hay, while the little guy is getting a higher percentage (since he's the one who seems most metabolic). (big guy is about 1500 lbs, little guy is about 850-900 lbs).

[Hampton Bay]

I had "issues" with the phosphorous thing on my balances as well. I am wondering if their grass samples they base all the forage on are from high-calcium areas. If you are feeding that small an amount of beet pulp, I would just stick with the Performance Grass or something like that.

I also think their forage consumption thing is off. They limit the amount of grass consumed to 2.5% of body weight, and they assume that if a horse is out 24/7 that they are eating that full amount of grass. So my yearling filly is supposedly eating half the grass that my 3-yo Arab does, when they in fact graze side by side all day, and she gets some huge mouthfuls of grass.

[Ambrey]

My horses get no grass, they get only what I give them, which is Timothy hay, Orchard Grass hay, and beet pulp :)

[Hampton Bay]

Yes, but the hay came from grass, and hay grown in different areas is going to have different amounts of vitamins and minerals. If most of their grass (or hay) samples were from areas with higher calcium, it would skew their results.

For example, I live on sand. There is not going to be much calcium in my grass. However, I live in an area that is known for its phosphate mines.

I dunno, all I'm saying is that no matter what I did, even for my guys who get very very little alfalfa, the phosphorous was low. According to their site, I need to supplement everyone with the alfalfa vits/mins, regardless of how much or little alfalfa they get. And most of mine get *maybe* 2 pounds of cubes. Just enough to get supplements in them.

In my case, I defaulted to what was recommended for my vits/mins. If on mostly grass forage, feed the grass supp. If on over 8lb alfalfa a day, feed the alfalfa supp. So my three smaller ones get the grass supp, and my hard-keeper mare gets the alfalfa supp.

[Nanerpus]

Another vote for Platinum Performance!