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arabic
Platinum Member
 England
4562 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Nov 2006 : 1:45:05 PM
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Is Alfalfa the better way to feed? I am almost there with my search to find a similar feed to Simple Systems locally and grass nuts keep appearing just to confuse me. Any thoughts??
Sandie
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Pashon2001
Platinum Member
3575 Posts |
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traceyjoanne
Silver Member
England
496 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2006 : 8:49:34 PM
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I too am trying to decide what to feed instead of simple systems
who makes the alfalfa pellets and do you need to soak them? sorry never heard of these before!!
Sandie what else have you come up with to go with these?
tracey |
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zara
Gold Member
United Kingdom
1066 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2006 : 10:49:35 PM
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| I feed Grass & Linseed nuts. you can buy them at an Agricultural merchants. they are "just what they say on the bag" grass + linseed. Cost around £4.30 for 25kg. much cheaper than SS |
"to his virtues ever kind, and to his faults a little blind". |
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2006 : 10:57:40 PM
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Hi Tracey
Dengie do an unmolassed alfalfa(lucerne) pellet which retails at £6.80 per 20kg bag - protein 16% and fibre 32%. SS Lucienuts are 18% Protein and 35%Fibre so they are very similar in price and content.
Equus health do a supplement called Winterglow and Summershine this is Linseed Seaweed Garlic, Fenugreek and I think mint. Their Winterglow Summershine Performance also includes Brewers Yeast and so very similar to Total Eclipse. I am going to try this first and if I'm not happy then I will try something like the NAF general purpose supplement or maybe go back to Bailey's Lo-cal.
The grass nuts are the same protein but lower in fibre. I first saw them on the Northern Crop Dryers website but they dont have a stockist in my area. I have now found a supplier for this area and they supply spillers who put the pellets into a lot of their mixes. I think I am going to give the grass nuts a try first. The grass is harvested at its best and dried in exactly the same way as the SS alfalfa. As Freddie is a v good doer, it will probably be fine for him. (If not then I will go back to the alfalfa but from Dengie instead of SS)
It depends what SS you feed and your reason for wanting to change. I am quite happy with the feed but I have to order more than I need or pay the price of a bag of nuts to have a smaller order and only just manage to use the Eclipse before the useby date.
Have a look on Dengie, Northerncrop dryers and equus websites for more info on these.
Don't know if this is any help to you but its what I have come up with for us.
Sandie |
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egzotyka
Gold Member
England
1427 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2006 : 11:34:00 PM
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I feed grass nuts..new to them but i have noticed a difference in there overall condition and its only been a month  |
   
*I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here
*When life gets you down - just put on your big girl panties and deal with
it. |
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Sarahw
Gold Member
England
746 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2006 : 11:46:28 PM
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Alfalfa definately and I do have reasons that would probably not be fair to post on here.
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traceyjoanne
Silver Member
England
496 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2006 : 6:00:34 PM
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i am going to my feed place tomorrow will look to see if they have grass nuts
i like to have feed that i can just go and get and not have to ring up and buy in bulk plus it has just gone up in price too!! i am on the enduro complete, my two andalusians came on it
i have been adding happy hoof over the past week to change the taste a bit for them and they love that, and of course to introduce slowly to them so now they are are on a good handfull of SS instead of a full scoop
was thinking about alfa a too but not sure which one!!
my arab is a very very good doer so she gets some hi fi cubes in a ball so she has to work a bit for her food plus the happy hoof in the mornings so she does not feel left out!!
zara i have put a post on the fao forum for you!!
tracey |
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barbara.gregory
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4531 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2006 : 9:02:16 PM
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Hi Zara
Can you give me details of the grass and linseed nuts as I haven't seen them; I am in Suffolk, where are you? I feed my good doers economy cubes but your "nuts" sound better. My stallion is too fat but I can't feed the others without him so he gets a handful of economy cubes, chopped carrot sand the droppings from the hay all mixed with soaked sugar beet and he thinks he has a lovely big feed! He just loves his food so it would be cruel to give him virtually nothing when some of the others get quite big feeds.
Thanks
Barbara |
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sazzlepants71
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3536 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2006 : 12:48:56 PM
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i would be interested to know were the grass + linseed nuts come from as well..? |
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zara
Gold Member
United Kingdom
1066 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2006 : 3:53:42 PM
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Hi barbara and sazzlepants. they are from my local agri merchants. CCF [ Clyderwen and Ceridigion Farmers (SP?). they are mostly sold for sheep and cattle but dont panic! there not an actual ruminant feed, simply grass and cooked linseed mixed and pelleted. it states on the label they are ok for horses. there made in Cheshire. theres no brand name, just come in a white plastic sack. I'll try to get the manufacturers name and details when I next call in. I tried to get cow cake too, but, bizarely they'd not heard of it.
[ cow cake is like squares of chocolate but its left over linseed when most of the oil has been extracted. ]its really cheap too, about £10 for 20 or 25 kg.If feeding this you can get just plain grass nuts to add to them.
Jill |
"to his virtues ever kind, and to his faults a little blind". |
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zara
Gold Member
United Kingdom
1066 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2006 : 3:55:20 PM
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PS I always add some soaked sugarbeet or dampen the nuts I dont know if they are ok to feed dry , most people soak/wet SS grass nuts and I assume they are the same thing.
I live in Shropshire, 15 miles from Ludlow |
"to his virtues ever kind, and to his faults a little blind". |
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zara
Gold Member
United Kingdom
1066 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2006 : 3:56:48 PM
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| traceyjoanne,I cant find the FAO Zara. |
"to his virtues ever kind, and to his faults a little blind". |
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2006 : 7:48:20 PM
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Thanks Zara I will definately be looking into the grass and linseed nuts or possibly the cow cake and mix with the grass nuts. Do you feed them with anything else or add any supplements?
Sandie |
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2006 : 8:01:54 PM
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| Sorry, I meant do you add anything other than sugarbeet? I dont generally give Freddie sugarbeet unless the weather is really cold. So would probably just give him the soaked nuts. |
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ashquar
Silver Member
England
281 Posts |
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traceyjoanne
Silver Member
England
496 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2006 : 01:52:16 AM
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jill it has now moved to page 2 of the fao pages
tracey |
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tamila
Platinum Member
England
2532 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2006 : 06:33:01 AM
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| Just a little warning to everyone. Watch the trace minerals especially as it is so wet. Copper and magnesium are likley to be the missing ones. |
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Edited by - tamila on 27 Nov 2006 06:33:44 AM |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2006 : 09:24:35 AM
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I used to feed grass nuts - until I nearly lost a horse through choke - even though I fed them with added water.
Judith |
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egzotyka
Gold Member
England
1427 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2006 : 11:43:02 AM
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My dad feeds that Linseed (the stuff that looks like small squares of chocolate) to his cows and they always have lovely coats-i never knew you could feed it to horses i am goning to ask him now!!!! |
*I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here
*When life gets you down - just put on your big girl panties and deal with
it. |
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zara
Gold Member
United Kingdom
1066 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2006 : 1:14:59 PM
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Hi again everyone, the grass&linseed nuts are made by H.J.LeaoakesLtd Hightown Mill Congelton Cheshire 01270 782222
they are 5% oil and quite high protein 18% so you dont feed a lot. they are 16% fibre.
I also feed my horses sugarbeet and in the winter a selenuim vit E suplement and magnesium in the spring or sometimes replace that with a general type min/vit supplement. |
"to his virtues ever kind, and to his faults a little blind". |
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2006 : 7:20:20 PM
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| Thanks Zara - very helpful!!! I shall contact them and see if there is a supplier of the grass and linseed nuts nearby and get a broad spectrum supplement. If not then I will go for the grass nuts and add cowcake or linseed supplement. |
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