Feeding bran

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What is everyones take on feeding bran? I have a two year old filly who had some colicky periods last month. We feel it was due to lack of water intake after a bout of inclement weather. She is fed alfalfa hay, and 14% grain pellets @ 2.5 lbs/both 2x a day. I started substituting lb bran for lb grain, w/her morning feed every other day.

I was hoping the added water intake of the mash would help keep her "moving". I've read that the phosphorus in the bran makes a nice compliment to the high calcium in the alfalfa. Can this be part of a regular healthy diet? Or should this just be a winter thing. She is regularly wormed, has free choice salt, and always plenty of fresh water.

-- Leslie Homer (jhomer@train.missouri.org), March 26, 2002

Answers

Forgot to add our location, which is southcentral Missouri. Also, she has access to pasture year round.

-- Leslie Homer (jhomer@train.missouri.org), March 26, 2002.

Leslie: I feed a bran mash once a week year round and if a horse is a little "off" I will give them a mash then too and make it really soupy. That weekly mash replaces their regular grain ration though. You don't want to feed too much bran though either because it can screw up the calcium/phosphorus ratio in their diet. Years ago when the work horses were feed lots of bran they ended up with something I believe they called "millers or big head disease" because of that. But I and several trainers I know have good luck with the once a week mash and the horses really love it too! Renee

-- Renee (aerie@dotnet.com), March 26, 2002.

Here are my suggestions based off the info you've given. If she hasn't been drinking enough water warming the water more may help alot. If you do the pinch test and she's dehydrated you may want to squirt water mixed with salt and a little molasses into her mouth with a turkey baster.

Here are the calcium/phosphorous ratios for alfalfa and bran. Alfalfa Ca 1.35 Ph .22, Bran (dry weight)Ca .16, Ph 1.32. For growing horses you want to have at least a 2:1 Ca/Ph ratio. I can't tell you how much bran to feed as it depends on the ratio in your pellets. Now having gotten technical a couple pounds of bran per week with the alfalfa your feeding is NOT going to create an imbalance.

May I suggest that you up the amount of alfalfa you're feeding. The additional roughage should help alot. Also, hay should be fed about 15 mins before any grain type rations as the hay helps the stomach produce the enzymes needed to digest the grain. If she is bolting her grain putting a couple large rocks in her feed bin can help, so she has to sort around the rocks rather than taking big bites.

After saying all the above my gut reaction was that she needs more roughage. I normally only feed 50/50 hay to grain until they are 12 months then go to 60/40 and about 2 years to 70/30.

-- Stacia in OK (OneClassyCowgirl@aol.com), March 26, 2002.


equus just this month did a article on stones and one of the clues to stones was frequent colic.steps they listed were, consider enterolithiasis as possible diagnosis in horses with history of recurring impaction colics. control dietary mineral intake and intestinal PH, replace alfalfa with grass hay, be wary of feeding phosphorus rich brans. manage the horse for maximum gut motility, provide a diet based on grass and grass hay diet fed free choice or fed in multiple small feedings to mantain constant gut fill. keep horse turned out as much as possible.Great article.Probably not case here but something to think about.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), March 26, 2002.

Hi Leslie, I had a young filly (3 years old) have a bout of colic once from not drinking enough water (that was the vet's diagnosis). We tubed her with half water and half mineral oil, walked her, did ear rubs and circles, and she was fine after that. This occurred during a particularly sudden cold snap. The vet said to prevent this from happening again, I could sprinkle plain 'ol table salt over their grain to encourage more water consumption. So, that is what I have done when it really gets cold ever since with no more trouble. (I was very surprised to have this problem as we have Icelandic horses which are VERY well-adapted to the cold.) We do have a stock tank heater and their water never freezes. I think the tip about offering warm water is a good one -- if you have few enough horses where this is practical. And you are right, the bran and it's phosphorus is a good balance to alfalfa hay's calcium levels. -- Cheers, Renee M (Michigan)

-- Renee Martin (icehorse@altelco.net), March 26, 2002.


Wow, thanks for all the feedback! Some really great view points. I probably mistyped her feed rations. I feed her LARGE flakes of alfalfa per feeding with her grain rations, and yes, I do topdress with a Tbsp of salt every other day in the morning, along with her salt blocks. I also add flaxseed oil 2 Tbsp every morning. Her stocktank does have a heater in it during cold weather. We just removed it for the season. Thank you everyone, I feel a little more comfortable feeding a few pounds of bran during the week.

-- Leslie Homer (jhomer@train.missouri.org), March 26, 2002.

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