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Post by fleabitten on Jul 20, 2009 20:13:42 GMT
Ok. We have been advised by the vet to feed bran mash once or twice a week to keep things moving.
Who does it (I have a notion that RedMills does it) and how do you make it up?
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Post by maximum on Jul 20, 2009 20:50:54 GMT
Your local feed merchant might do it- its not so easy to get hold of now as its a by-product of milling flour but modern methods mean its very dusty and you want the big flakes.
As to how you feed it depends on what you want it to do- if you want to clean them out (give them the runs!) then feed it sloppy, if it is to aid digestion then add enough warm water to make it crumbly but if you were to grab a handful and squeeze between your hands it will maintain its shape.If you want it to clear up the runs then feed it dry in the horses usual feed.
Be careful though as the Calcium/Phosphorus ration is incorrect- it should be greater part calcium to less Phosphorus but bran is the other way around.
If fed in large amounts without a calcium balancer it can cause (and I love the name of this) NSH - Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism. This means the body starts to take the calcium from the horses bones to make up the difference causing brittle or weak bones - If you feed Limestone Flour or sugarbeet it will make up the balance( Limestone flour be better as he wont need the sugar in the SB)
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Post by fleabitten on Jul 20, 2009 20:59:20 GMT
Thanks for that maxie - we just want dung a bit more sloppy so sort of halfway perhaps?. It is getting a bit brain frying all this!!
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joandlad
Apprentice Poo Picker
My beautiful boy!
Posts: 473 
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Post by joandlad on Jul 21, 2009 15:45:15 GMT
Be careful though as the Calcium/Phosphorus ration is incorrect- it should be greater part calcium to less Phosphorus but bran is the other way around. If fed in large amounts without a calcium balancer it can cause (and I love the name of this) NSH - Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism. This means the body starts to take the calcium from the horses bones to make up the difference causing brittle or weak bones - If you feed Limestone Flour or sugarbeet it will make up the balance( Limestone flour be better as he wont need the sugar in the SB) Somewhere in the deepest darkes depths of my mind I have a vague recollection of reading that bran had something in it which inhibited the update of calcium so even if you add limestone flour (which is what I used to do years ago) it can't be absorbed. I wish my brain worked better.  May be worth a bit of a google to see if anything comes up. Not sure who recommended feeding a bran mash. It's a very old fashioned thing to do. My old boy used to get one every Sunday evening. It's not something I'd recommend now though as changing feeds dramatically can destroy the bacteria that the horse has built up in its gut to digest its normal food.  |
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joandlad
Apprentice Poo Picker
My beautiful boy!
Posts: 473
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Post by joandlad on Jul 21, 2009 15:47:24 GMT
Oh, have just re-read and see the vet recommended it. Definitely not something that my vet would recommend doing.
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Post by brigadier on Jul 21, 2009 16:25:35 GMT
It is an old fashioned remedy but sometimes things like this work. Horses digest it easily so if your boy has spasmodic colic because the food is hanging around then it could be just the thing. there are problems with it re the inbalance so limestone flour is essential. Make up as per Maxie above. If your vet is advocating this for a long time I would suggest referral to a nutritionist as it will leach his system after a few months.
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Post by fleabitten on Jul 21, 2009 20:19:05 GMT
He didnt say how long for, come to think of it. I know a pony who gets bran mash once or twice a week so he could have the same prob as Kieran - may be worth giving the owners a ring and see what they say.
I think there may be extra calcium in his hoof supplement - would this do as an alternative to limestone?
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Post by maximum on Jul 21, 2009 20:59:46 GMT
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Post by fleabitten on Jul 21, 2009 21:08:48 GMT
thanks for the advice and support - very much appreciated!! Well, he said to start with once a week to see how it goes - will ring him to see how much for each feed - why cant i just chuck him out and let him live on grass!!! ahh! Anyway, will give them a ring and confirm the craic with this bran mash. Thanks again  Am a bit worried about giving him all this stuff as id rather keep it simple but they recommended it - its worth a go i suppose. |
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