Alfa-A

[*Sez*]

I recently contacted D&H for feed advice, and, with input from my RI, have completely changed Sal's feed. Rather than using scoops, I am now weighing everything out, and am adding Soya oil as well.
I am in the process of changing the cool mix for build up cubes, and the mollichop for Alfa-A. Based on the info from D&H and having spoken to my vet, I need to almost double the amounts and have started building them up.
He is looking heaps better, and already has started to gleam again :D but a friend said yesterday that she wouldn't dream of giving Alfa-A to her TB as it is full of sugar and is likely to make him fizzier. Sal has been livelier lately, but I'd put that down to the spring grass. I haven't had a chance to double check the ingredients, but I was sure it hardly contained any sugar at all. If it is the case that my friend is right, what would you recommend in it's place? Should I try D&H Alfalfa?

[eventerbabe]

its true, alfa-a can really fire them up. its the same nutritional values as a mix so is quite high in energy. my welshie was on it and it was like rocket fuel. alfa-a lite from dengie has slightly lower energy values. haven't tried it so can't comment on its fizziness rating.

[No_Angel]

ive given my ex racer alfa a oil (force fed it her- she hates it) and alfa a and she has never become fizzy at all (shes actually less spooky and more laid back than my section a now:D i didnt think id ever say that), but i myself have never had any problems.
have you got a recent pic of sal?
last time i saw a pic of him i thought he looked lovely. i must add tho that build up cubes are very expensive and spillers conditioning cubes do just as good a job and are alot cheaper:D

[Skye08]

i feed shads alfa a and it never has an affect on him :confused: he gets that and microfeed and both dnt hav an effect

[MelanieD]

Alfa-a is molassed so there is quite a bit of sugar in it. Alfa-a oil or lite might be better, or simple systems alfalfa. Alfalfa does seem to do a good job of getting some idiot behaviour out of both of mine even if not mollassed though.

[fitz]

Horses at grass eat the equivalent of 2.5 kg of sugar a day:eek: Their systems are built to metabolise it. I think you should continue to feed it and play it by ear with him... Is he still in at night?

[*Sez*]

Horses at grass eat the equivalent of 2.5 kg of sugar a day Their systems are built to metabolise it. I think you should continue to feed it and play it by ear with him... Is he still in at night?

Yes, our summer turn out starts next week (fingers crossed). I might give the Alfa-A oil a try and stop putting the Soya oil in.. the last thing I want is for him to get sillier!:rolleyes:

have you got a recent pic of sal?
last time i saw a pic of him i thought he looked lovely. i must add tho that build up cubes are very expensive and spillers conditioning cubes do just as good a job and are alot cheaper

His condition and weight both took a nose-dive when he came off his medication and started working again (he looked fantastic when he was on £600 worth of meds! :D). He's now approx 414KG and was around 460KG when I bought him in October (and even then we thought he could do with fattening up ;) ) although his weight did drop a little over the winter, he lost a lot of weight quite drastically between January and February. I'll see if I can find a picture of him between starting work and changing his feed and get one taken this week.

[Yann]

Alfa A is mollassed, but I can't imagine it's any worse than the mollichop and cool mix you were feeding already. It is higher in energy though, but that's what you want, and fibre is the best way of supplying it. However as you're already adding oil I'd give Alfa oil a try instead too, for a start it doesn't contain any mollasses at all and has added antioxidants to help metabolize the oil consumed. I've fed both to Rio over the winter and was really pleased with the results.

However, based on personal experience, if you're trying to build a horse up then I'd use Topspec balancer and super conditioning flakes:)

[H & Bailey]

alpha a gives slow release energy so shouldnt fizz and gives the same amount of energy as a cool mix.
alpha a oil is a working conditioning feed and gives same energy as a medium energy mix.the alpha a lite is low in sugars and recommended for lamanitics who need weight gain.
stick with the alpha a if you need more energy move up to the oil.if you need less energy go down to the Hi fi.