Which stud mix would you recommend???

[millie12]

Hi need some advise about the different branded stud mixes on the market please
which do you use ? and with what results ?

Thanks

[Guestless]

What type of horse are you feeding millie?

I just stick with feeding TopSpec when my mares are in foal and they all look well on it. As long as they are getting their required vitamins and minerals from that, they don't need much else IMO. I usually feed TS at quarter rations, but I increase it to full ration while they are in foal.

[sarahp]

I don't, I prefer forage feeds and a good stud balancer, topped up if necessary for more calories with an oil product or a higher calorie fibre feed. This gives more flexibility for providing all necessary micronutrients while being able to manage for the weight you want on them. I currently have four being fed, 2 x 3yo As, 1 A foal and 1 D foal and they all have the correct amount of balancer, and all have different quantities of grain free conditioning nuts according to their condition.

Mixes often contain molasses to help bind them, now known to predispose the animal to EMS in the future, as do cereal grains. If you do want a complete feed, I'd recommend a cube rather than a mix, and read the bag labels to avoid ingredients you don't want! Another tip is to talk to the nutritionists at the feed companies, that's what they are there for!

Edited to say - I hadn't thought of it being for brood mares, mine just have hay/haylage/grass but I don't foal them early so there is grass available for the last bit. They are all out 24/7 and I don't feed bucket feed in the field, otherwise I would give them a Top Spec balancer as Guestless does - everything that comes in to be fed gets this.

[LucyHebditch]

Our mares are in foal, turned out and eating plenty of haylage and have never looked better. When they had foals 2 years ago, we did the same with them and they and their foals were extremely healthy, with no added feed.
The foals are rising 2 now and have still not been fed on stud mix and they're looking fab!
IMO it isn't needed if you have plenty of good grass and haylage.
Having said that, ours do live out 24/7, we would consider feeding a mix if they were in.

[lils]

i used to use Dodson & Horrell Mare & Youngstock, with them being in at night and out during day, but for the older riding pony mares i changed that onto Spillers Stud & Youngstock and i found the older girls did better on that, being A higher protein level

[brt]

I use Heygates stud mix