Getting nice babies

Question
I have had trouble feeding growing weanlings/yearlings for growth. I have had two foals that developed epiphysitis that resolved but I don't want to do that again. I feed grassy alfalfa hay...try to get more grass than alfalfa...and Equine Junior with one scoop of Foal Plus. This is a regiment that was recommended to me. They get three pounds of Equine Junior per day.


Answer
Although the exact cause of epiphysitis isn't known in many cases, most people have tried to focus on good nutrition and appropriate exercise to avoid the problem. Most specifically, excessive calories, and the minerals calcium and phosphorus, have been talked about as prime players in the condition.

It sounds like the horses are getting a fairly high calorie diet -in my opinion, you may not need to feed so much Equine Junior (depending on the weight and exercise level of the horses). Since you're feeding an alfalfa-based ration, you might want to consider adding some phosphorus to the diet. There are supplements out there that are designed for feeding with alfalfa hay, that have lower calcium and higher phosphorus levels. Finally, if your horses have unrestricted exercise, you might want to think about getting them in for the night, to allow their inflamed bones to rest.

Make sure you check with your veterinarian to evaluate specifics regarding your horses. Most babies get over epiphysitis without any problem, but it sure can be aggravating while it's happening!