Quote: IMO the key is feed what MOther Nature designed the animal for. In horses, I have always fed lots of hay and little grain. ( Lactating broodmare of course can get a lot more grain if she produces like a dairy cow. lol) I use the grains to supplement, not the main feed. Wild horses don't eat commercial pellets. lol
CHickens would normally eat a variety of things. From meat scraps, to bugs, to seeds, to grasses and I'm sure much more. My SS have pellets if they want, and otherwise forage all day in the woods. I would love to know what they are eating!! SOme of my other birds jump up to get the blackberries and others eat the fallen peaches. THe grass is about 2 inches high, kept mowed by chickens and sheep.
My rotties were never the proverbial fat dogs, gave them carots and apples. ONE dog ate peaches and tomatos. I think dogs would eat a lot more veg if we let them from an early age.
I had one cat that developed diabetes because IMO it lived a vicious circle of eating commercial dry cat food, laid around, ate more, got fatter, ate, slept, ate, became obese, then suddenly became VERY skinny. Rushed to the vets put on insulin and died 2 days later . My take away is that commercial cat food high in grain products is not good for cats. THey should be eating primarily meat. Meat does not cause much rise in blood insulin levels. I feed my cats a lot of chicken scraps now.
In a nut shell: fruits, nuts, grasses and lots of vegeatbles. Little grain. Add meat and eggs for the carinovores and the omnivores.
Scott- I only have my 25 years of raising horses and livestock to rely on. My horses I keep trim, and turned out all day = exercise. Grasses and legumes, little grain.
I have also been eating a diet low in carbs as I have learned more about the ill effects of high insulin levels in our blood. It is responsible for a miriad of diseases, all that are preventable by changing the diet. I eat a diet low in highcarb foods to prevent insulin spikes. THe result is a lower blood pressure. ANd I hope to avoid: arthrocleroisis, diabetes, strokes, gout, arthritis, high blood pressure, and cancer to name the worst offenders of our standard american diet.
My diet =Whole foods, clean meats and eggsand cheeses; no sugar,no juices, no milk, no grains as I prefer to eat my carbs as vegetables, berries and nuts.
ANd probiotics and vitamins.
I'm sure this is more than you wanted. lol We are what we eat.
Thanks for the informative reply, we think alot alike when it comes to feeding critters.
Scott
