forage first products?

EquineJessie · 02-21-2007, 03:02 PM

Does anyone know about forage first products?

My 2 yr old (coming 3) gelding is currently getting light work and alfalfa/grass hay with access to a mineral block.

I e-mailed asking about their products and they recommend:
--"StayStrong Metabolic Mineral Pellets." This product contains our GroStrong vitamijn/mineral, which provides all the vitamins, the 27 minerals, electolytes, and has the added digestive support of pro-biotics and Prosponse yeast cultures, all in pelleted form. It is very low in calories, contains no corn, molasses, or alfalfa, and is very low in starch, (less than 8% NSC - non-structural carbohydrates). You would feed 1 lb/day.

--Natural Glo Stablized Rice Bran (for bloom)

I've been looking into this because we've been studying essential amino acids and vitamins for livestock in my animal science class and I'm wondering if perhaps hay alone isn't cutting it. Plus, I want a nice bloom on his coat.

Have any of you heard of these products? Are they worth it? What's the cheapest brand that does the same thing? According to these people, they treat the rice bran a certain way so it doesn't go rancid. Which other products do the same thing?

Thanks!

Oh, and here's very recent pictures of him from several days ago.

Sue B · 02-21-2007, 03:38 PM

I have not used their feed products...but I know that they are well formulated. They are on the forefront of some better nutrition IMO. I have used the rice bran....it is stabilized so it has a long shelf-life and comes in a fortified and non-fortified selection so that it can be better balanced for your area.

There are some similar products on the market...however, they are all in the same price range and have limited availably like these products....so they may not be available in our area. IMO, yes, they are worth the extra...generally, you will be feeding less of this type of feedstuff than you would be of other types that are less expensive...and in the end when you weigh out the vet, farrier and other bills....a quality feeding program is well worth the savings over all the things a poorly fed horse suffers from.

I agree, hay is not enough...even with a mineral block...amino acids are key to getting full benefits from feedstuff....and are generally lacking in hay diets. Even some of the common brand name feeds lack good levels of amino acids.

EquineJessie · 02-21-2007, 03:46 PM

Thank-you, that's good to know. I'm making a trip over to the feed store now just to check on prices and see if they carry this stuff.

EquineJessie · 02-21-2007, 04:23 PM

Well, at the feed store around the corner they do have this brand of rice bran. But, the unfortified is half the price. Is it that necessary to have fortified vs unfortified?

Also, I was looking at all the vit/mineral/amino acid supplements and it was making my head spin. Any pointers as to which would be best? I'm not looking for the cheapest product but I'd like to get the most value for my money. If the one with the high lysine content is what he needs and it's twice as much, I'll spend the money. But what exactly is it you look for in those supplements? There were a bunch in the $25-35 range for anywhere from a month to a two months supply...

Sue B · 02-21-2007, 04:46 PM

Is that fortified or stabilized....people mix these up easily and I don't want to give you the wrong info. If it is unfortified...that is ok...just means that the C/P ratio is not balaned. You can balance it with various other things and that balance is not a major concern except in growing horses. In general, if you are not feeding large amounts (generally there is a recommended limit of 2 lbs/day) or you are not feeding large amounts of whole grains...then the phosphorus levels are not that bad when mixed into the entire meal. Most hays are higher in calcium and expecially hays with alfalfa in them...could stand some added phos to improve the overall balance of the diet.

The best and most economical supplemental source of amino acids is BOSS (black oil sunflwoer seeds. Rice bran is fairly high in amino acids also...but BOSS cover the entrie gammet nicely. Much better than any supplement. You feed store should carry it...if not you can find it at Walmart or other similar stores. He looks in good rig...so a maintenance dose would be 1-2 cups/day. You can also get a ration balancer from most of the common national brands. They are not all formulated as well as the stuff you were looking at...but with BOSS and rice bran...you should be ok. You may even find that the BOSS is not necessary...but it is a nice feedstuff and horses seem to like it alot. Ration balancers are similar to some of the stuff you were listing. They are basically a nutrient dense pellet that provides a good range of minerals and other nutrients missing in hay diets. They are foraged based and some have small amounts of grain products in them...but you generally only feed 1-2 lbs/day. This allows for one feeding if 2 are not convenient. It also is a much better and less risky way to feed than the more traditional type feeds.

EquineJessie · 02-21-2007, 05:12 PM

Thanks again! Very good info. I think I'll get some of that rice bran, see how he does, and then add BOSS if he needs it (I mean, if I've got the cash) lol

Sue B · 02-21-2007, 05:29 PM

The rice bran is generally more expensive of the two...but not always...depends on location and what is available to you. The BOSS is generally cheaper and comes in several different sizes so you don't have to buy 50lbs at a time if you don't want. BOSS is also much more readily eaten my a majority of horses than rice bran is. Rice bran is generally accepted...but some horses don't like it...espeically the powder form (as opposed to the pelleted form).

Dawn · 02-23-2007, 10:11 AM

Just to throw in my 2 cents. I like to feed rice bran and BOSS together. They both have their plusses and actually compliment one another well. I feed either 50/50 or 75/50 depending (75 being the rice bran).

I saw an ad in a magazine for the forage first products, and I like the look of them, but have never seen any other info on them.

02-21-2007, 03:02 PM	#1
EquineJessie Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,565 Images: 276	forage first products? Does anyone know about forage first products? My 2 yr old (coming 3) gelding is currently getting light work and alfalfa/grass hay with access to a mineral block. I e-mailed asking about their products and they recommend: --"StayStrong Metabolic Mineral Pellets." This product contains our GroStrong vitamijn/mineral, which provides all the vitamins, the 27 minerals, electolytes, and has the added digestive support of pro-biotics and Prosponse yeast cultures, all in pelleted form. It is very low in calories, contains no corn, molasses, or alfalfa, and is very low in starch, (less than 8% NSC - non-structural carbohydrates). You would feed 1 lb/day. --Natural Glo Stablized Rice Bran (for bloom) I've been looking into this because we've been studying essential amino acids and vitamins for livestock in my animal science class and I'm wondering if perhaps hay alone isn't cutting it. Plus, I want a nice bloom on his coat. Have any of you heard of these products? Are they worth it? What's the cheapest brand that does the same thing? According to these people, they treat the rice bran a certain way so it doesn't go rancid. Which other products do the same thing? Thanks! Oh, and here's very recent pictures of him from several days ago.

02-21-2007, 03:38 PM	#2
Sue B Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,824 Images: 6	I have not used their feed products...but I know that they are well formulated. They are on the forefront of some better nutrition IMO. I have used the rice bran....it is stabilized so it has a long shelf-life and comes in a fortified and non-fortified selection so that it can be better balanced for your area. There are some similar products on the market...however, they are all in the same price range and have limited availably like these products....so they may not be available in our area. IMO, yes, they are worth the extra...generally, you will be feeding less of this type of feedstuff than you would be of other types that are less expensive...and in the end when you weigh out the vet, farrier and other bills....a quality feeding program is well worth the savings over all the things a poorly fed horse suffers from. I agree, hay is not enough...even with a mineral block...amino acids are key to getting full benefits from feedstuff....and are generally lacking in hay diets. Even some of the common brand name feeds lack good levels of amino acids. __________________ Save a Horse - www.saveahorse.org December 13th - National Day of the Horse September 19th - International Talk Like a Pirate Day www.talklikeapirate.com

02-21-2007, 04:46 PM	#5
Sue B Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,824 Images: 6	Is that fortified or stabilized....people mix these up easily and I don't want to give you the wrong info. If it is unfortified...that is ok...just means that the C/P ratio is not balaned. You can balance it with various other things and that balance is not a major concern except in growing horses. In general, if you are not feeding large amounts (generally there is a recommended limit of 2 lbs/day) or you are not feeding large amounts of whole grains...then the phosphorus levels are not that bad when mixed into the entire meal. Most hays are higher in calcium and expecially hays with alfalfa in them...could stand some added phos to improve the overall balance of the diet. The best and most economical supplemental source of amino acids is BOSS (black oil sunflwoer seeds. Rice bran is fairly high in amino acids also...but BOSS cover the entrie gammet nicely. Much better than any supplement. You feed store should carry it...if not you can find it at Walmart or other similar stores. He looks in good rig...so a maintenance dose would be 1-2 cups/day. You can also get a ration balancer from most of the common national brands. They are not all formulated as well as the stuff you were looking at...but with BOSS and rice bran...you should be ok. You may even find that the BOSS is not necessary...but it is a nice feedstuff and horses seem to like it alot. Ration balancers are similar to some of the stuff you were listing. They are basically a nutrient dense pellet that provides a good range of minerals and other nutrients missing in hay diets. They are foraged based and some have small amounts of grain products in them...but you generally only feed 1-2 lbs/day. This allows for one feeding if 2 are not convenient. It also is a much better and less risky way to feed than the more traditional type feeds. __________________ Save a Horse - www.saveahorse.org December 13th - National Day of the Horse September 19th - International Talk Like a Pirate Day www.talklikeapirate.com

02-21-2007, 05:29 PM	#7
Sue B Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,824 Images: 6	The rice bran is generally more expensive of the two...but not always...depends on location and what is available to you. The BOSS is generally cheaper and comes in several different sizes so you don't have to buy 50lbs at a time if you don't want. BOSS is also much more readily eaten my a majority of horses than rice bran is. Rice bran is generally accepted...but some horses don't like it...espeically the powder form (as opposed to the pelleted form). __________________ Save a Horse - www.saveahorse.org December 13th - National Day of the Horse September 19th - International Talk Like a Pirate Day www.talklikeapirate.com

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02-21-2007, 03:46 PM	#3
EquineJessie Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,565 Images: 276	Thank-you, that's good to know. I'm making a trip over to the feed store now just to check on prices and see if they carry this stuff.

02-21-2007, 04:23 PM	#4
EquineJessie Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,565 Images: 276	Well, at the feed store around the corner they do have this brand of rice bran. But, the unfortified is half the price. Is it that necessary to have fortified vs unfortified? Also, I was looking at all the vit/mineral/amino acid supplements and it was making my head spin. Any pointers as to which would be best? I'm not looking for the cheapest product but I'd like to get the most value for my money. If the one with the high lysine content is what he needs and it's twice as much, I'll spend the money. But what exactly is it you look for in those supplements? There were a bunch in the $25-35 range for anywhere from a month to a two months supply...

02-21-2007, 05:12 PM	#6
EquineJessie Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,565 Images: 276	Thanks again! Very good info. I think I'll get some of that rice bran, see how he does, and then add BOSS if he needs it (I mean, if I've got the cash) lol

02-23-2007, 10:11 AM	#8
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 29,652 Images: 1283	Just to throw in my 2 cents. I like to feed rice bran and BOSS together. They both have their plusses and actually compliment one another well. I feed either 50/50 or 75/50 depending (75 being the rice bran). I saw an ad in a magazine for the forage first products, and I like the look of them, but have never seen any other info on them.