How's this feed rate as a ration balancer?

imacowgirl2 · 07-03-2006, 06:38 AM

Finally made it home, and talked to my mom about what our horses are eating, and I'd like to know what everyone thinks of this feed. I'm looking for something that has a good vitamin/mineral balance without a lot of grains

Here's the info on the feed:

Progressive Nutrition ProAdvantage Grass Formula Pellet

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein: min. 30%
Lysine: min. 2.3%
Crude Fat: max. 5%
Calcium: min. 2.5% max. 3.5%
Phosphorus: min. 1.5%
Copper: min. 220 ppm
Selenium: min. 1.5 ppm
Zinc: min. 500 ppm
Vit A: min. 22,000 IU/lb
Vit D: min. 2,200 IU/lb
Vit E: min. 350 IU/lb

Ingredients: Soybean meal, heat processed soybeans, distillers dried grains, wheat middlings, and then the compounds that provide the vits/minerals. About 2/3 of the way down it also has flaxseed listed.

I'm not sure how much they are getting, or how much is fed -- my mom just ripped the little tag off of the bag and gave it to me, and I didn't realize that the feeding directions are on the bag, instead of on the tag like usual. And of course, I can't find feeding info online...

Anyways, would this fit the bill for a good ration balancer for a mixed herd of horses? Or does it have too many grains? Would we be better off with some other vit/mineral supplement, and if so, which one?

We have everything from a youngish gelding that gets ridden a couple times a month to a 21 year old mare with a 3 mo. foal at side to middle aged geldings that are showing about twice a month.

Sue B · 07-03-2006, 07:46 AM

Technically, there is little grain in this feed. The distillers grains are by-products of the brewing industry and are not considered "grains" because the carbs have been basically removed and what is left is a good amount of nutrients and some fermentation characteristics.

The wheat mids are the "heart" of the wheat grain. They provide protein and vit/min, but are low in carbs.

So nutritionally, these things are not utilized by the body as a grain would be, but rather as something between a grain and a forage. They are commonly used to raise nutrient levels in feeds and are safe to feed.

IMO, this is a good balancer pellet. I feed on similar and love the benefits that I see. I also feed a beet pulp/no grain feed for my old guy (almost 30) and hardkeeper.

Since the balancer pellet provides a good amount of quality nutrients, it is not generally necessary to feed anything else. However, there are those horses that simply need more calories...either becasue of work, age or just their metabolism. As long as everyone is in good weight, health and has enough energy to do their job, then you are on the right track.

imacowgirl2 · 07-03-2006, 09:59 AM

Thanks SueB! Glad to hear this is a good start...now I need to know where to go from here. All the horses have free-choice grass hay (some sort of timothy mix as far as I know...but not sure on that) and a tiny bit of pasture as well as the ration balancer.

Our lactating mare definately needs more calories...she needs to put on at least 100 lbs, as this foal has pulled her down quickly. Right now she's on a grain that has first ingredient as corn and a ton of molasses...and I'm thinking that HAS to go as soon as the current bag is gone. I figured we'd use BOSS, but I don't know what else to use to put/keep the weight on her. What would you recommend? I think I'll start adding BOSS to her grain, but I have no clue what else to use, or even what is available. Also, what amounts should I feed? I know for the BOSS, but I would have no idea of what amounts to ultimately work up to for any feeds you might suggest

Sue B · 07-03-2006, 10:35 AM

Progressive offers a wide range of well formulated concentrates that would work for you situation. There is a line of "no corn" mixes that are basically beet pulp and cooked oats (helps reduce starches). These come in Gowth, Sort and Performance horse fomulas....all seem to be aimed toward what you are looking for....probably the higher the fat, the more beneficial it will be.

If you are still aiming for weight gain and "no grain", there there are a variety of ways to achieve this. Progressive offers 2 high fat supplements...one is the same as your balancer pellet, but with a littl less protein and 20% fat (IIRC) and the other is just a fat supplement to be added to either a grain mix or your balancer pellet.

An alternative approach would be to feed high quality, easily diegest forages that are high in calories. These would be beet pulp, alfalfa cubes/pellets, BOSS and rice bran. Generally, a combination works best. The ease of feeding an all forage diet like this is that you can simply add your balancer pellet to it for the vit/min you would need; you can adjust and make changes as needed without worry of colic/laminitis; and you can add to it or take them down from it without as much adjustment time that you migh use for a grain based product.

The ease of using the low-grain concnetrates they offer is of course no mixing....everything is right in the bag. It would be a similar diet....a lot of fiber, you could add more fat, but these were fairly high in fat, and if you want to feed only a little, they would balance nicely with your balancer pellet.

As to how much of each....that is really somethng that you have to determine yourself. Rice bran is generally fed at around 1-2 cups/day. I suspect that the fat supplement would also work in a similar manner...but the high fat balancer pellet would most likely be fed differently (maybe 1-2 lbs/day, but don't know for sure). The pre-mixes probably have recommendations, but you have to vary that according to horse's needs. As for beet pulp or alfalfa cubes/pellets....that is like feeding any hay...however much you feel is a good compliment to what you are currently feeding...some like to add anywhere from a small amount of beet pulp (1-2 cups dry) up to 1-2 scoops dry. It iwll soak to twice its size. You can also feed it dry, but it is safer to feed soaked. The same for alfalfa cubes. Pellets can be fed dry and similar amounts to the beet pulp.....any variety that works for you is safe and healthy to feed.

imacowgirl2 · 07-03-2006, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue B

Progressive offers a wide range of well formulated concentrates that would work for you situation. There is a line of "no corn" mixes that are basically beet pulp and cooked oats (helps reduce starches). These come in Gowth, Sort and Performance horse fomulas....all seem to be aimed toward what you are looking for....probably the higher the fat, the more beneficial it will be.

So, putting the lactating mare on the Progressive Hi-Fat diet balancer pellet and the pelleted Progressive growth formula would provide her with a good balanced diet? Or would you just put her on the Hi-Fat diet balancer and leave the growth formula out? Or leave her on the regular diet balancer and add the growth formula?? Or would all three options be about equal, in which case it would just be personal preference?

Sue B · 07-03-2006, 11:44 AM

Since she is lactating she should be on the growth formula....but, as long as you can meet those nutritional requirements with another formula....especially protein, fat and vit/min....then you could use one of the other choices. It is best not to mix these together as they are all speically formulated. IMO, I would go with the growth formula for now and then wean her off to the high fat balancer pellet or even your current balancer pellet and any source of fat like BOSS. Since you are already behind the game, I would additionally add a fat supplement, rice bran or BOSS to her diet at this point. You most likely aren't going to catch up until the foal is weaned. We sometimes wean early in cases like this....the foals do better because when you reach a certain point of weight loss in the mare she will not be able to provide enough nutrients and her body will start stripping her of essential nutrients (which it already is doing)...so you have a no win situation.

Ideally, a broodmare should be on a growth formula or the equivilant in the last trimester and through lactation. This ensures that the nutrition the foal gets is consistant from birth to weaning to yearling....provided you keep the foal on the growth formula during the first year.

07-03-2006, 06:38 AM	#1
imacowgirl2 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: here, there, and everywhere! Posts: 2,798 Images: 233 Blog Entries: 17	How's this feed rate as a ration balancer? Finally made it home, and talked to my mom about what our horses are eating, and I'd like to know what everyone thinks of this feed. I'm looking for something that has a good vitamin/mineral balance without a lot of grains Here's the info on the feed: Progressive Nutrition ProAdvantage Grass Formula Pellet Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein: min. 30% Lysine: min. 2.3% Crude Fat: max. 5% Calcium: min. 2.5% max. 3.5% Phosphorus: min. 1.5% Copper: min. 220 ppm Selenium: min. 1.5 ppm Zinc: min. 500 ppm Vit A: min. 22,000 IU/lb Vit D: min. 2,200 IU/lb Vit E: min. 350 IU/lb Ingredients: Soybean meal, heat processed soybeans, distillers dried grains, wheat middlings, and then the compounds that provide the vits/minerals. About 2/3 of the way down it also has flaxseed listed. I'm not sure how much they are getting, or how much is fed -- my mom just ripped the little tag off of the bag and gave it to me, and I didn't realize that the feeding directions are on the bag, instead of on the tag like usual. And of course, I can't find feeding info online... Anyways, would this fit the bill for a good ration balancer for a mixed herd of horses? Or does it have too many grains? Would we be better off with some other vit/mineral supplement, and if so, which one? We have everything from a youngish gelding that gets ridden a couple times a month to a 21 year old mare with a 3 mo. foal at side to middle aged geldings that are showing about twice a month.

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07-03-2006, 07:46 AM	#2
Sue B Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,824 Images: 6	Technically, there is little grain in this feed. The distillers grains are by-products of the brewing industry and are not considered "grains" because the carbs have been basically removed and what is left is a good amount of nutrients and some fermentation characteristics. The wheat mids are the "heart" of the wheat grain. They provide protein and vit/min, but are low in carbs. So nutritionally, these things are not utilized by the body as a grain would be, but rather as something between a grain and a forage. They are commonly used to raise nutrient levels in feeds and are safe to feed. IMO, this is a good balancer pellet. I feed on similar and love the benefits that I see. I also feed a beet pulp/no grain feed for my old guy (almost 30) and hardkeeper. Since the balancer pellet provides a good amount of quality nutrients, it is not generally necessary to feed anything else. However, there are those horses that simply need more calories...either becasue of work, age or just their metabolism. As long as everyone is in good weight, health and has enough energy to do their job, then you are on the right track.

07-03-2006, 09:59 AM	#3
imacowgirl2 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: here, there, and everywhere! Posts: 2,798 Images: 233 Blog Entries: 17	Thanks SueB! Glad to hear this is a good start...now I need to know where to go from here. All the horses have free-choice grass hay (some sort of timothy mix as far as I know...but not sure on that) and a tiny bit of pasture as well as the ration balancer. Our lactating mare definately needs more calories...she needs to put on at least 100 lbs, as this foal has pulled her down quickly. Right now she's on a grain that has first ingredient as corn and a ton of molasses...and I'm thinking that HAS to go as soon as the current bag is gone. I figured we'd use BOSS, but I don't know what else to use to put/keep the weight on her. What would you recommend? I think I'll start adding BOSS to her grain, but I have no clue what else to use, or even what is available. Also, what amounts should I feed? I know for the BOSS, but I would have no idea of what amounts to ultimately work up to for any feeds you might suggest

07-03-2006, 10:35 AM	#4
Sue B Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,824 Images: 6	Progressive offers a wide range of well formulated concentrates that would work for you situation. There is a line of "no corn" mixes that are basically beet pulp and cooked oats (helps reduce starches). These come in Gowth, Sort and Performance horse fomulas....all seem to be aimed toward what you are looking for....probably the higher the fat, the more beneficial it will be. If you are still aiming for weight gain and "no grain", there there are a variety of ways to achieve this. Progressive offers 2 high fat supplements...one is the same as your balancer pellet, but with a littl less protein and 20% fat (IIRC) and the other is just a fat supplement to be added to either a grain mix or your balancer pellet. An alternative approach would be to feed high quality, easily diegest forages that are high in calories. These would be beet pulp, alfalfa cubes/pellets, BOSS and rice bran. Generally, a combination works best. The ease of feeding an all forage diet like this is that you can simply add your balancer pellet to it for the vit/min you would need; you can adjust and make changes as needed without worry of colic/laminitis; and you can add to it or take them down from it without as much adjustment time that you migh use for a grain based product. The ease of using the low-grain concnetrates they offer is of course no mixing....everything is right in the bag. It would be a similar diet....a lot of fiber, you could add more fat, but these were fairly high in fat, and if you want to feed only a little, they would balance nicely with your balancer pellet. As to how much of each....that is really somethng that you have to determine yourself. Rice bran is generally fed at around 1-2 cups/day. I suspect that the fat supplement would also work in a similar manner...but the high fat balancer pellet would most likely be fed differently (maybe 1-2 lbs/day, but don't know for sure). The pre-mixes probably have recommendations, but you have to vary that according to horse's needs. As for beet pulp or alfalfa cubes/pellets....that is like feeding any hay...however much you feel is a good compliment to what you are currently feeding...some like to add anywhere from a small amount of beet pulp (1-2 cups dry) up to 1-2 scoops dry. It iwll soak to twice its size. You can also feed it dry, but it is safer to feed soaked. The same for alfalfa cubes. Pellets can be fed dry and similar amounts to the beet pulp.....any variety that works for you is safe and healthy to feed.

07-03-2006, 11:44 AM	#6
Sue B Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,824 Images: 6	Since she is lactating she should be on the growth formula....but, as long as you can meet those nutritional requirements with another formula....especially protein, fat and vit/min....then you could use one of the other choices. It is best not to mix these together as they are all speically formulated. IMO, I would go with the growth formula for now and then wean her off to the high fat balancer pellet or even your current balancer pellet and any source of fat like BOSS. Since you are already behind the game, I would additionally add a fat supplement, rice bran or BOSS to her diet at this point. You most likely aren't going to catch up until the foal is weaned. We sometimes wean early in cases like this....the foals do better because when you reach a certain point of weight loss in the mare she will not be able to provide enough nutrients and her body will start stripping her of essential nutrients (which it already is doing)...so you have a no win situation. Ideally, a broodmare should be on a growth formula or the equivilant in the last trimester and through lactation. This ensures that the nutrition the foal gets is consistant from birth to weaning to yearling....provided you keep the foal on the growth formula during the first year.