[Tami]

Is this considered a Ration Balancer (Patriot Finishing Touch)? The ingredients are listed on this web site...www.masterfeeds.com/pdf/programs/patriot-finishing-touch.pdf.

I was told it was, but after reviewing all the posts I am sooo confused again. I have been feeding it to my 3 month old and my yearling (along with alfalfa pellets). Sometimes I think I should just go back to complete mixesI'm never sure if they are getting what they need.













www.masterfeeds.com/pdf/programs/patriot-finishing-touch.pdf

[Catarina Rose]

Nope, I think that is a fat supplement.

Where do you live? Maybe someone on here can help you find one.

[JBandRio]

DESIGNED TO BE FED WITH A
BALANCED COMPLETE FEED, FOR HORSES REQUIRING ADDITIONAL CALORIES FROM FAT,

So no, not a ration balancer. Just a more $$$ fat supplement It DOES have the benefit of having some vitamins and minerals, as well as some protein, so it does have benefits beyond just fat.

[Sue B]

Some things to look for to help you determine if it is a ration balancer:

• Product Name - generally, in the name it will say balancer or equalizer (but not always)
• Protein levels - in ration balancers designed to be fed with grass hay, the protein levels will be high (generally 25-30%)
• Amino Acids - either listed in the analysis or ingredient list there will be elements ending in "ine"....these are amino acids (lysine, methionine and others)
• Low Fat - while there are a very few ration balancers that now come with added fat, typically they will be in the 2-3% range...the same as hay.
• Fixed Fomula - although not every ration balancer has a fixed formula...most do. When looking at the ingredient list, you will note many that ingredients are listed with "common" names...such as alfalfa, yeast, kelp, lin/flax seed, brewers distilled grains, soy hulls. In "non-fixed" formulas ingredients will be liest with "generic" names such as foage by-products, grain by-products, soy by-products.
• Feeding Instructions - generally ration balancers will be recommended to be fed at the rate of 1-2 lbs/day for adult horses and 2-3 lbs for growth (weanling-2). This will cover their nutritient needs, but not their caloric needs. Generally, the instructions will also say to feed either with oats or hay/pasture...but not with "complete" or other types of premixed feeds.

Just relax and think when you read the label info. If you can't trust your feed dealer, then ask to see the bag or a brochure (sometimes not very helpful) before you buy. Look for several kinds of minerals....just the basic names (calcium, magnesium, potassium...it doesn't matter if you see them listed as calcium bicarbonate, magnesium oxide....they are still the minerals that are needed....often just in combined forms to make them more bio-avilable during digestion. Think of what elements are made of...for example a calcium ingredient might be listed as limestone (primarily calcium). Look for the "ines" (amino acids). Look for a digestive aid...probiotics such as lactobacillus, yeast cultures or even something like selenium yeast (a 2-for...providing both the benefits of yeast and delivering the necessary selenium. You should also see some vitamins listed. The name or instructions will provide you with information that indicates that this is a ration balancer or something else.

Hope that helps you sort out some of the confussion.

[Tami]

Thank you for taking the time to review this. I was told a long time ago this stuff was a ration balancer. I am so mad to find out now, it is not. I live in Ontario. Products available in my area are Shur-Grain, Purina, and Masterfeed. I have yet to come across a place (within 30 minutes of my home) that sells a "Ration Balancer". I think I am going to go with a complete feed for the youngsters.

[Dawn]

Do you have websites for some of the other brands available to you? Purina does manufacture a ration balancer in Canada, but I'm not sure what it is and don't know the website.

[Sue B]

At least two of those companies manufactures a ration balancer...if they carry the main line of feed, they should be able to get the ration balancer for you.

Master Feed = VTM 20 programs-equine2.html
Purnia = Equalizer

I couldn't find a website for Shur-Grain so don't know if they make a retion balancer or not.

If your dealer is unfamiliar with the names of the ration balancers...then have them call their rep while you are there...or at least get back to you later with the info.

[Tami]

Thank you! Thank you! Not sure how I missed that Ration Balancer from Masterfeed. I'll look into that one for sure.

[belle4]

Would Omegatin by Kent be considered a ration balancer? It meets all of the criteria you posted about Sue, except it is high in fat.

[Dawn]

Omegatin isn't nutrient dense enough to be considered a ration balancer.

Though they claim to provide complete nutrition at 3 lbs a day, it's also safe to feed up to 12 lbs day. So that tells you that you're not providing too much of certain things at 3 lbs a day, otherwise the 12 lbs would be overdosing.