[ryu2832]

Ok, I have a mare that I do not want to feed grain to. She is a very easy keeper, with possible IR issues.

Right now she is getting 1/2c. of low NSC feed (12% protein) 2x a day with a multivitamin with trace minerals and has access to a trace mineral salt block, and getting 25%clover/75% grass excellent quality hay at 1.25% body weight (12-13lbs). She seems to be holding on this.

I am upping her exercise program, once the footing firms up, to hopefully take care of the rest of the weight.

My concern is that she is not getting enough actual nutrition. She looks good, but I don't want problems down the road.

I've been trying to find a 'ration balancer', but everything I look at the NSC is too high--tons of grain in it itself or they want you to add oats . Plus they want to to feed a 1-2lbs!

I don't get it, am I looking at the wrong stuff?

[imacowgirl2]

Sorry I can't help...what does NSC stand for?

Since I don't know what NSC stands for, I have no idea whether or not my ration balancer has a high or low one, but I use Progressive Nutrition's diet balancer (Progressive Nutrition Horse Feed or Progressive Nutrition - High Quality Horse and Animal Feed is the page of the actual one I use) so you could look at that and see whether or not you might be able to use something like that...

[imacowgirl2]

If you need the ingredient list off that feed bag (its not on the website) it can be found at How's this feed rate as a ration balancer? I typed it all out directly from the bag tag to get some comments on it earlier this year.

[Shotgun93]

I feed my IR horse Safechoice and Dynamite HES, plus a small amount of BOSS, he does really well on them.

[Sue B]

NSC = non-structural carbohydrates (basically sugars and starches).

Most ration balancers do not contain "grain". They may contain some grain by-products such as oat hulls or distillers grains. But, these are not an issue and perfectly safe to feed to easy keepers.

What brand names do you have access to?
I know that some ration balancers are designed to be fed with oats...my guess (without knowing the products) would be that either they are looking for more protein or to fill the gap for liminting amino acids...without which protein cannot be utilized. In either case, you could safely replace oats with BOSS...similar nutrient profile with good amounts of amino acids.

[ryu2832]

The Dynamite stuuf looks interesting, but I would have to ship it. I am trying to find something closer to home.

I'm trying to get her the minerals and vitamins without adding any more calorise...I may end up having to blend something myself.

[ryu2832]

Originally Posted by Sue B

NSC = non-structural carbohydrates (basically sugars and starches).

Most ration balancers do not contain "grain". They may contain some grain by-products such as oat hulls or distillers grains. But, these are not an issue and perfectly safe to feed to easy keepers.

What brand names do you have access to?
I know that some ration balancers are designed to be fed with oats...my guess (without knowing the products) would be that either they are looking for more protein or to fill the gap for liminting amino acids...without which protein cannot be utilized. In either case, you could safely replace oats with BOSS...similar nutrient profile with good amounts of amino acids.

Kent, Purina is within easy distance at the local Co-op. I make a pilgrimage to a larger city once a month, they have Nutrena. I have not seen any ration balancers at any of the stores I go to. Orschelen's, Tractor Supply, Theissens, and my Co-op has nothing and can't be counted on to keep anything on hand relaibly.

I really just need something to mix the powders into, maybe just wet a little Omegatin and make a mash out of it?

I'm trying to remember, how much protein a day for a 1000lb horse?

[Dawn]

You could also get a 'regular' vit/min supplement and feed it with a cup of beet pulp.

The ration balancers I've seen seem to be pretty low NSC. But I've not seen any actual numbers on that.

[Dawn]

I take it (from the hay percentage) that your horse is about 1000 lbs. In that case, if she's not working, you're looking at around 1 1/3 lbs of protein. You're hay's probably around 9% protein, which means she's receiving about 1 lb of protein from that. I'd say (without getting your hay tested) that adding some protein to the diet is called for. With most hays, you're more likely to have less protein than more, at least in this area.

[Sue B]

The Progessive Ration Balancer is formulated similar to most ration balancers...what is it that makes you feel that it has high NSC? Does the instructions say to feed with oats?

The reason that ration balancers are fed at 1-2 lbs/day is because that is what is needed to provide adequate nutrients. The 1/2 cup of feed that you are using right now is providing basically nothing.

You should think of ration balancers as a qualtiy vit/min mix (plus some other stuff like enough protein/amino acids to fill RDAs without using alfalfa or other high protein hays).....all mixed up in a highly digestable forage pellet. The distillers grains and wheat mids are perfectly safe and found in many formulations tht are low NSC. These are not the same as feeding whole grains. Distillers grains are what is left after brewing....all the sugars/starches have been removed during the brewing process....what is left is high in protein, amino acids and nutrient dense. Wheat mids are also by-products from milling processes. They provide important nutrients, but without the outer hull, have most of the starch removed. Soy hulls and soybeans are very imporant sources of fiber, nuteitnts and highly digestable protein. There is some concern that some horses have intolerances to soy...just as some humans do...but this is not generally a concern...and if the hrose is already eating something besides sweet feed...then it is most likely already getting soy in its feed....even some sweet feeds contain soy products/by-products.