Feed store closing, must switch to Purina

[glimmerling]

Help, my local feed store is closing next week and I have to find a compatible product! 3 of my 4 are on feeds that either the other store carries or has a product that is nearly the same. The problem I'm having is my one hard keeper TB who is on XTN. I've looked at the Purina website and the only thing that seems close to XTN (12 protein, 12 fat, yeast and flax added) is Ultium. Problem is, last time I talked to the Purina dealer they weren't carrying Ultium anymore. Plus I'd rather feed a grain than a pellet. Now, if they are, by some chance, carrying Ultium again, I'll switch to that reluctantly. Any suggestions? My guy needs 10 percent fat and I do not want to start making my own feed!

They also carry Southern States apparently if that helps.

Thanks in advance.

[yellowbritches]

They only thing they sell is Purina?? Yes, currently, Ultium is the closest thing they have to the XTN, and it is a quality feed (it isn't quite a pellet, I think they refer to it as an extruded pellet). Everything else is probably too low in fat, but you could supplement with Amplify, which is a FANTASTIC product.

Purina is revamping and adding a few things to their line up. Check out www.purinadifference.com I don't think any of the new stuff has been put on the market yet (I asked about one when I called my feed order in the other day, and they guy had never heard of it!), but some seem pretty interesting.

The VERY best thing you can do is talk to a rep. They are very helpful and can offer good advice. Are you sure your feed dealer won't order you things? When ever I have wanted something my dealer doesn't normally carry, as long as it is from one of his regular suppliers, he'll order it for me.

[glimmerling]

I called them and they do carry Southern States and a couple of lower quality local mill type feeds. I just don't know these people very well as I've used the other feed store the whole time I've lived here.

I'll check out the new purina feeds, thanks for the link!

[monstrpony]

I prefer Southern States to Purina. Look at Triple Crown Senior or Complete, or Legends Performance. All are 10% fat now, varying protein (12 or 14%) and high in fiber. Many Legends feeds come in a pelleted version and a textured version so you have your choice. Check out southernstates.com and look at the EqusSource link, you can see details on all of their feeds (TC is their top, Legends next).

[War Admiral]

I called them and they do carry Southern States and a couple of lower quality local mill type feeds. I just don't know these people very well as I've used the other feed store the whole time I've lived here.

I'll check out the new purina feeds, thanks for the link!

If the new dealer carries Southern States, you're golden. Visit the Triple Crown website. Their stuff is awesome!

[yellowbritches]

Meh...Southern States has never blown my skirt up. But they do have a couple of things that seem to match the 10% fat need. Some people love the Triple Crown, I just have never been super impressed, personally.

[deltawave]

Could you get some rice bran and make up the fat content that way, if your options are otherwise limited?

Personally I love Purina products.

[glimmerling]

Genius information! Thank you! I think I'm going to head towards the Legends Performance Textured for the hard keeper but I am leaning towards the TC complete for my mare who has summer pasture COPD; that would be wonderful for her when she's having issues with her breathing (only in Fall) and ever since we put her on Senior (she's 20 and in great health otherwise) per vet recommendations the higher protein is making her -hot hot hot- and she's already one of the hottest horses I've ever owned. Anyone think that's a particularly bad or good idea?

Can't thank you guys enough, and I'm always open to more suggestions. I was really dreading feeding Purina for no good reason. I just don't know anything about any other feed than Nutrena as that's what I've always fed.

[monstrpony]

It isn't protein that makes her hot, it's feeding more calories than she needs, esp starch/sugar (NSC) which cause glycemic spikes. TC is also good about reporting NSC values on their feeds, there is a link under info on their site to a listing of NSC for all of their feeds. For the one who gets hot, you want reasonable protein, fat for cool calories (energy w/o glycemic spikes), and lower (<20%) NSC. TC Senior is actually lower NSC than Complete, and much lower than Purina's senior (don't know about Nutrena's).

[glimmerling]

Monstr, that's probably alot of the problem then. She's a moderately hard keeper, though nothing like the other TB. She has alot of 'not' going for her all in all between the COPD, herd/barn sour (why she was given to me in the first place) and being aloof. I have her on a moody mare supplement which helps keep her attention focused to some degree but I have noticed she's gotten rather intense under saddle since she switched to Sr from XTN. I do like that she has energy and spunk, after all she is 20, but I do not need airs above the ground because the horses 2 pastures over moved 3 inches. I think I will look into the TC Senior this week. Thank you again.

[ThoroughbredFancy]

I know a few people who really like TC senior.

I tried TC complete on my TB gelding who is close to a hard keeper and it didn't do anything for him.

I had to feed him tons of it and even then he lost weight.

He gained it back after I switched his feed back to Blue Seal.

My friends horse does wonderful on TCC but he's an easier keeper and only eats about 6 lbs a day or so.

[equineartworks]

Dumplin' gets soaked equine senior, a tiny bit of soaked chopped timothy and some ground flax seed. He looks gorgeous, is happy and healthy and it doesn't break the bank.

[glimmerling]

Deltawave - I fed a rice bran supplement for years but once XTN was invented I didn't need to anymore. I guess I'm spoiled in not wanting to have to do that again!

[ddashaq]

I love Purina, too. I had my horse on XTN and while he looked fine, he was insanely HOT. He was switched to Strategy and in addition to regaining his brain, he has also gained quite a bit of weight. He is not a hard keeper, but never looked that great on the XTN.

[Dirty Little Secret]

my moderately hard keeper gets beet pulp, rice bran (used to be cocosoya oil but was too messy and froze), Ultium, and Glanzen GL. Fairly well satisfied.

[glimmerling]

Just an update to all those who gave me such great advice. It's been 2 weeks on the new feed and the hard keeper TB hasn't lost an ounce and even better the hot mare is now much much calmer on TC Senior. I can't believe what a change with her, she's even 'letting' my intermediate students ride her without issue. Thanks again, you guys are great!

[pines4equines]

Love TC Complete. However I wasn't enamored by TC Senior. My guys didn't eat it. I also heard that TC is coming out with a training formula much like XTN. Ask about that? Or check the web site. I've heard nothing about it but did hear it was TC's competitive product with XTN.

[Buffyblue]

Complete Advantage for grain, and add rice bran (if necessary) for extra fat. My TB was a butterball on this stuff!

[WhisperHeart]

i'm about to put my hard keeping TB on Ultium but after after looking at that link i'm gonna see if i can get one of those new feeds from purina they looked pretty good


my gelding is currently on TC Complete but i can no longer get it so i'm having switching to switch feeds. i'm gonna look into those new feeds though.

[smilton]

I put my fresh off the track TB on Ultium starting 10 days ago. He arrived bouncing out of his skin as he was supposed to race the week I bought him. Yesterday he fell asleep at the hitching post while I tacked him up. Attitude change was drastic, night and day. He doesn't seem to like eating it as much as the Omolene 200 he was on but he may have ulcers too. He is gaining weight quickly and looks amazing but may need spurs before this is over.